GRAPEVINE, Texas — Disaster Recovery Journal marked a major milestone Sept. 27-30 as more than 650 business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, risk management, and resilience professionals gathered in Texas for DRJ’s 75th conference.
Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, DRJ Fall 2026 welcomed more than 500 paid attendees, along with approximately 150 vendors and members of the DRJ board. More than 100 additional professionals participated virtually.
The four-day conference featured 60 educational sessions spanning general sessions, workshops, breakout sessions, Idea Labs, and Masterclasses. The broad range of topics reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of operational resilience, with sessions addressing business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, risk management, and other areas critical to helping organizations prepare for and respond to disruption.
“The depth and variety of the content continues to be one of the things that makes DRJ conferences special,” said Bob Arnold, president of Disaster Recovery Journal. “Our attendees come from different disciplines and face different challenges, but they share a common goal of building organizations that can withstand disruption. Bringing those perspectives together creates an educational experience that goes well beyond any single discipline.”
Artificial intelligence was again a major topic throughout the conference. Dedicated sessions examined AI and its potential applications in resilience-related disciplines, but the technology also found its way into discussions across the broader program. Even sessions that were not specifically focused on AI frequently addressed how organizations are using or evaluating the technology.
At the same time, discussions emphasized the importance of putting AI into perspective.
“AI is going to continue changing the way we work, but we should never lose sight of the fact that it is another tool in the toolbox,” Arnold said. “The fundamentals of resilience still matter. We have to understand our organizations, understand our risks, and make sound decisions about the tools and technologies that can help us address those risks.”
The conference also provided opportunities for attendees to connect outside the educational sessions. Monday night’s hospitality event brought attendees, sponsors, and industry professionals together for an evening of networking. The event also included the presentation of BCI Americas awards, recognizing several DRJ attendees for their contributions to the business continuity and resilience community.
The conference concluded with DRJ Jeopardy, hosted by Mike Janko and Jerome Ryan. The game featured industry-related questions, along with categories focused on DRJ’s history in recognition of the organization’s 75th conference. The event gave attendees one more opportunity to connect, compete, and celebrate the history of the DRJ community.
Networking remained a central part of the conference experience, and DRJ is planning to put even more emphasis on interaction between attendees and industry experts in 2027.
The upcoming conference schedule will feature new DRJ Exchanges, informal, Q&A-driven sessions focused on selected industry topics. Rather than following the traditional presentation format, the exchanges will encourage attendees to ask questions, share experiences, and engage directly with leading experts.
The new format will be part of a revamped course schedule planned for next year, giving attendees additional opportunities to participate in discussions rather than simply listen to presentations.
“Education is important, but the conversations that happen between sessions and the connections people make at DRJ are just as valuable,” Arnold said. “We want to create even more opportunities for attendees to interact with experts and with one another. The DRJ Exchanges are designed to make those conversations a central part of the conference experience.”
DRJ also will introduce two new conference venues in 2027.
DRJ Spring 2027 will take place March 21-24 at the Caribe Royale Orlando. The move will give attendees a new setting for the spring conference while keeping the event in the Orlando area.
DRJ Fall 2027 will return to San Diego, a longtime West Coast destination for DRJ conferences. The event will be held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, a venue that has been a favorite among many DRJ attendees over the years.
The move to San Diego represents a return to a location that has hosted the DRJ community for many years and gives attendees an opportunity to once again experience the conference in one of the organization’s most familiar West Coast destinations.
DRJ Fall 2026 would not have been possible without the support of its sponsors. Platinum sponsors were Fusion Risk Management and Everbridge. Gold sponsors were C2, Crisis24, and Recovery Point. Silver sponsors were AlertMedia, Arpio, Arcova, Assured Data Protection, Control Risks, Dataminr, Firefly, Flexential, KETCHConsulting, MEO Continuity, and Mitratech. Bronze sponsors were Agility Recovery, BlackBerry, CLDigital, Continuity Innovations, Fortiv, Kyndryl, Premier Continuum, Pronto Recovery, QS Consulting, Riffle Resilience, Ripcord, and Veoci.
“Our sponsors, speakers, board members, and attendees are what make these conferences possible,” Arnold said. “I want to thank every organization and individual who contributed to DRJ Fall 2026. Their support, expertise, and participation helped make our 75th conference a meaningful milestone for the DRJ community.”
With its 75th conference now complete, DRJ will turn its attention to 2027, with two new venues, an expanded approach to interactive education, and new opportunities for the resilience community to connect.
The locations may be changing, but the focus remains the same: bringing together the people responsible for helping organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruption.
