People Analytics Conferences in 2026: Where Are We Heading?

The People Analytics field continues to evolve — and so does the conference circuit.

Last year, Richard Rosenow surveyed ~120 practitioners to understand which events they were prioritizing, which ones were on their wish lists, and what they really want from conferences. The results were clear:

• Networking is still king.
• Practitioners want fewer sales pitches and more real case studies.
• Smaller, curated, and community-driven events are gaining momentum.
• Budgets are tight — which means intentional choices matter more than ever.

Now it’s time to look ahead.

🎟️ Take the 2026 People Analytics Conference Survey (Win Free Tickets!)

We’re launching our 2026 People Analytics Conference Survey to understand:

• Which events you’re planning to attend
• Which conferences make your wish list
• What makes an event worth your time and budget

As a thank you, survey participants will be entered to win free tickets to upcoming 2026 People Analytics conferences.

👉 Take the 2026 Survey Here
(2–3 minutes. Big impact.)

We’ll publish the full findings again this year to help the community navigate the ever-growing event landscape.

What We Learned Last Year

Before we look forward, here’s a quick recap of what practitioners told us in 2025:

1️⃣ Local Meetups Are Thriving

More than 40% of respondents prioritized local People Analytics meetups — up significantly year over year.

Why?
Low cost. High connection. Real conversations.

From NYC and the Bay Area to Brisbane, Stockholm, Toronto, and beyond, grassroots communities are shaping the future of the field.

2️⃣ The “Big Pillars” Still Matter

Events like:

• SIOP
• People Analytics World (London & NYC)
• Wharton People Analytics
• TALREOS
• HR Tech

…remain anchors of the conference circuit, blending research, practitioner case studies, and industry innovation.

But even for these flagship events, attendees asked for:

• More structured networking
• More practitioner-led sessions
• More hands-on workshops
• Better advance planning for budget approvals
  
  

3️⃣ Experience > Agenda Density

One of the strongest themes from last year: “Less content. More connection.”

Practitioners don’t need 12 concurrent sessions per hour.
They want meaningful conversations, curated roundtables, and space to think.

Conference organizers: the bar has been raised.

What Will 2026 Look Like?

We’re seeing a few emerging shifts:

• 🎯 More niche, targeted events (Director+ audiences, invite-only roundtables)
• 🌍 Continued global expansion of PA communities
• 🤝 Hybrid models that increase accessibility
• 🧠 Deeper integration of AI, workforce strategy, and org design themes

But we need your input to confirm the trends.

👉 Take the 2026 Survey & Enter to Win Free Tickets

Let’s build the definitive guide to the 2026 People Analytics conference landscape — together.

Connect With Us in 2026

Are you planning your 2026 conference calendar already?

Tell us where you’ll be — we’d love to meet in person.

Stay connected on upcoming virtual and in-person events.

2026 People Analytics Meetup Groups

And now, the heartbeat of the community — the meetups.

These gatherings happen throughout the year and are one of the most accessible, high-impact ways to stay connected in the field.

Definitive global list:
https://societyforpeopleanalytics.org/meet-ups

United States

• New York – Jeremy Shapiro / Stela Lupushor
• Bay Area – Annika Schultz / Mariah Norell
• Chicago – Chris Broderick
• Philadelphia – Fiona Jamison, Ph.D.
• Pittsburgh – Ken Clar / Richard Rosenow
• Minneapolis – Stephanie Murphy, Ph.D. / Mark H. Hanson
• Seattle – Bennet Voorhees / Marcus Baker / Philip Arkcoll
• Denver – Kelsie L. Colley / Zach Williams / Gabriela Mauch
• Boston – Hallie Bregman, PhD / Noel Perez
• Dallas – Jordan Hartley / Cole Napper
• Austin – Ethan Burris / Roxanne Laczo
• Houston – Amy Frost Stevenson / Jugnu Sharma
• Atlanta – Sue Lam
• Nashville – Dan George
• Orlando – James Gallman / Danielle Rumble
• Omaha – Justin Arends
• Salt Lake City – Willis Jensen
• Washington DC – Rewina Bedemariam
• Portland – Rosanna Van Horn

Canada

• Toronto – Danielle Bushen / Konstantin Tskhay, PhD

Australia

• Brisbane

See You Out There

Whether you're attending a global flagship conference, a curated executive retreat, or a local meetup down the street — the People Analytics community continues to grow because practitioners show up for each other.

Take the survey.
Win free tickets.
Help shape 2026.

And if you’re on the fence about where to go next year, reach out to Richard — he’s probably been there (and has thoughts).

See you on the circuit.