20 Must-Attend L&D Conferences in Late 2025 & 2026

The difference between keeping up and building a future-ready workforce often comes down to where you get your insights. That’s why we’ve curated this list of the top 20 upcoming Learning & Development conferences in 2025 and 2026. These events bring together L&D leaders, instructional designers, HR strategists, and learning technologists to explore what’s next in upskilling, AI in learning, employee enablement, and organizational growth.

Whether you’re scaling a learning program, exploring new tools, or looking for peer-driven strategies, these L&D conferences offer practical takeaways to elevate your work.

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May

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ATD 2025 International Conference & EXPO
🗓 Dates: May 18–21, 2025
📍 Location: New Orleans, LA, USA

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What It’s About: ATD 2025 offers a global perspective on workplace learning and performance. The program spans instructional design, coaching, leadership development, DEI, learning analytics, and emerging technologies like generative AI. Alongside structured learning tracks, the EXPO floor showcases hundreds of tools and providers helping L&D teams build scalable, high-impact programs.

Who’s Going? Learning and talent professionals from 80+ countries, including L&D managers, instructional designers, people and culture leaders, and enterprise learning teams. Sample past attendees include Amazon, Meta, Deloitte, Boeing, Pfizer, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Why Attend:

• Choose from 300+ practical sessions aligned to real-world challenges across industries
• Learn how leading organizations are integrating AI, coaching, and data into their learning strategies
• Explore the EXPO to evaluate tools that support onboarding, DEI, leadership, and performance enablement
• Build your network with global peers and thought leaders across government, healthcare, tech, and beyond

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June

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TICE 2025 (Training Industry Conference & Expo)
🗓 Dates: June 17–19, 2025
📍 Location: Raleigh, NC, USA

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What It’s About: TICE is designed to help corporate learning leaders address real-world challenges in training strategy, leadership development, content design, and learning technology. The program is built around breakout sessions, roundtables, and keynote talks, offering space for meaningful discussion and hands-on learning. The agenda is customizable, allowing attendees to focus on the topics most relevant to their role and organization.

Who’s Going? Corporate L&D managers, training directors, learning consultants, and instructional leaders across industries. TICE attracts professionals building learning programs at scale—from Fortune 1000 companies to mid-sized organizations—who are looking for both strategic insights and day-to-day tools.

Why Attend:

• Practical sessions led by L&D leaders on challenges like strategic alignment, content development, and tech integration
• Roundtable discussions that surface peer-tested solutions
• Expo showcasing tools to support leadership training, onboarding, compliance, and performance enablement
• Earn up to 24 CPTM recertification hours and 14 SHRM PDCs

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Future of Work USA
🗓 Dates: June 11–12, 2025
📍 Location: The Javits Center, New York, NY, USA

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What It’s About: This two-day event brings together leaders from HR, L&D, talent, and employee experience to explore how organizations are adapting to the new realities of work. With 120+ expert speakers and over 600 senior-level attendees, Future of Work USA dives into everything from capability development and learning analytics to hybrid workforce models and organizational culture.

Who’s Going? Chief Learning Officers, Heads of Talent, HR and EX strategists, internal communications leaders, and organizational development professionals from companies like Deel, Vimeo, and Howspace. Attendees represent large enterprise teams navigating talent transformation at scale.

Why Attend:

• Hear from 120+ speakers across tracks like Future Learning, Future Talent, and Employee Experience
• Join panel discussions and solo sessions on leadership development, hybrid learning models, DEI, and retention strategy
• Network across six+ hours of structured interaction and a shared exhibition space
• Walk away with fresh thinking and vetted strategies to guide your L&D, HR, or people function into 2026

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Microlearning Conference 2025 (Virtual) 🗓 Date: June 12, 2025 – 3:00 PM CST
📍 Location: Online

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What It’s About: This compact, high-impact virtual event is focused entirely on the science, strategy, and future of microlearning. Hosted by the team behind the global Microlearning Conference series, the session is designed to explore how short-form, targeted learning experiences can drive measurable change in workplace performance.

Who’s Going? L&D professionals, digital learning designers, enablement leads, and instructional strategists exploring how microlearning can improve engagement, retention, and scalability.

Why Attend:

• 100% virtual and free to attend—ideal for remote teams and global professionals
• Program built around one focused, fast-paced session—perfect for busy schedules
• Insights on mobile-first content, spaced repetition, and microlearning ecosystems
• A great fit if you're rethinking learning delivery for modern attention spans and remote environments

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October

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Learning Conference 2025
🗓 Dates: October 1–3, 2025
📍 Location: Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, FL

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What It’s About: Hosted by RedThread Research, Learning Conference 2025 is designed for senior learning leaders who want to build L&D strategies that drive culture and business outcomes. The event is intentionally designed to foster deep, peer-to-peer learning—not passive listening. Attendees will participate in research-backed workshops, immersive roundtables, and open conversations around the future of learning and talent.

