Summary: Salesforce refreshed its Dreamforce 2026 (Sept. 15-17, San Francisco and Salesforce+) accessibility guide into a first-person, day-in-the-life walkthrough covering everything from badge pickup to heading home. New this year: AI-generated captions, a rebranded "Vesties" support team, an accessible Dreamfest platform, and expanded dietary and accommodation options. Chief Accessibility Officer Catherine Nichols ties it together, and believes AI fluency starts with a foundation in accessibility.
For many people with disabilities, attending in-person conferences can feel more stressful than welcoming due to accessibility challenges. Attendees may worry about barriers they'll encounter or whether vital accommodations will actually be in place for panels, breakout sessions, and interactive activities.
At Dreamforce 2026, Salesforce is working to alleviate those concerns. Accommodations are available upon request and self-directed—centering attendees' choices for support.
Known as a champion for accessibility and inclusion, the company is using its annual event to showcase progress and ensure all attendees can fully engage.
The event now spans multiple buildings across downtown San Francisco, meaning attendees will spend much of each day moving between venues—walking, rolling, or catching an accessible shuttle to get from keynotes to breakout sessions to Dreamfest.
To prepare for attendees arriving in San Francisco from Sept. 15 to 17 for the event—with an exclusive broadcast experience on Salesforce+ for those joining remotely—Salesforce has updated its Accessible Guide to Dreamforce.
Key Takeaways
- Salesforce's accessibility guide now walks attendees through a full day at Dreamforce. Written in the first person, the guide covers what to expect before arrival, at badge pickup, between sessions, and heading home—designed for diverse cognitive processing styles.
- AI-generated captions are expanding hearing access. Breakout sessions now get AI-generated English captions, viewable on in-room monitors for larger sessions or via QR code on a personal device for smaller ones, alongside live English captions and ASL interpretation at keynotes.
- A rebranded support team is easier to spot. Trained staff known as "Vesties"—for their branded blue vests—are stationed throughout campus to help with wayfinding, accommodations, and general support.
- Accessibility now extends to Dreamfest. An accessible viewing platform is available at the concert, and companions accompanying a disabled attendee don't need a separate platform ticket.
- Accessibility and AI fluency go hand in hand. Chief Accessibility Officer Catherine Nichols frames the two as inseparable: Before employees can responsibly build with AI, they need a grounding in accessibility fundamentals.
The Dreamforce 2026 Accessibility Guide
To help attendees navigate the conference, Salesforce has updated the Accessible Guide to Dreamforce 2026 to walk through what a typical day looks like—from the steps to take before arriving, through badge pickup, sessions, breaks, and heading home. Written in the first person, the guide is designed to be engaging and easy to follow, supporting attendees with diverse cognitive processing styles.
It's clear that every attendee's path through the event will look different.
The guide walks through each stage of the day from an attendee's perspective: picking up a badge at Moscone West, going through security screening, and exploring a campus where some spaces are quiet and relaxed while others are energetic, with large crowds, live presentations, and long lines before popular sessions.
It also flags that a Quiet Zone is available whenever a break is needed, and that sidewalks, transportation areas, and shuttle stops tend to get busiest at the end of the day, when many attendees are heading home at once.
Key features include:
- Event app: The Salesforce Events app provides agendas, maps, and directions across the multi-building campus, and interactive navigation support.
- Accommodations requests: Attendees can request accommodations at registration—ideally at least two weeks in advance—or contact the Disability Help Desk via email (DisabilityHelpDesk@Salesforce.com).
- Badge pickup: Attendees wishing to avoid the peak registration period can pick up badges early on Monday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Moscone West.
- Event logistics: The guide covers security screening, what to expect when entering venues, and how to navigate between sessions and buildings.
Designing Dreamforce 2026 to Be Accessible for All
Drawing on 27 years of experience, Salesforce has designed Dreamforce 2026 with accessibility at its core. Highlights include:
- Mobility Support: Step-free pathways, ramps, and elevators run throughout the venue, including a hard path between Moscone North and South and low-pile turf on Howard Street. Motorized scooters are available through the Disability Help Desk, and mobility-device charging stations are located across campus.
- Transportation: Accessible shuttles that accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices will transport attendees to and from hotels throughout the event.
- Sensory Accommodations: Three quiet rooms across campus provide tech-free spaces for relaxation, supported by trained accessibility staff. Interactive maps in the app help attendees navigate campus at their own pace.
- Staff Training & Support: Trained staff—including accessibility ambassadors nicknamed "Vesties" for their branded blue vests—are stationed throughout campus to provide wayfinding, accommodations support, and general assistance. All staff, ambassadors, and security receive training in disability etiquette and respectful, inclusive support.
- Hearing Support: English captions are available in keynote rooms, and breakout sessions now feature AI-generated English captions—displayed on in-room monitors for larger sessions or accessible via QR code on a personal device for smaller ones. ASL interpretation is available at the Broadcast Theater and for individual sessions upon request.
- Support for Attendees Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision: Trained sighted guides, available upon request through the Disability Help Desk, can provide in-person navigation support. The Aira app is also available at no cost throughout Dreamforce, connecting attendees to trained remote visual interpreters in real time.
- Disability Help Desk: Located in Moscone West, Level 1, the Disability Help Desk coordinates accommodations, priority seating, guided tours, mobility scooters, and other support needs before and throughout the event.
- Food, Dietary & Restroom Access: Complimentary food and beverages are available at low-height counters throughout campus, with vegetarian and vegan options and clear labeling for gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free needs. Attendees can pre-order meals for pickup, and private rooms are available for pumping and milk expression. Accessible restroom stalls, including all-gender options, are available throughout Moscone Center.
- Additional Accommodations: Service animals are welcome throughout campus, with designated relief areas and water stations available. Attendees can request accommodations for their hotel rooms through Dreamforce housing, and those taking a certification exam can request extended time, assistive technology, or a separate testing environment on a case-by-case basis.
- Accessible Seating & Dreamfest: Accessible seating is prioritized in breakout sessions, with reserved accommodation seating at keynotes. Dreamfest, Dreamforce's signature concert, now includes an accessible viewing platform—and companions accompanying a disabled attendee don't need a separate platform ticket.
- Agentforce AI for Accessibility Support: Salesforce continues to use Agentforce AI to handle common accessibility-related questions from attendees, employees, and staff, freeing the team to focus on high-priority, individualized needs while still ensuring quick responses for routine inquiries.
Evaluating & Improving Accessibility
Accessibility is an ongoing priority at Dreamforce. After the event, the Office of Accessibility reviews successes, challenges, and lessons learned—informed, in part, by attendee and staff feedback collected throughout the event, including through the main Dreamforce survey.
For Catherine Nichols, Salesforce's Chief Accessibility Officer, that ongoing work is personal. She's watched how a shift toward accessibility changes the way people show up and do their best work.
As Dreamforce 2026 centers on helping organizations become an Agentic Enterprise, Nichols believes accessibility has to come first.
"Before people can be AI-fluent," she says, "they need a foundational awareness and understanding of accessibility. This baseline lets everyone use AI responsibly, build agents, and innovate."
That's the through line of her Dreamforce story this year. "AI isn't just a productivity tool," she continues. "It's becoming one of the most powerful accessibility tools and is an assistive technology reshaping workflows and events like Dreamforce.
Salesforce is a founding partner of InclusionHub, a resource for digital accessibility committed to helping businesses and organizations prioritize inclusion in the workplace. To learn more about how your organization can better support professionals with disabilities at your in-person events, visit Salesforce's a11y website.