14 Best Employee Engagement Conferences in 2026 to Elevate Your Workforce

Boredom, sour attitudes, plummeting productivity… If you’re noticing these signs in your workplace, you’re not alone. A 2024 Gallup survey found that only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged, the lowest figure in a decade. 

Employee engagement conferences might be just what you need to buck this trend. 

These events bring together HR professionals and executives to discuss the latest advancements and best practices for employee engagement. They give you the opportunity to learn from visionary leaders (and the occasional celebrity), network, and pick up some practical strategies for your organization. 

Of course, not every conference will focus on the topics you’re interested in – and some won't have the crowd you're looking for. Here are the best employee engagement events to consider adding to your 2026 calendar. 

1. Workhuman Live Orlando 

• Date: April 27-30, 2026
• Location: Orlando, Florida (Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: From $1595 (team discounts are also available) 
• Key focus: Employee retention, employee wellness, organizational design, performance management, leadership development 
• Notable speakers: Past speakers include Adam Grant, Brené Brown, Michael C. Bush, and Simon Sinek
• Ideal for: Human resource (HR) professionals and people leaders looking for energizing, timely conferences 
• Register here: www.workhumanlive.com/pricing/ 

Why attend 

Workhuman Live is one of the world’s top HR and employee engagement conferences, designed to put the human back in the workplace. In 2026, the four-day event returns April 27–30 in Orlando, Florida, bringing together more than 3,000 HR professionals, business leaders, and culture experts from around the globe.

Attendees will explore today’s biggest employee experience and workplace culture challenges through more than 50 breakout sessions and keynotes on topics like:

• Employee engagement and recognition
• Well-being and workplace wellness
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B)
• Employee experience design and organizational resilience
• Leadership, motivation, and personal growth

Alongside world-class speakers and hands-on workshops, participants will gain actionable strategies and tools to strengthen connection, performance, and purpose across their organizations.

Networking is a highlight of every Workhuman Live experience. You’ll connect with peers during interactive sessions, social events, and evening celebrations, or while relaxing poolside between sessions.

Hosted at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, the venue offers everything in one place. It’s also minutes from Walt Disney World® and Universal Orlando Resort™.

Join us in 2026 to re-energize your people strategy and elevate the human experience at work.

2. Engage Employee Summit

• Date: May 20-21, 2026 
• Location: London, UK (Evolution London) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: Free for a single ticket, £295 for premium tickets with access to talk recordings 
• Key focus: Employee collaboration; employee wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion; internal communications; organizational culture
• Notable speakers: Nikki Humphrey, Des Mhere, Jessica Barlow
• Ideal for: HR professionals, C-level managers 
• Register here: www.engageemployee.com/engage-employee-summit-registration 

Why attend 

The Engage Employee Summit is a two-day event with case study-driven presentations and workshops from leading brands. Attendees participate in interactive debates, fireside chats, and actionable solutions to improve the employee journey. 

The 2026 employee engagement summit will focus on six topic areas, including collaboration and employee wellbeing.

3. Great Place To Work For All Summit

• Date: April 21-23, 2026 
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (Hilton at Resorts World) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: $1,795 early bird pricing (ends December 31, 2025)
• Key focus: Inclusive leadership; talent recruitment and retention 
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: Business leaders 
• Register here: www.greatplacetowork.com/for-all-summit#3761 

Why attend 

The Great Place To Work For All Summit is designed to help leaders build more positive work cultures. Learn how award-winning workplaces are reimagining the employee experience and tackling business challenges. 

This event focuses on practical leadership strategies you can use to meet your employees’ changing needs. Plus, you’ll discover the latest research from Great Place To Work and learn how to use these findings to become a stronger, more empathetic leader. 

4. goHappy Summit

• Date: April 14-16, 2026 
• Location: Charlottesville, Virginia (Boar’s Head Resort) 
• Event format: In-person, invitation-only 
• Pricing: Not announced yet
• Key focus: Frontline employee engagement
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: HR leaders and executives in hospitality, retail, and other service-focused industries 
• Register here: www.gohappyhub.com/summit 

Why attend 

By invitation only, the goHappy Summit is more intimate and relaxed than traditional employee engagement conferences. It brings together a small group of leaders interested in empowering frontline employees, such as nurses and waitstaff. 

