NYC School of Data 2026 is here!!! Join BetaNYC as we mark 10 years of learning, connecting, and building with public interest tech and open data.
This year is especially meaningful: we’re celebrating 10 years of NYC School of Data and 10 years of NYC Open Data Week, alongside the 14th anniversary of the City’s transformative open data law, all while closing out the week with over 50 in-person sessions at CUNY School of Law!
NYC School of Data is a community conference that brings together the City’s technology, data, and design communities. It is organized by BetaNYC, with programming support from the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation.
From a record-breaking 280 community proposals, we are curating over 50 sessions covering topics such as digital equity, smart cities, artificial intelligence, digital and data literacy, open government, service design, civic engagement, and open data.
And for the first time, School of Data will take place across two days. Join us on Sunday, March 29, for UnSchool of Data, an open space unconference dedicated to networking, co-creating, and learning together. It brings city residents, technologists, civic leaders, students, advocates, policy nerds, public servants, journalists, designers, and more into the same room to use open data to tackle some of NYC’s most pressing challenges. Learn more at schoolofdata.nyc/unschool.
Come learn and contribute to the next decade of technology, data, and policy — by us, for us!
Getting to CUNY School of Law
This year, we return to CUNY School of Law, which is accessible by public transit, bike, and car. NOTE: If you are taking the subway, please check https://www.mta.info/alerts for service changes planned for the weekend of March 28-29. These service changes affect one or more ADA-accessible stations, and the travel alternatives may not be fully accessible. Please contact 511 to plan your trip.
Of special note is:
- The G line between Brooklyn and Queens (no service between Bedford-Nostrand Avs and Court Sq)
- The N line between Manhattan and Queens (no service between Queensboro Plaza and 57 St-7 Av, Manhattan)
- The Q line between Brooklyn and Manhattan (no service between Kings Hwy, Brooklyn, and 96 St, Manhattan)
- The R line between Manhattan and Queens (in Manhattan and Queens, trains will run via Roosevelt Island in both directions)
Head to https://www.mta.info/alerts for more details on subway operations.
Check-in for School of Data and UnSchool of Data
Begins at 9:00 am! There will be two check-in lines to manage crowd flow.
- Left of the security desk — Early Bird, General Admission, Government Tickets, and Session Speakers.
- Right of the security desk — Families with childcare tickets, VIPs, Solidarity Ticket Holders, Press, and Volunteers.
School of Data Schedule of Sessions
- 9:00 am: Doors open with a light breakfast
- 10:00 am: Opening Session with State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, Tayyab Walker, Martha Norrick, Noel Hidalgo, and Naeema Haque
- 11:00 am: Session Block 1—first set of sessions
- 12:15 pm: Session Block 2—second set of sessions; our gift shop will open
- 1:15 pm: Lunch & Networking
- 2:30 pm: Session Block 3—third set of sessions
- 3:45 pm: Session Block 4—fourth set of sessions
- 4:45 pm: Refreshments & Toast to 10 Years of Open Data Week & NYC School of Data
- 5:00 pm: Happy Hour at Origin Cafe + Wine Bar (next door to CUNY Law)
Note: If you plan to arrive later in the morning or closer to the 10 am Opening Session, the auditorium will be at capacity. We will have two overflow rooms with livestreaming on the first floor: rooms 1-202 and 1-203.
UnSchool of Data Schedule of Sessions
- 9:00 am: Doors open with a light breakfast
- 9:30 am: Opening & Session Pitches
- 11:00 am: Unconference Session Block 1
- 12:15 pm: Unconference Session Block 2
- 1:15 pm: Break—BYO Lunch
- 2:15 pm: Unconference Session Block 3
Please note that for UnSchool of Data, we will have a lunch break, but you will need to bring your own (BYO) lunch.
For a detailed list of sessions, visit < nycsodata26.sched.com >.
What to bring
We recommend that you bring:
- Note-taking equipment, laptop/tablet, and power supply, if you are attending a workshop.
- Refillable water bottle(s)
- Hand sanitizer and pocket tissues. We will have KN95 masks on site. If you would like to wear your own, please do!
- Government-issued ID, if you are sticking around for the Toast and Happy Hour, and want to drink adult beverages.
- Tote bag to carry home swag.
- Please note that for UnSchool of Data, we will have a lunch break, but you will need to bring your own (BYO) lunch.
Our session organizers have worked hard to manage your expectations. Refer to their session notes for more information. Sessions will have technical and non-technical aspects. As a result, some may recommend laptops. If you bring your laptop, don’t forget your power adapter!
For your information, we will not have a coat check, but we will have shared coat racks around the facility.
Speakers and facilitators, please move your presentations to Google Slides or to a USB drive. Presentations should be delivered from the machine in the room. Please read your speaker’s email. You might be in a room with a projector with a 4:3 or 16:9 screen. Note that we will have some Post-it notes, Sharpies, whiteboard markers, and blue tape for organizers.
