The Top AI Conferences in Kentucky 2026
Kentucky’s tech scene is buzzing in 2026 with a range of conferences dedicated to artificial intelligence. These events span multiple industries and interests – from business and law to education and public sector innovation – and are hosted across the state. Below are seven of the top AI-focused conferences scheduled in Kentucky for 2026, including their locations, dates (if available), and what they’re all about.
1. Louisville AI Week 2026
Location: Louisville (Mellwood Art Center) – Dates: February 10–12, 2026
About: Louisville AI Week 2026 is an inaugural, flagship event positioning itself as “the AI conference for Louisville leaders”. Spanning three days, it brings together the region’s top tech and business executives for hands-on workshops, real-world AI use cases, and powerful networking. The focus is on practical adoption of AI across industries – “no hype, no theory-only panels; just real conversations about AI in the real economy”. Attendees can expect keynote sessions by industry experts, sector-specific breakout tracks (e.g. leadership strategy, technical workshops), a Women in AI & Tech Breakfast, and numerous networking receptions. With support from the local Enterprise Technology Association, Louisville AI Week is geared toward C-suite leaders, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are driving AI implementation in Kentucky’s economy. This event’s broad scope and dynamic programming make it the must-attend AI conference in Kentucky for 2026.
2. Kentucky Chamber’s AI Summit (2026 Edition)
Location: Louisville (planned) – Dates: Mid-2026 (TBA)
About: The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Kentucky AI Summit focusing on artificial intelligence for businesses across the state. The 2025 summit (held July 21, 2025 in Louisville) drew business leaders, tech experts, and policymakers to explore the latest AI trends and best practices in the corporate world. Attendees learned how AI is being applied in business settings today, what future AI capabilities to prepare for, and how policy is shaping the tech landscape. The event emphasizes real use cases and networking, enabling companies to gain insight into AI’s transformational impact on operations, customer experience, and strategy. Given its success, the Chamber is expected to continue this summit in 2026 (likely summer in Louisville). Participants can look forward to keynote talks from industry leaders, panel discussions on enterprise AI adoption, and sessions highlighting how Kentucky businesses – from startups to Fortune 500 companies – are leveraging AI innovations to drive growth.
3. Kentucky Digital Government Summit 2026
Location: Lexington – Date: June 9, 2026
About: Public-sector innovation takes center stage at the Kentucky Digital Government Summit 2026 in Lexington. This one-day conference (open to government IT and program officials) explores how emerging technologies – from cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital services – can modernize government operations. It brings together state and local government leaders, CIOs, and technology experts to share strategies and case studies for smarter public services. AI is a prominent theme in 2026’s agenda: sessions will examine AI-driven solutions for improving citizen services, automating processes, and informed decision-making in government. With keynotes, panels, and vendor demonstrations, attendees (public-sector only) get actionable insights into implementing AI and other tech ethically and effectively in agencies. This summit offers a modest registration fee and is sponsored by GovTech and industry partners. For government professionals in Kentucky, the Digital Government Summit provides a focused look at technological innovation – including AI – within the public sector mission.
4. A.I. and the Law – 2026 Winter Summit
Location: Lexington (UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law) – Date: January 8, 2026
About: Hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Law, the A.I. and the Law Winter Summit is a half-day conference examining the intersection of artificial intelligence and legal practice. Aimed at attorneys, law faculty, and students, this summit (which offers Continuing Legal Education credits) dives into how AI is transforming the legal field. The January 2026 program features expert-led sessions such as “Generative A.I. in Law: The Good, The Bad, and The Citation You Still Have to Double-Check,” a look at how generative AI tools can assist (and challenge) legal research and writing. Another talk, “A.I.: Practical Uses and Ethical Implications for Attorneys,” addresses real-world AI applications in law firms along with ethical considerations for lawyers. There’s also a case study on using AI in estate planning by a local practitioner. Held on campus in Lexington (with a Zoom livestream option), this niche summit allows Kentucky’s legal community to explore AI’s opportunities and risks in a collegial setting. Topics like AI-driven contract review, legal analytics, and AI policy are all on the table, making it an informative event for anyone interested in AI’s impact on law and ethics.
5. KEDC AI Summit for Educators 2026 (2nd Annual)
Location: Lexington (Marriott Griffin Gate, expected) – Dates: Mid-2026 (TBA)
About: In 2025, the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) launched the state’s first AI summit for K-12 educators, and it’s poised to return in 2026. The inaugural “Igniting Minds, Inspiring Innovation” KEDC AI Summit (July 7–8, 2025 in Lexington) brought together teachers, school administrators, and ed-tech leaders to explore how AI can transform teaching, learning, and school operations. This groundbreaking two-day event featured keynotes by national experts on AI in K–12, interactive workshops on classroom AI tools and data-driven decision making, breakout sessions highlighting real AI use cases from Kentucky school districts, and hands-on demos from ed-tech vendors. There were also panel discussions on AI policy and ethics in education, ensuring a well-rounded look at opportunities and challenges of AI in schools. The 2026 edition is expected to continue these conversations, helping districts build capacity and align with responsible AI practices. Educators from across Kentucky will again convene (likely in Lexington) to share practical strategies – whether you’re a curious classroom teacher or a superintendent planning an AI-informed tech roadmap. This summit underscores Kentucky’s commitment to preparing its educators and students for an AI-driven future in education.
6. Derby City Data Days 2026
Location: Louisville (University of Louisville ShelbyHurst Campus) – Date: April 2026 (one-day)
About: Derby City Data Days is a community-driven conference that has become a fixture for data and AI enthusiasts in the Louisville-Lexington region. Organized by the Louisville and Lexington Data Technology meetup groups, it is a free, full-day training event hosted at UofL’s Founders Union Hall (ShelbyHurst campus). The conference focuses on modern data technologies including AI, cloud analytics (Microsoft Fabric, Azure), Power BI, and more, with an emphasis on practical skills development. Sessions are geared toward data engineers, analysts, and developers, featuring hands-on workshops and demos that attendees can immediately apply in their work. Derby City Data Days also serves as a networking nexus for the regional data community – it draws participants not only from Kentucky but also neighboring Ohio and Tennessee. The 2026 event took place successfully in April 2026, demonstrating strong community support for data and AI education. Because it is one of the few dedicated grassroots data/AI conferences in Kentucky, demand is high (registration is required to secure a spot). In short, Derby City Data Days is an excellent opportunity for local professionals to sharpen their AI and data skills and connect with peers in an accessible, community-focused setting.
7. International Conference on Robotics, Automation and Artificial Intelligence (ICRAAI) 2026
Location: Louisville – Dates: September 19–20, 2026
About: On the academic front, Louisville will host the International Conference on Robotics, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence (ICRAAI) in 2026. Scheduled for September 19–20, this conference provides a forum for researchers, engineers, and students from around the world to exchange knowledge on the latest advances in AI and robotics. According to the official announcement, ICRAAI will offer insights into “the state of the art in current technology, techniques, and solutions in robotics, automation, and AI as they have been developed and applied in different countries”. The event invites a wide range of stakeholders – from academia to industry to government – and will feature presentation of research papers, posters, and panel discussions on emerging AI technologies and applications. Organized by the global conference group Eurasiaweb, ICRAAI in Louisville is part of a series of international scholarly conferences. For Kentucky, this event is notable as it brings an international academic spotlight to the state. Attendees can expect to hear about cutting-edge research in areas such as machine learning, robotics automation, AI in industrial systems, and more. It’s an ideal conference for those interested in the scientific and technical developments driving AI forward, and it highlights Louisville’s growing role as a venue for global tech dialogue.
