FinovateFall 2026 is leading the way with fintech innovation

The idea behind the event is fairly straightforward: put the people working in financial services in the same room with the companies building the technology they may actually use.

More than 2,000 attendees are expected this year, including more than 1,000 professionals from banks and financial institutions. Around 70% of attendees are expected to be in C-suite, director, VP or department head positions, making the event particularly focused on senior decision-makers across financial services.

Finovate also puts a lot of weight on meetings, with more than 26,000 planned across the three days and more than 10 hours of dedicated networking time. So while there is a full conference programme, a big part of FinovateFall is about finding the right people and having the right conversations.

Seven minutes to show what you're building

One of Finovate’s best-known features is its live demo format.

This year, 72 companies will have seven minutes on the main stage to show what they are building. There are no long product presentations. The format is designed to get straight to the technology and give attendees a quick look at the solutions selected to showcase some of the latest fintech innovation.

The 2026 demos cover areas including AI-powered operations, payments and cross-border solutions, digital experience and security, and risk and compliance. On the first day alone, four demo sessions feature companies including Saris AI, Vertice AI, Radar, GPTadvisor, Naehas and Neural Payments.

The demos don't stop at the stage. Companies also have stands in the exhibition hall, giving attendees a chance to continue the conversation, ask questions and take a closer look at the products. That combination makes the format work. You get a quick introduction on stage, then you can decide which companies are worth spending more time with.

AI is a big part of the programme

AI naturally takes up a lot of space in this year's agenda.

With more than 75 sessions across the programme, FinovateFall will cover topics ranging from agentic AI and AI investment to banking operations and the move from copilots towards more autonomous systems. At the same time, the programme goes well beyond AI, with sessions on stablecoins, open banking, payments, financial crime, customer experience, digital trust and embedded finance.

The programme is spread across dedicated stages focused on AI & Innovation, Customer Experience & Trust, and The Future of Money. Discussions will look at practical questions around agentic AI, personalization, regulation, stablecoins, financial crime and the changing role of technology in financial services.

There is also a strong focus on people working directly in the industry. Speakers include senior leaders from U.S. Bank, Truist Financial Corporation, KeyBank, Ally, Amazon, Prudential, MSU Federal Credit Union, Starling Bank and M&T Bank.

What is useful here is the focus on what happens when these technologies meet real businesses. The programme isn't only about what AI or fintech products can do. It also looks at where they make sense, how banks are using them and what happens when technology meets customers, regulation and risk.

A conference built around meetings

A large part of FinovateFall happens away from the main stage.

Attendees can use the event's networking app to find people they want to meet. Its smart filtering is designed to help attendees match with relevant professionals, make connections and arrange meetings. There are also networking sessions, breakfasts, receptions and dedicated meeting areas throughout the event.

Banking leaders and executives from credit unions and community banks can also request access to dedicated networking sessions, giving them an opportunity to connect with other leaders in their field and discover more targeted insights and fintech solutions.

The event itself is spread across floors four through seven of the Marriott Marquis, with stages, demos, exhibition areas and meeting spaces running alongside each other. That makes the physical experience part of the event too. With several stages, demo areas, sponsors and meeting spaces operating at the same time, people need to be able to understand the venue quickly and move between different parts of the programme without getting lost.

Be Part of FinovateFall

We're supporting FinovateFall as a media partner, helping share the event with our audience across the technology, conference and creative communities. If you’re planning to attend, you can use our exclusive code FKV282524C to receive 20% off your registration and join the conversations, explore the latest fintech demos, and connect with people across the industry.