Who’s Going? CLOs, Heads of L&D, Talent Development Directors, and senior HR leaders from global organizations looking to push beyond traditional learning models and into human-centered, data-informed strategies.

Why Attend:

• Facilitated, discussion-based sessions grounded in RedThread’s original research
• Breakouts focused on leadership development, AI in L&D, and inclusive capability building
• A format designed for honest dialogue, peer mentoring, and strategic planning
• Built-in time and space for meaningful connection with leaders facing similar challenges

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TechLearn 2025
🗓 Dates: October 6–8, 2025
📍 Location: New Orleans, LA, USA

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What It’s About: Produced by Training Magazine, TechLearn is built for learning leaders who want to explore how emerging technologies—AI, XR, learning analytics, and gamification—can create meaningful training experiences. The conference combines hands-on clinics, certificate programs, and peer-led sessions focused on innovation, accessibility, and measurable results.

Who’s Going? CLOs, instructional designers, learning technologists, curriculum developers, and training managers from enterprise, government, and education sectors.

Why Attend:

• Focused content on real-world tech use cases—AI-powered workflows, immersive learning, compliance in high-risk environments
• Hands-on breakout sessions and “training test kitchens” that go beyond theory
• Certificate programs in ChatGPT, eLearning design, and Articulate Storyline
• Co-located events like GamiCon offer extra depth in gamification and engagement strategy

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World of Learning Conference & Expo 2025
🗓 Dates: October 7-8, 2025
📍 Location: NEC Birmingham, UK

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What It’s About: World of Learning is a long-running UK event focused on workplace learning strategy, learning technology, and skills development. It combines a comprehensive L&D conference with a free-to-attend expo showcasing the latest solutions in learning design, delivery, and tech. This year's program includes keynotes, case studies, and panel discussions across themes like AI, digital learning, learner engagement, and behavior change.

Who’s Going? L&D and HR professionals, instructional designers, digital learning leads, and business leaders driving people development in the UK and across Europe.

Why Attend:

• Free access to the exhibition for qualified professionals, making it highly accessible
• Practical conference sessions with a focus on implementation, not theory
• Live demos, innovation showcases, and hands-on tech areas that bring tools to life
• Intimate enough to foster real conversations with vendors, peers, and speakers
• A uniquely UK-centric lens on L&D challenges, compliance, and workplace culture

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November

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DevLearn 2025
🗓 Dates: November 12–14, 2025
📍 Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, USA

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What It’s About: DevLearn is the go-to event for exploring how technology is transforming learning and development. Hosted by The Learning Guild, it brings together L&D professionals looking to integrate AI, XR, data, and immersive media into modern learning strategies. With sessions designed by the community, DevLearn focuses on solving current challenges and building future-forward learning programs.

Who’s Going? L&D technologists, instructional designers, corporate trainers, digital learning leaders, and senior practitioners from sectors like healthcare, finance, education, and tech.

Why Attend:

• Hands-on BYOD sessions on generative AI, xAPI, VR/AR, and custom learning workflows
• Leadership exchange sessions tailored to senior L&D professionals
• North America’s largest L&D tech expo with 175+ solution providers
• Experience Rooms: immersive, sponsor-built learning environments
• Opportunities to earn certificates, connect with peers, and see real solutions in action

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December

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Online Educa Berlin (OEB) 2025
🗓 Dates: December 3–5, 2025
📍 Location: Berlin, Germany

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What It’s About: OEB is an international cross-sector conference on digital learning and training, bringing together voices from corporate L&D, higher education, government, and EdTech. With its global perspective and emphasis on innovation, the event focuses on how technology is shaping learning strategy, delivery, and equity—across both formal education and workplace development.

Who’s Going? L&D leaders, educators, EdTech entrepreneurs, instructional designers, and policy makers from 70+ countries. Attendees range from corporate training teams to university provosts and public-sector learning experts.

Why Attend:

• One of the most globally diverse digital learning events on the calendar
• Tracks focused on AI, human-centered design, learning data, and digital upskilling
• Blend of academic research and real-world case studies
• Uniquely interdisciplinary: mix with professionals from education, enterprise, and government
• Ideal for exploring global trends and tech that influence how people learn, work, and adapt

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2026 Preview

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Training 2026 Conference & Expo
🗓 Dates: February 23–25, 2026
📍 Location: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL, USA

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What It’s About: Hosted by Training Magazine, this event focuses on how corporate learning professionals can improve the design, delivery, and management of training programs. The agenda includes certification programs, immersive labs, a two-day expo, and the Learning Leaders Summit. A highlight of the event is the Training APEX Awards Gala, celebrating innovation and impact in L&D.

