REDLANDS, CALIF. -- Esri, the global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, announced speakers and the conference theme for the 2026 Esri User Conference. The conference will be held from July 13 to 17 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. This year’s theme of “GIS—Creating a more intelligent world” will emphasize how GIS turns the science of “where” into shared understanding and coordinated action—at the scale of communities, enterprises, and the planet.

Kristine Tompkins, president and cofounder of Tompkins Conservation, will join Esri president Jack Dangermond as a keynote speaker for this year’s Plenary Session. Tompkins is the former CEO of Patagonia and has worked to create parklands, conserve marine spaces, and promote biodiversity over the past three decades. Tompkins and Dangermond will also be joined by special guests from the City of Allentown (Pennsylvania), NextEra Energy, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, National Weather Service, National Geographic Society, and others during the plenary.

“As the world continues to face complex and interconnected challenges as well as rapid developments in technology, the geospatial community will be essential for designing and shaping a better future,” said Esri president Jack Dangermond. “Every year, we look forward to coming together to learn from each other, get inspired, and advance a culture of sharing, collaboration, and integrated thinking.”

In addition to the Plenary Session, the Esri User Conference features hundreds of technical sessions and user presentations where attendees can explore new tools and techniques and gain practical insights from their peers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to browse hundreds of printed and digital maps in the Map Gallery and connect with more than 200 organizations, as well as Esri’s experts, at the Expo. More than 18,000 attendees from over 100 countries are expected to attend the 2026 Esri User Conference in person in San Diego, with thousands more joining as virtual attendees.