Employee engagement events aren’t just networking opportunities. They’re your front-row seat to what’s next in workplace culture — from new technologies and fresh research to real-world strategies that actually move the needle. Whether you’re there to soak up ideas, earn certifications, or simply swap stories with peers who get it, these events are where the future of HR takes shape.
At Achievers, we’re proud to partner with forward-thinking HR leaders around the world. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 can’t-miss events for 2026 — and yes, we’ll be there too. If you’re attending, come say hello and see how our recognition platform is helping the best-run businesses shape behaviors, build culture, and get results.
When: October 27–29, 2025
Where: Orlando, Florida, United States
Who you’ll meet: Trailblazers, thought leaders, and industry experts redefining what’s possible in HR.
What to expect: The Gartner HR Symposium & Expo is built for CHROs and HR leadership teams ready to lead with impact. Across three days, you’ll dive into data-driven insights, strategic conversations, and collaborative problem-solving sessions with Gartner experts and peers who get the pressure — and potential — of modern HR.
From keynote sessions with top industry voices to practical demos from leading tech providers, this event is all about turning research into action.
Key topics include:
If you’re looking to scale what’s working — and rethink what’s not — this is your opportunity to gain fresh perspective, sharpen your strategy, and connect with other HR leaders driving real organizational change.
Register: Gartner HR Symposium & Expo
When/where: Various dates and locations
Who you’ll meet: Senior leaders, HR professionals, and decision-makers committed to building more values-driven, inclusive workplaces.
What to expect: From Day One brings together people-first business leaders to explore how companies can align values with action — across culture, leadership, and the employee experience. Each event features a curated mix of keynotes, panels, and hands-on workshops focused on turning big ideas into practical change.
From Day One is built for leaders who want to move beyond theory and drive meaningful, measurable progress — both for their people and their business.
Register: From Day One
When: September 15–18, 2025
Where: San Francisco, California, United States
Who you’ll meet: HR, finance, and IT leaders from some of the world’s most influential organizations — all looking to get more value from their tech stack.
What to expect: Workday Rising is the go-to event for customers and partners ready to take their Workday investment to the next level. With curated sessions led by Workday experts, hands-on learning, and real-world use cases, this conference helps attendees sharpen their strategies, connect cross-functionally, and find smarter ways to drive impact.
Build your own agenda across a wide range of sessions designed to support your most pressing goals — whether that’s improving workforce visibility, streamlining operations, or turning analytics into action.
If Workday powers part of your business, Workday Rising is your chance to learn, connect, and innovate — all in one place.
Register: Workday Rising
When: September 16–18, 2025
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Who you’ll meet: Senior HR leaders, tech innovators, analysts, and change-makers tackling today’s toughest workplace challenges through smarter technology.
What to expect: The HR Technology Conference is where innovation meets execution. With 200+ sessions and a speaker lineup packed with industry leaders, this event gives you a front-row seat to the future of HR — from talent management to AI, learning, and workforce analytics.
Whether you’re exploring new solutions or optimizing your existing tech stack, HR Tech delivers the strategies, tools, and insights you need to drive better business outcomes.
If you want to turn HR innovation into impact, this is the conference to attend.
Register: HR Tech Conference
When: November 3–6, 2025
Who you’ll meet: HR professionals, business leaders, and tech partners from some of the world’s most well-known brands — all focused on building better workplaces.
What to expect: UKG Aspire is where workplace technology meets real-world strategy. This annual customer conference brings together over 5,000 people leaders for three days of immersive learning, inspiration, and connection. With hands-on sessions led by UKG experts, peer insights, and deep dives into today’s most pressing workforce challenges, Aspire delivers practical takeaways for teams navigating transformation.
From fresh product insights to powerful stories of what’s working in the field, Aspire is built to help leaders unlock the full potential of their people — and their technology.
Register: UKG Aspire
When: March 17–19, 2026
Where: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Who you’ll meet: HR power players, tech disruptors, Fortune 500 execs, public sector leaders, and startup founders from across the globe.
