NYC School of Data 2026

Join us for our annual community-driven public interest technology conference. Participants come to learn, network, and collaborate around public interest technology and data in New York City. With programming support from the Open Data Team at the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, our conference convenes city officials, technologists, designers, data analysts, and community members around open data, civic technology, and service design in New York City.

In 2026, our conference will be a two-day affair at CUNY School of Law on March 28-29, 2026, to commemorate the 16th anniversary of International Open Data Day, the 14th anniversary of the City’s transformative Open Data Law, and the 10th anniversary of Open Data Week and NYC School of Data!

Day 1, Saturday, March 28, 2026: NYC School of Data 

Day 2, Sunday, March 29, 2026: UnSchool of Data

Our two-day program brings a fascinating weekend full of panels, workshops, demos, talks, presentations, and office hours with NYC agencies. Conversations will cover open data, digital equity, service design and delivery, digital literacy, data standards, and civic engagement. We want to equip YOU with tools and information to build a better civic society for ALL New Yorkers.

Tickets and Opportunities:

What is included in my ticket? All tickets include: Full day(s) of programming, light breakfast, coffee, and snacks.

Day 1 Tickets include: Full day of programming, light breakfast, coffee, snacks, and lunch.

Day 2 Tickets include: Full day of programming, light breakfast, coffee, and snacks. 

Lunch is excluded on Day 2, and you will need to bring your own (BYO!).

Sustaining Donors to BetaNYC will receive complimentary weekend pass tickets. Thank you for your support!

Are you a student or looking for a scholarship?

There are a select number of scholarship tickets available. Tickets are discounted by $20-$30, and we will prioritize traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities. Learn more and apply before Wednesday, 25 March, at 12:00 PM at < https://betanyc.forms.fm/school-of-data-2026-scholarship-ticket/forms/10101 >.

Do you work for a Government agency / department? If you work for a government agency / department and want to purchase tickets by check or purchase order (PO), government ticket opportunities close on Wednesday, 25 March, by 5:00 PM. Please email < schoolofdata+govticket@beta.nyc >.

Press and Media, want to cover the event?

Media credentials are available to reporters, editors working as reporters, producers, video camera operators, and still photographers who present valid press identification. If you want to attend to cover a session or the event, email us your valid press identification to < schoolofdata+press@beta.nyc >. We will follow up.

Sponsors, want to support the conference?

We’re looking for mission-aligned sponsors to support conference costs such as meals, coffee, and childcare. Learn more about our opportunities to support by filling out this form.

Come learn and contribute to the next decade of technology, data, and policy — by us, for us!

General Event Information:

Looking for the program? Stay tuned for announcements about this year’s program by bookmarking schoolofdata.nyc, then signing up for BetaNYC’s weekly newsletter on LinkedIn or email.

Event Accessibility: This year’s venue is easily accessed by public transit, bike, bus, and car. The conference will be delivered in English and will use technical terms. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be provided upon request. We are exploring having the main stage presentations interpreted into ASL. The venue itself is ADA-compatible. All-gender restrooms are accessible on the third and fourth floors. There is an accessible lactation room on the second floor. Service animals are always accepted. If you need American Sign Language interpretation or have any other questions/concerns, please email us at < schoolofdata@beta.nyc >.

Childcare: We will provide professional, on-site childcare. Space is limited, and you will need to pre-register for this free service using the Childcare Ticket option. If you want your child(ren) to attend the conference sessions themselves, they will need a separate attendee ticket. If you have any questions, please email us at < schoolofdata@beta.nyc >.

Code of Conduct: BetaNYC is committed to hosting safe and open spaces for all. By participating in this space, you are committing yourself to BetaNYC’s Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy.

Health Policy:If you’re not feeling well, PLEASE stay home. We strive to create a safe environment for everyone. (Please see our refund policy for questions.)

To attend this in-person event, we ask that everyone wear a high-quality mask at all times (except when eating or drinking). We will have ample KF-94 masks in various sizes for you to wear. Masks keep our staff, volunteers, and attendees safe. Masking helps prevent the spread of viruses — this is science, based on data!

Refund Policy: Contact us to request a refund. We will try to honor all of your refund requests at < schoolofdata+refund@beta.nyc >. Please note that some ticketing fees are nonrefundable.

Thank you 2026 Sponsors!

The following mission-aligned organizations are helping us cover conference costs and enable us to meet in 2026. Thank you!

Reinvent Albany advocates for transparent and accountable New York State government and increased transparency in New York City. We work to strengthen the Freedom of Information Law and put government information online, especially spending, contracting and budget information and we are vocal advocates for open data laws and practices. We also advocate for more accountable and better governed state authorities, including the MTA. We also work for transparent business subsidies and economic development spending rooted in facts and careful analysis. We seek to create a state government that is responsible, responsive and above board and thus we fight for public integrity measures and against laws and practices that increase the risk of corruption and favor the few and well connected over the public interest.

 Shape the future of information with the School of Visual Art’s 10‑month, in‑person MPS Data Visualization & Communication graduate program in New York City. Blend design and data, build professional connections, and graduate ready to turn insights into impact. Applications for Fall semester open until April 15th. Learn more and apply: http://www.sva.edu/mpsdataviz

 The Center for Urban Science + Progress at NYU Tandon is dedicated to the application of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the social sciences to create more equitable, sustainable, and resilient cities. Founded through a partnership between NYU and the City of New York, CUSP is part of the recently launched Urban Institute, which aims to pilot technology-driven solutions to urban challenges that can be adapted worldwide.

CUSP advances the science of cities through interdisciplinary research, entrepreneurship, and education. Through our master’s program and PhD track, CUSP trains the next generation of urban data science leaders, equipping them with tools to leverage data for social good.

Hayden AI powers safer, smarter, and more efficient cities. We combine advanced vision AI with purpose-built, vehicle-mounted hardware to analyze urban environments in real time. Cities use our technology to make streets safer and improve transit performance for everyone. Our automated bus zone and bike lane enforcement system is installed on transit buses in several major U.S. cities, resulting in increased transit bus speeds and fewer collisions along routes utilizing this technology. Learn more at http://www.hayden.ai

Every city runs on infrastructure. But until now, there's been no way to truly see it: no unified, intelligent data layer connecting roads, sidewalks, hydrants, signs, and signals into a single, queryable picture of the physical world. Cyvl is changing that. We deploy AI-powered sensors across city streets to build the most comprehensive infrastructure dataset created. At School of Data, we're giving the first exclusive preview of I3 (Infrastructure Intelligence Index), our new open data layer purpose-built for developers, planners, and anyone building solutions for city infrastructure. I3 connects the physical world to the people who build for it. For the first time, NYC's infrastructure data will be accessible, structured, and ready to power the next generation of civic applications. Visit http://www.cyvl.com to learn more.