Databricks Data and AI Summit 2026 as it was | by Maksim Pachkouski | Jul, 2026 | MediumSitemapOpen in appSign up<br>Sign in

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Databricks Data and AI Summit 2026 as it was

Maksim Pachkouski

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I recently had the opportunity to attend the Databricks Data + AI Summit in San Francisco as a Databricks MVP. It was Databricks' largest conference dedicated to data and artificial intelligence. The event attracted over 30,000 participants from over 160 countries.<br>I heard and read a lot about this summit, but I could never have imagined attending it in person.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

A few years ago, I decided to write articles on Medium and LinkedIn about data engineering. But since my recent projects have been primarily related to Databricks, my focus somehow shifted there. At the end of last year, someone nominated me for Databricks MVP (Most Valuable Professional) status. It was a surprise for me.<br>One of the perks Databricks offers to participants of this program is a free ticket to DAIS (a ticket without discounts costs about $1,000). While that sounds great, getting in also requires a visa, plane tickets, and hotel accommodations. At least meals were provided at the event itself. Incidentally, when there were fewer participants, the hotel accommodations were also covered.<br>Surprisingly, registering for a visa in Krakow and getting it turned out to be quite simple: I made an appointment a week in advance and received notification two days later that my visa had been approved. It was awesome!<br>Then there were plane tickets for about $1,000 one-way and hotel accommodations for about $150 per night. Fortunately, my company, T1A, decided to reimburse the costs partially. I'm very grateful to them; at that point, I might not have dared to go and shell out several thousand dollars for the event.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

This was my first visit to the United States. My first impressions were rather mixed. I was initially shocked by the number of homeless people and their strange behavior. I also chose a poor hotel; after 8 p.m., there were practically no people there, and I didn't really want to go out. The AI ​​recommended taking a taxi for transportation, even though it was in the city center.<br>But no matter, by 6 a.m. the city looked normal, calm, and even safe. City services were cleaning the streets, and police were already ensuring security for the event and surrounding streets.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

In the morning, a free breakfast was already organized for all participants in the park with a beautiful view of the skyscrapers.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

And then we had the first day of Keynote, where we announced new products. One of the perks of being a Databricks MVP is that we knew about the new features a week before the event. However, we couldn't tell anyone about them because of an NDA. This allowed us to prepare announcements in advance and publish them during the keynote and the official announcement.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

The summit turned out to be a truly grand event. It was a truly well-organized show. Beautiful opening credits, high-quality sound and lighting, and a packed house.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

A separate area was set up for MVPs during the main presentation, next to the media representatives. Laptop chargers and wired internet were also available. Security guards were also assigned to the most popular bloodhounds.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

After the announcements, I had the opportunity to attend various lectures for the rest of the day, and there were quite a few of them. It's also convenient that you can watch them all as recordings if you missed them.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

The main hall featured partner booths where visitors could learn about their software and services. The booths also featured a wealth of merchandise and raffles for more valuable prizes, such as Lego sets and Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. Incidentally, I won one of the larger prizes.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

Databricks also created a large wall with all the MVPs; it looks great! Currently, the program has 88 members from 23 countries.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

The second day of the summit was similar to the first, but at the end of the day, a DJ and The Chainsmokers performed at the baseball stadium, which Databricks had rented out for conference attendees. This provided an excellent opportunity to continue networking in a less formal atmosphere. Snacks and draft beer were also provided.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

The most valuable thing for me was the networking. I had the opportunity...