What to expect: UNLEASH America Conference and Exhibition is the fastest-growing HR event in the world — and for good reason. It’s where bold ideas meet business impact. From trailblazing CHROs to AI experts and culture shapers, this event draws the people redefining how work works. With four expanded content stages and attendees from over 2,000 organizations, it’s the place to learn, get inspired, and future-proof your people strategy.
Register: UNLEASH America Conference and Exhibition
When: March 23–25, 2026
Where: Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Who you’ll meet: People-first executives, HR leaders, founders, VCs, and workplace tech innovators from 50+ countries — all passionate about building better work.
What to expect: Transform 2026 is where the future of work meets the people bold enough to shape it. With 4,000+ attendees, 350+ world-class speakers, and high-energy networking across three immersive days, this isn’t your standard HR conference — it’s a global gathering of changemakers at the intersection of people, technology, and culture.
Whether you’re scaling a recognition program, shaping strategy, or just looking for new ideas and a great playlist — Transform delivers.
Register: The Transform Conference
When: April 19–22, 2026
Where: San Antonio, Texas, United States
Who you’ll meet: Compensation, benefits, and rewards professionals looking to drive measurable business impact and reimagine the employee experience.
What to expect: Total Rewards ’26 isn’t just a conference — it’s a full-on immersion into the future of compensation, benefits, and recognition strategy. From curated networking moments to fresh learning formats, this event delivers real-world solutions for the retention and engagement challenges HR teams are facing right now.
Whether you’re refining your total rewards strategy or building something from the ground up, you’ll walk away with tools, ideas, and connections that actually move the needle.
Bonus: You can earn up to 11.75 credits toward your SHRM or HRCI recertification — all while networking in a high-energy, festival-like setting that makes this event one of a kind.
Register: WorldatWork Total Rewards ’26
When: June 3, 2026
Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Who you’ll meet: HR leaders, people-first execs, and culture shapers ready to elevate their recognition strategy.
What to expect: Recognition Next is Achievers’ signature event — a high-impact day dedicated to helping HR leaders turn recognition into results. Join us in Toronto to connect with forward-thinking peers, hear from industry experts, and explore what it really takes to build a culture where recognition isn’t just an add-on — it’s a driver of engagement, alignment, and business performance.
From “aha” moments to actionable next steps, this event is built to help you shape a recognition strategy that works — for your people, and for your bottom line.
Whether you’re refining a current program or starting fresh, you’ll leave with new insights and renewed clarity on what recognition can do for your organization.
Register: Coming soon!
When: June 16–19, 2026
Who you’ll meet: HR professionals, business leaders, and workplace experts from around the globe — all focused on leading through change.
What to expect: SHRM26 is your front-row seat to what’s next in HR. With over 150 sessions, 150+ expert speakers, and thousands of attendees, this four-day event covers the most urgent and emerging issues shaping the workplace today — from AI and talent strategy to pay transparency and organizational culture.
With its massive expo hall, world-class speakers, and actionable content, SHRM26 is more than a conference — it’s a launchpad for HR leaders who want to shape what’s next.
Register: SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2026
Every year, employee engagement events offer new ways for HR leaders to connect, share what’s working, and get inspired by what’s next. But the real impact comes after the event — when those ideas turn into action.
At Achievers, we work with people leaders to do just that. Whether it’s tackling retention, boosting productivity, or creating a stronger sense of belonging, our platform is built to help you turn strategy into outcomes. And at events like Recognition Next and From Day One, we hear firsthand what teams are up against — and how we can help.
You don’t have to wait for the next conference to get started. If you’re ready to build a culture of recognition that makes a real difference, we’re ready when you are.
Explore the employee engagement events shaping the future of work
See how Achievers shows up at today's engagement events
Employee engagement events are intentional activities designed to boost morale, strengthen connections, and support employee experience. When done right, they can:
Great engagement events reflect your culture and your people. Popular formats include:
A mix of formats — social, developmental, and wellness-driven — ensures something for everyone.
The best engagement events aren’t just fun — they’re thoughtful, relevant, and built around your people. To get the most out of them:
Make it fun — if it feels like a checkbox, it’s probably missing the mark
Written by
Timothy Calder
Discover how easy recognition can be with Achievers
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