Overview
About this event
KDD is the flagship conference of ACM SIGKDD. It has run continuously since 1995. KDD is the premier forum for data mining, data science and machine learning research.
KDD brings together academic researchers, industry practitioners and domain experts. Sessions cover new algorithms, systems and methodologies. The conference spans research, applied and dataset tracks.
KDD 2026 marks a departure from recent host cities like Toronto. Jeju is known internationally as a resort destination, not a typical conference hub.
The conference has two submission cycles each year. Cycle 1 had deadlines in August 2025. Cycle 2 has deadlines in February 2026.
What Usually Happens at KDD?
Workshops and tutorials open the conference over two days. The core programme then runs three days, with keynotes, oral sessions and poster receptions. The KDD Cup runs alongside as a data science competition.
Special Days add focused half-day programmes on specific themes. Korea Day showcases the host country's own research community. An Undergraduate Consortium and Ph.D. Consortium support early-career researchers.
When Is KDD 2026 Taking Place?
KDD 2026 runs August 9 to 13, 2026. Workshops and tutorials run August 9 and 10. The main conference, including all keynotes, runs August 11 to 13. Registration is through the official Cvent page.
KDD 2026: Latest Updates
5 topicsKeynote speakers and Special Day programming are confirmed. Everything below is sourced directly from kdd2026.kdd.org.
Jeff Dean Confirmed as Keynote Speaker
Jeff Dean, Google's Chief Scientist, keynotes Tuesday August 11. His talk covers major AI developments over the past 15 years, including the Gemini effort at Google.
Jingren Zhou and Regina Barzilay Also Confirmed
Jingren Zhou, Chief AI Architect at Alibaba, keynotes Wednesday August 12. Regina Barzilay, a Distinguished Professor at MIT, delivers the closing keynote on Thursday August 13.
Data Day Special Programme Confirmed
Data Day runs August 11 as a half-day programme on data-centric AI. Keynote speakers come from Meta, Microsoft, UIUC, KAIST and Shanghai AI Lab. Jian Pei of Duke University organises the day.
KDD Cup Challenges Confirmed
Two KDD Cup challenges are confirmed for 2026: the Tencent UNI-REC Challenge and the HKUST Data Agents Challenge. Both run as competitive data science tracks.
OpenReview Data Leak Disclosed
On November 27, 2025, OpenReview was alerted to a software bug. The bug leaked names of authors, reviewers and area chairs. The bug has since been fixed. It impacted all conferences hosted on OpenReview, including KDD since 2024. The full disclosure is at kdd2026.kdd.org/openreview-data-leak.
Main Topics and Tracks at KDD 2026
5 topicsKDD 2026 spans five submission tracks. Each covers a distinct angle on data mining, machine learning and applied data science.
Research Track
The Research Track covers foundational advances in data mining and machine learning. It remains KDD's largest and most competitive track.
Applied Data Science (ADS) Track
The ADS Track, formerly the Industrial Track, covers real-world deployment. Papers here focus on systems, case studies and applied methodologies.
Datasets and Benchmarks Track
This track covers new datasets and benchmarks for the field. It gives researchers a dedicated venue for infrastructure contributions, not just algorithms.
AI for Sciences Track
This track covers AI applications across scientific domains. It reflects growing interest in AI as a tool for scientific discovery itself.
Blue Sky Ideas Track
The Blue Sky Ideas Track invites speculative, early-stage research. It gives space for bold ideas that may not yet have full experimental validation.
Event Experiences
6 topicsKDD 2026 runs across five days at ICC Jeju. The programme mixes workshops, tutorials, keynotes, oral sessions and special themed days.
Workshops and Tutorials
Workshops and tutorials run August 9 and 10, ahead of the main conference. These include lecture-style and hands-on formats.
Main Conference Programme
The main conference runs August 11 to 13. It includes all three keynotes, oral paper sessions and poster receptions. The complete session listing is on the full program page.
Data Day
Data Day runs August 11 from 1:30 to 6:00 PM. It closes with a panel: Will AI Agents Make Data Scientists Obsolete?
Korea Day and Special Days
Korea Day showcases research from the host country's data science community. Additional Special Days cover other focused themes across the conference week.