The summit includes interactive sessions and world-class keynote speakers. When you need a breather, recharge with a stroll through the Boar’s Head Resort’s gardens and nature trails. 

5. Gartner Digital Workplace Summit

• Date: March 23-24, 2026
• Location: San Diego, California (Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: $3,650 early bird pricing, $3,995 standard price 
• Key focus: Artificial intelligence, digital employee experience, hybrid work, technology adoption 
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: Digital workplace leaders 
• Register here: www.gartner.com/en/conferences/na/digital-workplace-us/register 

Why attend 

This conference focuses on engaging remote and hybrid employees. Attend sessions about digital engagement and technology adoption. You can also visit the show floor to test-drive new workplace tools from Gartner and other top vendors. 

Need specific advice? Gartner experts will be on hand to offer guidance through one-on-one meetings and Ask the Expert sessions. You can also network with industry peers during roundtables and workshops. 

6. HR Minds Summit

• Date: March 10-11, 2026 
• Location: Birmingham, UK (Vox Conference Centre) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: £995.00
• Key focus: Artificial intelligence, employee engagement, HR technology, skills development, talent retention
• Notable speakers: Request to view the speaker list: hrminds-summit.com/live/en/page/request-to-view-speakers 
• Ideal for: HR professionals 
• Register here: hrminds-summit.com/live/en/page/book-now-2026 

Why attend 

Innovation is the name of the game at this HR conference. It covers the latest HR technologies, including automation and artificial intelligence tools. You’ll also learn how to use digital tools to boost employee engagement and attract fresh talent. 

7. SHRM Talent

• Date: April 19-22, 2026
• Location: Dallas, Texas (Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center) 
• Event format: Hybrid (in-person with virtual access) 
• Pricing: $1,795 early bird pricing (ends December 19, 2025), $1,995 for standard ticket, $2,195 for onsite purchase 
• Key focus: Artificial intelligence, skills development, talent management, workplace culture  
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: HR professionals, talent managers 
• Register here: shop.shrm.org/SHRM-TALENT-2026 

Why attend

This annual conference centers on skill development and talent management. The inspiring speakers will lead fast-paced sessions on career agility, data-driven hiring, global workforce ecosystems, and other topics. 

Connect with other professionals during breakout sessions and networking lunches. And don’t forget to prioritize self-care with daily wellness sessions – filled with resilience-building activities you can take back to your team. 

8. Future of Work Expo

• Date: February 10-12, 2026 
• Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Broward County Convention Center) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: $199 to $2,999 early bird pricing (ends February 10, 2026), $149 to $4,999 standard pricing 
• Key focus: Cybersecurity, data privacy, hybrid work, workforce engagement, workplace strategy
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: Business and IT leaders in hybrid companies 
• Register here: www.futureofworkexpo.com/registration.aspx 

Why attend 

The Future of Work Expo is one of the more tech-focused employee engagement summits. It covers a wide range of topics, including AI, network and cloud management for hybrid workplaces, and compliance with data laws. 

The event includes keynote talks from tech leaders and interactive sessions. One highlight is the annual IDEA Showcase, where entrepreneurs compete to pitch the best startup ideas to a panel of judges. 

9. Wellbeing at Work Summit USA

• Date: March 3-5, 2026 
• Location: New York on March 3, online on March 4, and Austin, Texas, on March 5  
• Event format: Hybrid (in-person and virtual) 
• Pricing: $249 per day 
• Key focus: HR technology, workplace wellbeing
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: Senior HR and wellness leaders 
• Register here: wellbeingatwork.world/summit/wellbeing-at-work-summit-us-2026/#Tickets 

Why attend

Support mental health in ways that actually move the needle. The Wellbeing at Work Summit mixes two in-person cities with a virtual day and 100+ expert-led roundtables focused on practical plays for internal communication, manager enablement, and wellbeing across the employee lifecycle. 

You’ll leave with real frameworks to strengthen company culture, boost engagement, and make “human-centric and productive” more than a slogan.

