Data for Peace Conference | 15-17 June 2026

Sign up to attend the in-person component of the conference (15-16 June in Stockholm, Sweden)

Attending the conference in person is free of charge and includes lunch, morning and afternoon coffee/tea and light snacks for in-person attendees. Travel costs must however be covered by each participant.

The in-person event has a maximum capacity of 120 guests, including speakers.

No registration is needed to follow the livestream on 15-16 June. More information on this will be shared closer to the event.

Sign up to attend the virtual component of the conference (17 June)

This day will be held entirely over Zoom. Connection links will be shared with all registered participants closer to the event.

Violence and global risks are rising, but early warning and anticipatory action in peacebuilding remain underused and underfunded. Data for Peace 2026 bridges the gap between scientific innovation and real-world uptake; zeroing in on what works, what’s missing, and what it takes to turn data and forecasts into timely decisions.

This year’s conference goes beyond showcasing tools, instead emphasizing practical applications with the overarching theme: "Bridging Scientific Innovation with Policy and Practice".

Through live demonstrations, hands-on workshops, simulations, and candid practitioner–innovator dialogues, the conference will help strengthen usability, trust, and operational relevance in crisis settings. Across three days, we’ll convene peacebuilders, policymakers, researchers, humanitarians, and technologists to explore how data and technology can better support violence prevention, early action, and crisis response—and what’s needed to apply innovation effectively, at scale, and in context.

Within the overarching theme, this year's conference will address the following topics:

• Strengthening the Foundations: Infrastructure for Conflict and Violence-Related Data Collection, Foresight, and Forecasting
  Developing and sustaining the tools, systems, and collaborations needed for violence monitoring, risk analysis, and predictive modeling. This theme focuses on practical approaches to collecting, validating, producing, and interpreting data in fast-changing or hard-to-access environments – examining what is working, what is missing, and what is needed next. Participants from various disciplines, ages and levels of experience will contribute to the discussion on the way forward.
• Practical Applications in Crisis Settings
  Case studies and field-level experiences showcasing how technical innovations, predictive tools, and digital platforms are being used – or could be used – to support early warning and real-time decision-making in operational settings. Sessions will highlight both successes and challenges, identifying critical gaps in both tools and their usage, offering opportunities for shared learning across contexts.
• From Insight to Uptake
  An exploration of the practical barriers to the policy and operational adoption of data-driven tools – including issues related to data literacy, trust, institutional fit, co-design opportunities and challenges, and integration into decision-making processes.
• Local Ownership and Meaningful Inclusion
  Ensuring that data systems and innovations reflect the perspectives, priorities, and needs of local actors and affected communities – and are accessible and useful to those closest to the risks.
• Collaboration over Competition
  Reducing duplication and fragmentation by strengthening partnerships, promoting shared standards, and improving coordination across sectors and institutions within the data-for-peace ecosystem. Skills development, as well as networking opportunities through formal and informal settings, will also be available to both in-person and online participants.

For more information, please see this year's Concept Note (pdf) pdf, 436 kB..

With several successful editions delivered both in-person and online, the Data for Peace conference series has become a vital platform for the conflict early warning and early action community, bringing together thousands of experts from governments, academia, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector.

Originating from The Data for Peacebuilding and Prevention (Data for Peace) program at NYU’s Center for International Cooperation, previous conferences have tackled critical topics including conflict early warning systems, lessons learned from humanitarian interventions, and the application of data-driven technologies to strengthen peace, while consistently providing participants with opportunities to share expertise, avoid duplication of efforts, forge strategic partnerships, and collectively assess the field's progress and urgent priorities. Each edition has served as a crucial forum for exploring cutting-edge technological advancements, from AI and machine learning to satellite imagery and predictive analytics, while maintaining a strong focus on ethical considerations, risk assessment, and capacity building to ensure responsible and sustainable implementation of these tools in conflict prevention and peacebuilding contexts.

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Previous Editions

Annual events with a strong focus on how data-driven approaches can be used to deliver concrete changes on the ground for peace and prevention practitioners.

Data for Peace – Oct 2023

Host: NYU Center of International Cooperation

Date and Place: 16-20 October 2023, New York City

Theme: Leveraging Data to Foster Lasting Peace

Conference website

Video library

Data for Peace – Dec 2021

Host: NYU Center of International Cooperation

Date and Place: 1-2 Dec 2021, Online

Theme: Emerging Technologies in Peacebuilding and Prevention

Video library

Data for Peace – May 2021

Host: NYU Center of International Cooperation

Date and Place: 18-20 May 2021, Online

Theme: Conflict Early Warning / Early Action Workshop

Video library

Data for Peace Dialogues

Previous convening of public monthly virtual events for practitioner communities and elaborate on examples and recommendations presented in the report Ecosystem Mapping: The State of Play and the Path to Creating a Community of Practice.

Video library