Gift Shop
To support our public programs, Alfred Twu has graciously given us permission to use their “No King” illustrations. Starting at 12:15, our Information Desk will become a mini-gift shop where your extra donations to BetaNYC will be rewarded with gifts—stickers, prints, t-shirts, and our brand new tote bags!
Please visit beta.nyc/support-us-no-king to donate. Also, if you are an MWBE or union print shop in the five boroughs and want to work with us for future “gift shop” collaborations, email Noel Hidalgo at noel@beta.nyc.
Code of Conduct
At BetaNYC, we believe that everyone has a place at our events. By attending the NYC School of Data event, you are committing yourself to BetaNYC’s Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy.
- Provide a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment where all are free to fully express their ideas and identities, free from discrimination or harassment.
- Presume the value of others and cherish everyone’s ideas, skills, and contributions.
- Ensure that relationships and conversations remain respectful, participatory, and productive.
- Before entering our doors, you should read our code of conduct. Violating these rules is grounds for ejection, and we’re not kidding. < beta.nyc/code-of-conduct-anti-harassment-policy >
Name Tag Lanyards and Photo Consent
We will have two different lanyards for photo consent. If you consent to your image being captured, select a black lanyard. If you are hesitant about consent, select a red lanyard.
Lastly, do NOT take photos of children.
American Sign Language Interpretation
This year, we will provide real-time American Sign Language interpretation for our mainstage sessions and livestream. In the mainstage room, please be mindful of where interpreters are sitting and where we’re reserving space for our Deaf community members.
Session rooms will be recorded
Thanks to ISOC.LIVE, the Auditorium will be live-streamed, and we will be recording session rooms. If a room is recorded, signs will be posted at the door and inside the room.
If you do not want to be recorded, there are designated off-camera areas. Please check in with the room monitor to know where those seats are located.
Social Media & Event Back Channel
Many of us will be skeeting via the #NYCSoData hashtag on Bluesky, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We will not be on X/Twitter. Also, you can join BetaNYC’s Slack! Then, you can log in via <betanyc.slack.com > and navigate to the #event-nycsodata channel.
Health and Accessibility
Upon check-in, we ask that you wear a mask at all times (except when eating and drinking). We will have ample KF94/KF95 masks in various sizes. We know that masking prevents the spread of respiratory viruses — this is science, based on DATA!! (Also, our speakers and community members have asked for a mask policy.)
The venue is ADA-compliant. Service animals are always accepted.
Seats will be reserved for folks with mobility needs. Please be mindful of reserved signage and respect if someone is seeking support with a seat.
We will have two quiet rooms and a prayer room located on the second floor.
The conference will be delivered in English and will use technical terms. The mainstage will have real-time ASL interpretation. Sessions will vary and are designed for all levels — we will have introductory classes and discussions as well as very technical conversations. If you have any other questions, please email us at schoolofdata@beta.nyc.
Childcare
We are providing on-site childcare. If you have a childcare ticket, please see specific communication around their attendance. If they are going to eat conference food, please purchase them a ticket. Otherwise, please provide their food and snacks. If you are unable to register for on-site childcare, please email us at schoolofdata+children@beta.nyc so we can plan accordingly.
Thank you, event sponsors!
Thanks to our event sponsors, we can provide you with a low-cost, healthy, and inclusive event. Thank you, Reinvent Albany, Nava, Hayden AI, SVA Masters in Data Visualization and Communication program, The Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP) at NYU Tandon, Cyvl, CUNY Law School, ISOC.LIVE, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
We send our heartfelt thanks to our Open Data Week partners: all the session organizers and volunteers, the Open Data Team at New York City’s Office of Technology and Innovation, and Data Through Design!
Reinvent Albany advocates for transparent and accountable New York government. We work to strengthen FOIL, put government information online, and are vocal advocates for open data laws and practices. We also advocate for more accountable and better-governed state authorities, including the MTA. 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. Learn more at https://reinventalbany.org
Nava is a public benefit corporation working to make government services simple and effective. We’re trusted by some of the largest federal and state agencies to solve complex and highly scrutinized technology modernization challenges. We guide agencies constrained by legacy systems to a future with sharp user experiences built on secure, reliable, fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure. Learn more at https://www.navapbc.com
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 www.hayden.ai
SVA Masters in Data Visualization and Communication program: 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 (CUSP) 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. Learn more at https://engineering.nyu.edu/research/centers/cusp
Cyvl: 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 cyvl.com to learn more.
CUNY School of Law is the nation’s #1 public interest law school; its dual mission to practice law in the service of human needs and transform the teaching, learning, and practice of law to include those it has excluded, marginalized, and oppressed make it a singular institution. As the only publicly funded law school in New York City, CUNY Law increases access to excellent legal training through this mission. Learn more at https://www.law.cuny.edu
ISOC.LIVE is the Internet Society’s live streaming branch. Since 1997, the Internet Society has supported an open Internet since 1997. Learn more at https://isoc.live