The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the schedule, speaker lineup and program for Securing New Ground (SNG) 2026, its executive conference scheduled for Oct. 20–21 in New York City.

The conference will bring together security industry executives and corporate security leaders for information sharing, networking and business analysis. This year's program will examine topics including artificial intelligence and systems integration, automation of corporate security practices, the expectations of CSOs, GSOC evolution and hyperscale data center security. Cybersecurity, industry investments, smart buildings and evolving business models will also remain central themes.

“The 2026 SIA Securing New Ground program presents an even stronger strategic event bringing together the executives from each component of the security ecosystem to connect and discuss the marketplace, regulatory and technology factors shaping the industry,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “The conversations that take place at SNG among peers validate or challenge business strategy, challenge conventional thinking and lead to collaborations that strengthen the industry.”

The 2026 program will feature a special dinner keynote conversation with John J. Sullivan, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and author of Midnight in Moscow, who will share perspectives from his four-decade career spanning five U.S. presidents and senior leadership roles across multiple federal agencies.

Other keynote and executive sessions will include an economic outlook from U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief economist Curtis Dubay, an interview with Ares Privacy Equity Group principal Justin Anderson on private equity strategies related to the security industry and a customer perspective session featuring Frank Dawson, director of operations for corporate security at Southern Company.

The event will also feature executive conversations with Sean Kay of Flock Safety, Björn Lidefelt of HID, Kumar Sokka of Acre Security, Michael Wong of Gene and Billal Hammoud of Honeywell Building Automation.

Returning sessions include the Investment Insights panel, which examines industry investments, mergers and acquisitions activity, lending and private equity, as well as “SPARCing Real Conversations: Security Practitioners Speak!” hosted by SIA's Security Practitioners Advancing Real Conversations community.

Three Security Megatrends sessions will explore the key developments executives are watching for the future, what AI means for the business of integrated systems and the future direction of security hardware.

Executives participating in the program represent sectors including corporate security, access control, video surveillance, systems integration, distribution, finance and identity.

SIA's SPARC community will meet ahead of the conference, while the association's leadership development program, The Table, will convene for in-person presentations and sessions following SNG.

Registration for SIA members starts at $995 for those who register by Friday, Aug. 28, representing a $1,000 savings off the regular rate. Security practitioners, including chief security officers, corporate security directors and their immediate teams, can attend for $100, while government security leaders receive complimentary access.

SNG 2026 is supported by Elite Sponsor Genetec along with Premier, Executive and Event Sponsors representing organizations across the security industry.