STAREAST 2026

STAREAST 2026 took place from 26 April to 1 May 2026 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida, with virtual attendance available. Under the theme Testing for an Intelligent World, the programme featured over 75 talks including keynotes, tutorials and sessions, with pre-conference training and certification classes for in-person attendees. Keynote speakers included Kristel Kruustük of Testlio, Dona Sarkar of Microsoft, Chris Huntingford, Joel Deutscher and Rob Lambert, plus a generative AI panel led by Adam Auerbach.

Keynotes

Keynotes are included in all passes! These industry visionaries will take the stage for in-depth discussions on trending topics.

Pre-Conference Training

Maximize your in-person learning and stay ahead of emerging trends in the industry by participating in a pre-conference training class. Provided by our partner, Coveros, each class is led by respected experts with years of practical experience. Our Powerhouse Pass includes a complete conference experience plus all of your training and certification fees, making it easy to maximize your learning experience—and your savings.

Tutorials

Full- and half-day tutorials are consistently the most popular and highly rated part of STAREAST. Tutorials allow you to take a deeper dive into the topics below so that you can learn more to make improvements to everyday processes in the areas that matter most to you.

Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent sessions offer attendees the flexibility to explore a variety of topics throughout the conference on Wednesday and Thursday in order to customize their learning experience. Learn both enterprise foundations and new methodologies to grow your skills, supercharge your knowledge, and re-energize your career growth.

Testing and Quality Leadership Summit

Thursday, April 30 | 5:30pm ET & Friday, May 1 | 8:00am-3:30pm ETThis full-day event is available for in-person registrations only.

As new and innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, generative AI, and new approaches to automated testing continue to revolutionize software testing and quality, testing leaders must explore the impact these innovations have on business strategies and direction. From setting strategic visions for quality engineering to fostering ethical and responsible practices as AI capabilities become the norm, strong leadership is essential for software quality and testing to be successful. But like any change, some challenges and pitfalls must be overcome to make these innovations successful. Join in the conversation with your peers as experienced technology leaders share ways to lead and incorporate innovations into software testing and quality. Discover how seasoned leaders have grown their leadership skills and what they believe the keys are to becoming exceptional leaders in this emerging field.

At the 2026 Testing & Quality Leadership Summit, program chair Jeffery Payne and industry quality leader Melissa Benua team up to lead an interactive exchange of ideas and experiences. Each of these leaders brings a unique perspective on leadership to the table and will provide Summit participants with lessons learned and practical techniques for leading teams, addressing management challenges, and gaining senior management buy-in.

Women Who Test

Friday, May 1, 2026 | 8:30am-11:30am ETAvailable as a Free Bonus session for In-Person Registrations Only.

Women Who Test will take place in Orlando and is designed for women to network with other women who work in software testing. It is also a unique way to learn from and be inspired by each other. The program will cover testing topics and will support women’s personal and career journeys and include content like: reengineering your life, growing your personal brand, setting goals, discovering your career superpowers, and how to problem-solve when you are a female in the tech industry where your gender is outnumbered 7:3.Join women test engineers, managers, CEOs, and consultants for some truly inspiring talks and fascinating group work.

To reserve your seat for Women Who Test, add on this complimentary bonus session to your conference pass upon your in-person registration.