Workday Rising 2026: 7 Things We’re Excited For

Workday Rising is heading to Las Vegas October 12–15, and the DailyPay team is already packing our bags. Between the keynotes, the sessions, and a headliner we did not see coming, this year’s lineup gives us a lot to look forward to. Here’s what’s on our radar.

1. Kelly Clarkson headlines the party.

Let’s start with the fun one: Kelly Clarkson is taking the stage at this year’s Customer Appreciation Party. Four days of enterprise software talk followed by a full-throated singalong is exactly the kind of balance a Rising week needs. Pack accordingly.

2. The keynotes on agentic AI, from the people building it.

Workday co-founder and CEO Aneel Bhusri, President of Product and Technology Gerrit Kazmaier, and Chief AI Officer Joel Hellermark are taking the main stage to talk about where agentic HR and finance are headed. With more than 400 sessions on the agenda this year, this is shaping up to be the most AI-focused Rising yet, and we’re glad to have a seat in the audience.

3. Getting hands-on at Rising Central.

Rising Central is where the conference moves from watching to doing. Instead of viewing AI agents in a demo, attendees get hands-on with the tools themselves. Workday points to results like 20% productivity gains and 95% frontline hiring automation from teams already using them. We’re looking forward to seeing what that looks like in practice, straight from the people who’d actually use it.

4. Our own sessions — including a first look at something new.

We’re taking the stage a few times this year, and each session tackles a different piece of the same question: what do frontline workers actually need, and are employers keeping up?

• Explore the New DailyPay + Workday Integration — a first look at Workday’s only native On-Demand Pay integration, built by Workday’s own engineers to better support frontline workers, plus a live technical demo of how it works.
• Workplace Expectations and the Frontline Worker — new research from DailyPay and Workday finds that half of frontline workers feel their workplace has stagnated or worsened over the last five years. This panel explores the gap between what employers offer and what workers need.
• Technology Gen Z Trusts and Values — a look at the gap between the tools employers roll out and the tools employees actually use, and how to close it.

If you’re at Rising in person, add all three sessions to your calendar.

5. Braindates: Workday’s take on peer-to-peer problem-solving.

Workday describes it as “like group therapy, but with more ROI.” Braindates connect attendees working through the same challenges, no vendor pitch required. It’s one of the more useful, low-key parts of the week, and the kind of conversation that’s hard to find outside a conference hallway.

6. Party with the Goo-Goo Dolls.

We’re teaming up with The Groove and ADP for an evening of conversation and connection during the show. If you’re at Rising, it’s worth adding to your calendar. Details and registration are coming soon.

7. The small stuff that makes a long week easier.

Workday is bringing back the tranquility zone, the wellness center, and the therapy dogs. After a full day on the show floor, we’ll be finding the dogs.

Will you be at Workday Rising 2026? Find us at our booth or reach out to schedule a meeting. We’d love to connect.