The Numbers
SaaStr AI Annual 2026 runs May 12-14 at San Mateo County Events Center. Current registration: 2,548 attendees (1,800 paid, 748 comps). Based on historical patterns, expect final attendance to double that figure, potentially exceeding 5,000.
Here is what matters: 49.5% of registered attendees are founders, CEOs, or C-suite. Add VPs and you hit 63.1%. Add directors and you are at 72.8%.
This is not a room of junior marketers sent to learn about AI. This is a room where the people who sign contracts showed up themselves.
The Function Split
By role:
- Founder/Exec: 29.3%
- Engineering/Tech: 12.0%
- Marketing: 10.0%
- Sales/BD: 9.6%
- Product/Design: 4.4%
- Investor: 3.2%
- Customer Success: 1.5%
Three things stand out:
Engineering leaders at 12% is the new normal. Five years ago this would have been 3-4% at a SaaS event. AI pulled the builders into GTM conversations. If you sell to engineering orgs, they are here.
Marketing slightly ahead of sales (10.0% vs 9.6%). Tracks with reality: AI is reshaping marketing workflows faster than sales workflows right now. SDR automation, content gen, lifecycle ops. Marketing is the early adopter. Sales will catch up.
Customer Success at 1.5% is low. Given how much CS is being rebuilt around AI agents, that number feels light. Worth watching.
What This Means
Attendance is up 142.9% year over year. Growth is concentrated among AI-native companies, AI-curious founders, and operators navigating AI transitions. Fewer traditional B2B enterprise attendees than prior years.
Projected final mix: approximately 2,500 founders/CEOs/C-suite, 1,500 VPs/directors/heads of, 600 engineering leaders, 500 marketing leaders, 450 sales leaders, 275 investors.
If you are selling to B2B leadership during AI transformation, this is where budget holders are spending three days in May. The seniority density is the point. Walk up to someone at the coffee bar and the base rate says they run a company or report to someone who does.
Registration and agenda at saastrannual.com.