Undergraduate and Ph.D. Consortiums
The Undergraduate Consortium and Ph.D. Consortium support early-career researchers. Both offer mentorship and structured feedback from senior KDD community members.
AdKDD Workshop
AdKDD is a full-day workshop on AI for computational advertising. It has run since 2007 and typically draws standing-room-only attendance.
Why KDD 2026 Matters
4 topicsKDD is the flagship venue for data mining and applied machine learning research. Techniques presented here often reach production AI systems within a year or two.
For AI and Data Science Researchers
Keynotes from Jeff Dean and Regina Barzilay give researchers direct access to leaders shaping both industry-scale AI and academic machine learning theory.
For Applied ML and Industry Practitioners
The ADS Track and Data Day give practitioners real deployment case studies. Speakers from Meta, Microsoft and Alibaba anchor this industry-facing content.
For Advertising and Recommendation Teams
The AdKDD workshop gives advertising and recommendation teams a dedicated venue. It covers privacy-preserving personalisation and incrementality in ad systems.
For Students and Early-Career Researchers
The Undergraduate and Ph.D. Consortiums, plus Student Travel Awards, give early-career researchers structured entry points into the KDD community.
Agenda
Times shown in Korea Standard Time (KST, UTC+9). The full schedule is at kdd2026.kdd.org/schedule-at-a-glance.
| Date | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, August 9 | Workshops and tutorials begin | ICC Jeju |
| Monday, August 10 | Workshops and tutorials continue | ICC Jeju |
| Tuesday, August 11 | Main conference opens; Jeff Dean keynote (8:00-9:20 AM); Data Day (1:30-6:00 PM); oral sessions | ICC Jeju |
| Wednesday, August 12 | Jingren Zhou keynote; oral sessions; poster receptions | ICC Jeju |
| Thursday, August 13 | Regina Barzilay closing keynote; final oral sessions; closing programme | ICC Jeju |
Registration and Access
Registration for KDD 2026 is handled through the official Cvent registration page. Current pricing and pass tiers are confirmed on that page directly.
| Access Type | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Conference Registration | Keynotes, oral sessions, poster receptions, workshops and tutorials | See the official Cvent registration page for current pricing |
| Student Rate | Discounted registration for enrolled students | Proof of student status required |
| Student Travel Award | Funding support for eligible student attendees | Application required |
Want updates on KDD 2026?
Get our recap, key takeaways and analysis delivered to your inbox the moment the keynote ends.
Venue
International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju)
Most international attendees connect through Seoul's Incheon International Airport. A short domestic flight then reaches Jeju. Hotel information is available on the official KDD 2026 site.
Date & Time
Aug 9–13
Starts 8:00 AM GMT+9
Location
Jeju
International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju), South Korea
Format
In-person
On location only
International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju)
Jeju Island, Jeju, South Korea
Speakers4
Engineers shipping the work, not theorizing about it
KDD 2026 has confirmed three keynote speakers, with all details sourced from the official KDD 2026 site.
Recap: 2025 & 2024
The biggest announcements from the last 2 KDD editions.
KDD 2025 Recap (Toronto)
KDD has run annually since 1995, and the two most recent editions show the calibre of research and awards the conference continues to attract. KDD 2025, the 31st edition, ran August 3 to 7, 2025, in Toronto, Canada.
Leaders from Cohere, Apple, Google DeepMind, Amazon and Cisco joined the programme. Details are archived on the KDD 2025 official site, and the full winners list is at kdd.org/awards/view/2025-sigkdd-best-paper-award-winners.
Main announcements included:
- The Best Paper Award in the Research Track went to Wenqian Ye, Guangtao Zheng and Aidong Zhang of the University of Virginia, for their work on group robustness and spurious correlation
- Additional Best Paper winners covered fairness monitoring, graph embedding methods, recommendation bias, brain connectivity estimation and graph unlearning verification
- George Karypis of the University of Minnesota received the 2025 SIGKDD Innovation Award
- Carl Yang of Emory University received the 2025 SIGKDD Rising Star Award
- General Chair Xiaohui Yu, a Professor at York University, helped lead the three-person organising team
- Jian Pei, a KDD organiser, said the field's core mission, turning raw data into meaningful knowledge, remains crucial even as generative AI reshapes the discipline
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