Who’s Going? Corporate trainers, instructional designers, L&D managers, and talent development leads from companies large and small across industries.

Why Attend:

• 100+ sessions covering onboarding, leadership, AI, behavioral learning, and more
• Certification programs and design labs built for immediate application
• Two-day expo with hands-on demos and vendor exploration
• Celebrate with peers at the black-tie Training APEX Awards Gala

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People Development Summit 2026
🗓 Dates: March 11–13, 2026
📍 Location: Dolce CampoReal, Lisbon, Portugal

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What It’s About: A curated, invite-only summit that connects senior L&D decision-makers with vetted solution providers through one-on-one meetings, case-based presentations, and facilitated networking. Attendees set their own agenda based on their business needs, with a focus on meaningful strategy conversations—not vendor pitches. Now in its 26th year, the summit blends structure and intimacy in a format designed for real decision-making.

Who’s Going? Heads of L&D, directors of talent, and organizational development leads from the UK, Ireland, and across Europe.

Why Attend:

• Build your own schedule of private solution-focused meetings
• Hear strategy talks from peers tackling similar L&D challenges
• Participate in networking that extends beyond the meeting room
• Learn in an environment that prioritizes thoughtful conversation and trust

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Transform 2026
🗓 Dates: March 23–25, 2026
📍 Location: Wynn Las Vegas, NV, USA

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What It’s About: Designed for innovators in HR, talent, and organizational culture, Transform is a future-of-work summit where leaders share bold ideas, case studies, and startup-driven breakthroughs. With an emphasis on co-creation, the event is structured around interactive sessions and high-energy keynote experiences. Past programming has included live music, curated networking, and hands-on exploration of people-first technologies.

Who’s Going? HR execs, startup founders, investors, and transformation leaders looking to rethink how organizations operate and evolve.

Why Attend:

• Learn from 350+ speakers across people strategy, leadership, and AI
• Engage in idea sprints, offstage meetups, and intimate group discussions
• Discover and demo HR tech tools from dozens of fast-growth companies
• Experience a vibe that’s more festival than tradeshow

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e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies Conference 2026
🗓 Dates: April 16–17, 2026
📍 Location: University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece + Online

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What It’s About: This academic conference explores how emerging technologies and pedagogy intersect to reshape digital learning. The 2026 theme—Human-Centered AI Transformations—brings together researchers and practitioners to share applied work in digital equity, social transformation, and instructional design. Formats include peer-reviewed papers, workshops, poster sessions, and more.

Who’s Going? Scholars, educators, instructional designers, and technologists working at the intersection of innovation and education.

Why Attend:

• Engage with original research on the future of learning and AI
• Choose in-person or online access to a diverse global program
• Connect with a community that values both rigor and relevance
• Present your own work and get feedback from a cross-disciplinary network

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The Learner Conference 2026
🗓 Dates: July 8–10, 2026
📍 Location: University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong + Online

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What It’s About: The 33rd edition of this academic conference covers education from early learning through workplace L&D, with a 2026 focus on Digital Literacy for Future Readiness. The structure spans 10 research tracks, workshops, and collaborative sessions aimed at improving educational access, inclusion, and relevance. Attendees explore how digital tools are transforming what it means to learn across the lifespan.

Who’s Going? Educators, researchers, and L&D professionals who care about learning innovation across sectors.

Why Attend:

• Hear fresh global research on learning technology, pedagogy, and access
• Join live sessions or participate virtually
• Tap into 30+ years of interdisciplinary learning research
• Apply insights from higher ed and K-12 to workplace strategy

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World of Learning Summit 2026
🗓 Dates: February 3–4, 2026
📍 Location: Olympia London, UK

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What It’s About: The World of Learning Summit is a UK-based conference and expo dedicated to practical strategies and technologies for workforce learning. It features a two-day program of case-based presentations, live debates, and hands-on learning labs, plus a free-to-attend expo with interactive zones. The event is designed to equip L&D teams with immediately applicable ideas for designing and delivering impactful learning.

Who’s Going? L&D practitioners, HR professionals, and training leads across UK enterprise, public sector, and nonprofit.

Why Attend:

• Learn from case studies and panels tailored to UK L&D priorities
• Discover tools at the free expo, including the Learning Design Live zone
• Join wellness and engagement activities that reflect the whole learner
• Walk away with real-world tactics for your 2026 learning strategy

You can’t afford to sit still in L&D. These conferences offer real-world strategies, fresh ideas, and opportunities to connect with the people reshaping workplace learning.

Which of these events are on your calendar?

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