10. From Day One Live 2026: Washington D.C.

• Date: February 10, 2026 
• Location: Washington, D.C. (Convene Hamilton Square) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: $107.48 early bird pricing (ends December 23, 2025), $427.60 general admission 
• Key focus: AI and HR technology, employee engagement, learning and development, talent acquisition and skills-based hiring 
• Notable speakers: Kimberly Young
• Ideal for: DEI officers, learning and development specialists, talent and recruitment managers 
• Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/from-day-one-washington-dc-2026-tickets-1323808309289 

Why attend 

Join HR leaders as they discuss innovative solutions to build company culture and make work more fulfilling. You’ll attend interactive sessions and learn how to use AI tools to speed up daily HR activities. 

11. North American HR Executive Summit

• Date: March 30-April 1, 2026 
• Location: Orlando, Florida (Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista)
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: $3,995 
• Key focus: DEI, employee recognition and wellness, high-impact leadership, HR technology 
• Notable speakers: James Neal, Fiona Cicconi, Gena Smith, Tami Majer, Betty Larson, Katharyne Gabriel 
• Ideal for: HR executives, industry leaders 
• Register here: www.executiveplatforms.com/NAHRES/register 

Why attend

This summit is the place to be for HR executives and experts. Over 90% of attendees are director level and above - think VP and senior vice president - which makes it a prime networking event. 

Over 40 speakers will lead sessions on HR technologies and trends. One-on-one mentoring meetings and fireside chats give you more chances to connect with some of the top thinkers in HR. 

12. Transform 2026

• Date: March 23-25, 2026
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (Wynn Las Vegas) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: $1,495 early bird pricing, $2,795 standard tickets 
• Key focus: The future of work 
• Notable speakers: Kim Beauvais, Melissa Bolandi, Lance Bradshaw, Natalie Breece, Elana Brickner, and Angela Briggs-Paige 
• Ideal for: Executives, entrepreneurs, workforce tech investors 
• Register here: transform.us/register 

Why attend 

As you can probably guess from the name, Transform 2026 is all about, well, transforming workplaces and work cultures. 

Over 350 HR leaders will share their thoughts about the future of work during interactive group discussions, roundtables, and hands-on workshops. Plus, get a sneak peek at new solutions during product showcases. And don’t miss the after-party (complete with musical entertainment) for even more networking fun. 

13. International Employee Experience Awards

• Date: June 5, 2026  
• Location: London 
• Event format: Hybrid (London and virtual) 
• Pricing: $449 to $1,299 early bird pricing, depending on the number of entries  
• Key focus: Employee engagement, recognition, and well-being; training and professional development 
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: Organizations that want to receive recognition for their employee engagement efforts 
• Register here: Not open yet.

Why attend 

Unlike conventional conferences, the International Employee Experience Awards celebrate businesses with exceptional employee experience initiatives. Organizations compete in several categories, including: 

• Best Place To Work 
• Best Reward and Recognition 
• Best Workplace Flexibility

Finalists get in-depth feedback about their employee experience from a panel of judges. The event also includes peer-to-peer learning sessions and an online awards ceremony. 

14. X4 2026: The Experience Management Summit

• Date: March 17-19, 2026 
• Location: Seattle, Washington (Seattle Convention Center) 
• Event format: In-person 
• Pricing: Not announced yet 
• Key focus: Experience management, organizational transformation  
• Notable speakers: Not announced yet 
• Ideal for: Experience managers, HR professionals 
• Register here: www.qualtrics.com/x4summit

Why attend

X4 centers on experience management strategies and tools. Learn tips and tricks for improving employee satisfaction as you listen to keynotes, join panel discussions, and interact with peers in the aptly-named Connection Lab. Qualtrics also offers 20 courses led by its experts. 

Tips for getting the most out of these conferences 

It’s normal to feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed at employee experience conferences. As you scroll through a jam-packed schedule or wade into a crowded venue, you may wonder where to even start.

Don’t flee back to your hotel room just yet. These simple strategies will help you have a more enjoyable and productive conference experience. 

Plan ahead

You probably wouldn’t go to the movie theater without knowing what you want to see. The same rule applies to HR conferences. 

Check out the session lineup ahead of time and map out a schedule that fits your goals. Are you itching to grow your professional network? Head to the welcome reception to mingle (with a few breaks to raid the charcuterie board, of course). Looking for new ways to engage long-term employees? Check out sessions about employee retention and wellness activities. 

