Data Con LA

Speak at Data Con LA

August 22, 2026 · Cal State Long Beach
The data profession in the age of AI – what's changing, what's not, and what comes next.

What we're looking for

Data Con LA is a community conference – people show up to learn something real. We're looking for talks that teach, challenge, or share hard-won experience. If you've built something interesting, solved a tough problem, or learned something the hard way, we want to hear about it.

The best talks come from practitioners – people doing the work. We want real-world lessons, honest takeaways, and the kind of insight you only get from hands-on experience.

This year's tracks

This year we're thinking about what it means to do data work in a world that AI is reshaping quickly – the new skills, the shifting roles, the tools that are actually delivering, and the hype that isn't. Talks should connect to one of our four tracks:

  • AI/ML & Data Science
  • Data Engineering
  • Business Analytics & Reporting
  • Data Career Development

Before you submit

There are a few things we want to be upfront about:

In-person only. All talks must be delivered on site at Cal State Long Beach. We do not accept virtual presentations.
No compensation or travel reimbursement. We don't cover speaker expenses of any kind. Your participation is voluntary and deeply appreciated.
Sessions are recorded. We record all sessions and publish them on YouTube. By speaking at Data Con LA, you grant us a license to record, distribute, and promote your presentation.
No commercial content. Talks may not promote or advertise products, services, or companies. We review for this and will decline submissions that read as marketing.
All sessions are 45 minutes. That includes time for Q&A. Plan your content accordingly.

Representing a company? We offer a limited number of sponsored talk slots each year. Get in touch to learn more.

How selection works this year

We've simplified the process this year. Here's how it works:

1 Submit your idea. Tell us what you want to talk about. It doesn't need to be polished – we want to understand the substance, not evaluate your copywriting.
2 Review and selection. Our team reviews all submissions after the CFP closes. We evaluate based on relevance, substance, and value to the audience.
3 Work with us on your talk. Accepted speakers go through a preparation process with our team. This includes a slide review and direct feedback to help you deliver the best version of your talk.
4 Get announced and present. Speakers are added to the public program as they clear preparation milestones. Then you take the stage on August 22.
We invest real time in helping speakers succeed – and we expect the same commitment in return. Speakers who don't engage with the feedback process or meet preparation milestones may have their session removed from the program.

Accepted speakers will be required to sign a formal speaker agreement covering recording rights, intellectual property, cancellation policies, and other terms. You can review the full agreement here before submitting.