The Best HR Events in North America in 2026: Complete Guide for People Leaders
- James Colley
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Planning your 2026 HR strategy means planning your learning, networking, and technology investments—and the right events can accelerate all three. Whether you lead people, culture, talent acquisition, L&D, HR tech, or workplace wellbeing, North America hosts some of the world’s biggest and most influential HR conferences.
This long-form guide covers the best HR events in 2026, complete with links, locations, dates, themes, and who each event is best for, so you can confidently map out your HR calendar for the year ahead.
If you run workplace wellbeing or HR-focused content, feel free to add an internal link to your resources section here.
Why HR Events Matter in 2026
2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal HR year:
AI adoption across HR is expected to hit record levels
Employee wellbeing and mental-health support continue to rank among top CHRO priorities
HR tech budgets are growing, but scrutiny on ROI is rising
Workforce models (remote, hybrid, onsite) remain fluid
Regulations across the US and Canada are shifting rapidly
Attending well-curated HR events helps teams stay aligned with best practices, benchmark against peers, and make smarter technology and people-strategy decisions.
Best HR Events in North America in 2026
Below is a comprehensive list in calendar order, making it easy for HR professionals to plan ahead.
IAMPHENOM 2026 – AI & Talent Experience Conference
Dates: March 10–12, 2026
Location: Philadelphia, PA
What to expect
IAMPHENOM is built for HR and TA leaders leaning into AI, automation, and workforce intelligence. Expect deep dives into:
AI in recruiting and talent management
Automation workflows that reduce time-to-hire
HR analytics and workforce intelligence
Hands-on product labs and demos
Best for: Talent acquisition leaders, HR tech buyers, people analytics teams.
UNLEASH America 2026 – Global Future of Work Gathering
Dates: March 17–19, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV
What to expect
UNLEASH is known globally as the “festival of HR.” You’ll find:
Big-stage keynotes (AI, digital transformation, people strategy)
Tracks on HR tech, people analytics, leadership, and EX
A large expo hall with global solutions
High-value networking with multinational HR leaders
Best for: CHROs, HR strategists, HR tech buyers, global HR leaders.
Transform 2026 – HR, Innovation & WorkTech
Dates: March 23–26, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Website: https://transform.us/about/
What to expect
Transform blends HR, startup innovation, and the future of work. This is where HR leaders meet founders, VCs, and emerging tech:
Strategy-heavy sessions on culture, workforce design, and leadership
Innovation labs and roundtables
Strong emphasis on AI, automation, and employee experience
Best for: CHROs, People VPs, founders, HR innovators, those shaping workforce strategy.
WA SHRM Annual Conference 2026 – Regional HR Leadership
Dates: March 25–26, 2026
Location: Bellevue, WA
What to expect
A high-impact regional SHRM event with:
Practical workshops on US HR compliance
Sessions on people leadership and HR operations
Local networking in the Pacific Northwest
Best for: HR managers, HRBPs, HR directors across Washington state and Oregon.
Workhuman Live 2026 – Culture, Recognition & Belonging
Dates: April 27–30, 2026
Location: Orlando, FL
Website: https://www.workhumanlive.com/
What to expect
Workhuman Live is one of the most emotionally powerful HR conferences—designed around humanity, gratitude, EX, and culture:
Behavioral science-based keynotes
Workshops on recognition, engagement, and belonging
Research-backed strategies for improving culture and performance
Best for: EX leaders, rewards & recognition teams, wellbeing champions.
HR Tomorrow Conference 2026 – University-Backed Strategic HR
Date: May 1, 2026
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Website: University of Minnesota HR Tomorrow (updates via the Carlson School)
What to expect
This academic–practitioner hybrid event includes:
Research-backed HR insights
Practical sessions on the future of work
Regional networking and executive roundtables
Best for: HR strategists, HRBPs, Midwest HR leaders, and future CHROs.
SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2026 – The World’s Largest HR Event
Dates: June 16–19, 2026
Location: Orlando, FL
Website: https://annual.shrm.org/
What to expect
The biggest and broadest HR conference globally:
375+ sessions across all HR disciplines
Huge expo for HR tech, benefits, and consulting
Certification credits
Global HR networking
Best for: Any HR professional needing comprehensive learning. If you pick one event in 2026, this is it.
NCDA Global Career Development Conference 2026 – Coaching & Careers
Dates: June 30 – July 2, 2026
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Website: https://www.ncda.org
What to expect
A career- and coaching-focused event ideal for L&D and internal mobility:
Skill-building for career coaching
Sessions on reskilling, upskilling, and internal pathways
Tools for modern career development frameworks
Best for: L&D, talent management leaders, HRBPs focused on mobility.
Indeed FutureWorks 2026 – Hiring & Recruitment Innovation
Dates: September 2–3, 2026
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Website: https://indeedfutureworks.com/
What to expect
A forward-looking hiring event anchored around Indeed’s tools and labour-market insights:
AI hiring tools and product updates
Recruiting analytics and candidate experience
Hands-on workshops for TA teams
Best for: Talent acquisition leaders, employer brand, recruitment marketing.
McLean & Company “Signature 2026” – Evidence-Based HR Strategy
Dates: October 4–6, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV
What to expect
A research-based HR leadership conference:
CHRO panels and executive roundtables
Benchmarking and evidence-based HR frameworks
Strategy-focused learning with real-world data
Best for: CHROs, VPs of People, and senior HR leaders.
HRPA Summit 2026 – Canada’s Leading HR Event
Date: October 19, 2026
Location: Toronto, ON
Website: https://summit.hrpa.ca/2026
What to expect
A Canadian-focused summit featuring:
Compliance and Canadian labour law updates
Sessions on people strategy and leadership
Networking across Ontario and national HR communities
Best for: Canadian HR leaders and US HR leaders with employees in Canada.
HR Technology Conference & Exposition 2026 – The Ultimate HR Tech Event
Dates: October 20–22, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV
What to expect
The most important HR tech event for system buyers, HRIS teams, and analytics leaders:
Deep HRIS, AI, automation, and people analytics content
The largest HR tech expo globally
Vendor demos, product roadmaps, and system comparison workshops
Best for: HRIS leads, HR tech buyers, CHROs making technology decisions.
Sample 2026 HR Event Strategy (Pick Your Track)
Use this guide to build an HR calendar that matches your organisation’s priorities.
If you need broad HR learning:
SHRM Annual (June)
Workhuman Live (April)
If you’re building or replacing HR tech:
UNLEASH America (March)
HR Tech (October)
Optional add-ons: IAMPHENOM, Indeed FutureWorks
If you’re the CHRO or VP People:
Transform (March)
Signature 2026 (October)
SHRM Annual (June)
If you operate mainly in Canada:
HRPA Summit (October)
Add SHRM Annual or Workhuman Live for cross-border perspective.
FAQs: HR Events in North America (2026)
Which HR event is the biggest in 2026?
SHRM Annual Conference & Expo is the largest, with thousands of attendees and hundreds of sessions.
What is the best HR tech conference in 2026?
The HR Technology Conference & Exposition is the leading global HR tech event.
Which HR conference should talent acquisition teams attend?
Top picks: IAMPHENOM, Indeed FutureWorks, UNLEASH America.
What is the most strategic CHRO-level event?
Transform and McLean Signature 2026 have the strongest strategic and future-of-work focus.
Are there affordable regional HR events?
Yes—WA SHRM and HR Tomorrow are strong options without the cost of major national events.
What themes dominate HR events in 2026?
AI adoption
Employee wellbeing
Workforce skills & mobility
Leadership & culture
HR technology integration
Comments