Schedule time for self-care, too. If there aren’t any relevant sessions for an hour, head outside for a quick walk or duck out for a coffee. Frequent breaks will help you avoid conference burnout and process what you’re learning. 

Network with peers

Just because the keynote speakers are the big headliners doesn’t mean they’re the only people worth networking with. Take the time to get to know other attendees, especially those who go to the same sessions as you. They probably have similar interests and may be willing to exchange advice and resources. 

Step up your networking game with these tips: 

• Bring business cards with your contact details and social media accounts. Some professionals add a QR code that links to their professional websites, too. 
• Snap a quick photo of other attendees’ cards. That way, you won’t have to worry about losing them or accidentally splattering them with coffee. 
• Invite other attendees to connect with you on LinkedIn so you can stay in touch after the conference. 
• Go to social events and informal gatherings, such as post-conference dinners and pool parties. 
• Did you love a particular presentation? Invite the speaker for coffee or lunch to continue the discussion.  
• Ask thoughtful and upbeat questions during Q&A sessions. After a presentation on employee wellness, for instance, you might say, “Can you tell us more about how your staff responded to your weekly yoga sessions?” Questions like this let speakers expand on their points and show that you’re genuinely interested in their advice. 
• Share photos on social media with the conference hashtag, such as #WorkhumanLive. This tag can help you make meaningful connections with other people posting about their experiences at the event. 
• Look for people hovering at the edges of groups and make it a point to include them in the conversations. Networking can be awkward for everyone, and a little kindness may lead to great connections. 

Attend workshops

While keynotes can be gold mines of information, you should also take the time to attend as many hands-on learning activities as possible. For example, Transform 2025 included workshops on AI tools and conflict resolution. Sessions like these teach practical skills you can apply immediately in your workplace (or maybe even on the plane ride home). 

Engage with exhibitors

Many employee engagement conferences invite exhibitors to showcase their platforms and tools. Don’t just speedwalk through their booths. Take the time to explore what they have to offer and see if they’ll give you a quick demo. 

Pick their brains, too. For example, you might say, “My newer employees seem disengaged after onboarding. How could this recognition software help me motivate them?” Or, “I’m curious about using AI to schedule employees, but I’m nervous it might hurt morale. How does your platform handle that?” 

Who knows? You might stumble across the perfect solution for all your engagement woes – or, at least, get a fresh perspective about how to address them. 

Follow up

It’s normal to need a few days to recover after a conference, especially if it's a grueling multi-day event. But don’t forget about all the new acquaintances you’ve made. Continue to build those relationships in the weeks and months following the conference. Otherwise, your new network will quickly wither. 

Here are a few ways to initiate follow-up conversations: 

• Reach out through LinkedIn or email to share a relevant resource. For example, you might write, “I just came across this fascinating article on AI recruiting tools and thought of your panel on bias. I wanted to pass it along in case it’s helpful!” 
• Invite them for an in-person or virtual coffee meeting to share ideas and tips. 
• Ask if they’d be interested in pitching a panel or interactive workshop with you for next year’s conference. 

Make your engagement goals a reality in 2026 

Employee engagement conferences are excellent resources for any HR professional. They give you rapid-fire exposure to some of the greatest thinkers and ideas in the field. As you bounce from panels to networking events to workshops, you’ll learn new strategies and tools for engaging your team. 

Plus, these events offer invaluable networking opportunities. You can commiserate with peers – “my staff is so burned out, too” – and swap tips for overcoming challenges. It’s a great way to build lasting connections and get fresh ideas. 

Ready to revamp your workplace culture? Check out Workhuman Live 2026 for bold content and a truly energizing experience you’ll be thinking about all year. 

About Alex Yap-Dubois

Alex is a workplace storyteller with a knack for breaking big ideas into clear, actionable insights. As an author on the Workhuman Live Blog, he focuses on list-style articles that bring clarity to the most pressing workplace trends, from recognition and culture to leadership and the future of work. With a background in digital strategy and content creation, he approaches every topic with a balance of research and practical takeaways, helping readers find inspiration they can put into action right away.