See What’s Next for Standards: July 28-31, 2026, in Denver
New technologies are arriving faster than ever—and standards are how we make them safe, trusted, and ready for the real world. The 2026 ANSI Innovation Summit brings the standards community together to take on what that requires: not just the standards that emerging technologies need, but also more adaptive, responsive ways to develop them. Join us July 28–31 in Denver!
Registration is now open.
Summit Sessions: What’s on the Agenda
Tuesday, July 28 (in person only)
- Standards at the Speed of Innovation: A Fireside Chat with Standards CEOs. The U.S. Standards Strategy 2025 calls on the community to make standards development more efficient by embracing innovation and training the next generation—recognizing that development processes must evolve alongside the technologies they address. In this fireside chat, ANSI president and CEO Dr. Laurie E. Locascio sits down with CEOs of leading standards developing organizations for a candid conversation about what it will take to answer that call. Together they’ll explore how flexible, iterative, and adaptive approaches can ensure standards remain relevant and effective—and how the ingenuity for which the U.S. standards system is known can drive development models that are timely, efficient, and responsive to rapid societal and technological change. Opens with a networking lunch.
- The Standards Lab: Testing New Development Approaches. The U.S. standards community is pioneering new ways to speed up consensus-based development while maintaining rigor. This interactive session looks at how organizations are using AI, collaboration tools, agile review, and fast-track pathways to keep standards moving for fast-changing technologies. Closes with a networking reception.
Wednesday, July 29 (in person only)
- Accelerating the Digital Economy through AI and Quantum. Standards are critical infrastructure of the digital economy. This day explores how they can accelerate—not just govern—the technologies driving it forward.
- Morning: AI and the Digital Economy—Standards for What's Happening Now. AI has moved from chatbots to agents that can reason, plan, and act on their own—a leap in capability that also brings a new class of risks. Two panels take it on: one built around a newly approved standards project for managing the unique risks of frontier AI, and one on how standards must evolve to govern agentic systems that don't just suggest, but act.
- Afternoon: Quantum and the Digital Economy—Standards for What’s Coming. Industry investment is already driving quantum development forward. But the standards decisions made in the next few years will shape whether that progress translates into broad, interoperable adoption or fragmented, sector-by-sector implementation. Are we developing standards in time to shape the market rather than chase it?
- 2026 ANSI Leadership and Service Awards. An evening celebration honoring this year’s standardization champions!
Thursday, July 30 (hybrid)
- ANSI Legal Issues Forum: Standards at a Crossroads—AI Policy, Practice, and Protection. How is AI transforming standards licensing, and how can standards developing organizations (SDOs) protect their intellectual property as commercial realities shift? A three-part discussion covers how SDOs are digitizing their standards for AI use, what companies are building by incorporating those standards into AI platforms and products, and how SDOs can protect their IP in AI licensing agreements.
- Lunch and Annual Business Meeting. ANSI Board Chair Chris Dubay presents financial information, followed by remarks from Dr. Locascio and senior leadership.
Friday, July 31 (hybrid)
- 2026 U.S.–Korea Standards Forum (co-located with the Summit). Now in its sixth year, this event brings together U.S. and Korean government and industry leaders to share expertise and shape collaboration on some of today’s most consequential technologies—from AI and quantum to biotechnology and the future of mobility.
Plan Your Trip
The Summit will be held at the Grand Hyatt Denver. Book by July 6 to lock in ANSI’s discounted rate of $279/night (July 27–31). Reserve your room here. Questions? Contact Stephanie Carroll at [email protected].
Also Coming Up in 2026: The U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day
Separate from the Innovation Summit, the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day (WSD) will be held in December. Visit the U.S. Celebration of WSD webpage for updates.
