8 Best Productivity Conferences for Getting More Done in 2026
I bet you're wondering how spending a few days not working and hanging out at a productivity conference with your peers helps you get more work done instead of less.
Attending conferences is a great way to stay on top of industry trends, network with peers, and learn from experts. You'll get a swath of actionable takeaways you can implement into your daily work life.
Here's my summary of each conference and an explanation of why it's great, as well as key details so you can plan to attend.
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Best Productivity Conferences Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best productivity conferences that are worth attending in 2026:
- Lean Productivity and Continuous Improvement - Wales, UK (February 26, 2026)
- Gartner Digital Workplace Summit 2026 - San Diego, CA (March 23–24, 2026)
- Great Place To Work® For All Summit™ - Las Vegas, NV (April 21-23, 2026)
- APQC Connect - Houston, TX (April 22-23, 2026)
- Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Spring 2026 - Cambridge, MA (April 24, 2026)
- Productivity Forum - Birmingham, UK (September 10, 2026)
- Management Summit - Lisbon, Portugal (September 22-23, 2026)
- NAPO2026 - Virtual (Spring 2026)
Find more details about each conference below. If you're looking for more productivity resources, try these productivity newsletters.
9 Best Productivity Conferences in 2026
Below are summaries of the best productivity conferences that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews look at each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offerings.
1. Lean Productivity and Continuous Improvement - Wales, UK (February 26, 2026)
- Dates: February 26, 2026
- Location: International Convention Centre Wales
- Pricing: Free
The Lean Productivity and Continuous Improvement conference focuses on enhancing efficiency and continuous improvement practices in various industries. It's designed for professionals seeking to implement lean methodologies and improve productivity in their organizations.
Why attend? Attending this conference gives you a chance to learn from top experts in lean and productivity practices. You'll gain practical tools to enhance your team's efficiency and network with like-minded professionals. The event features engaging sessions, workshops, and discussions tailored to help you implement effective strategies in your work environment.
2. Gartner Digital Workplace Summit 2026 - San Diego, CA (March 23-24, 2026)
- Dates: March 23-24, 2026
- Location: Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center
- Pricing: Starts at $3,775
- Social Media: X, LinkedIn
Gartner Digital Workplace Summit 2026 is a productivity conference for IT leaders, digital workplace strategists, and HR executives. It focuses on transforming the modern workplace using new tools, leadership models, and culture strategies.
The summit features keynotes and sessions led by Gartner analysts such as Jason Wong, Tori Paulman, Joe Mariano, and Dan Wilson. It is designed for senior roles, including CIOs, senior managers, enterprise architects, and HR business partners.
Why attend? You’ll get a close look at workplace trends shaping the way teams work and collaborate. The event covers topics like AI adoption, digital friction, and change leadership.
Expect research-backed sessions, peer networking, and keynotes from analysts who understand both strategy and execution. If you’re planning major tech or workplace shifts, this conference gives your team practical ways to move forward faster.
3. Great Place To Work® For All Summit™ - Las Vegas, NV (April 21-23, 2026)
- Dates: April 21-23, 2026
- Location: Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World
- Pricing: Starts at $1,795
- Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram
The Great Place To Work® For All Summit™ is an annual event aimed at senior HR professionals, business leaders, and culture changemakers who want to build inclusive and high‑trust workplaces. Its focus lands on real‑world strategies for equity, leadership impact, and business performance through culture.
The event's 2026 speakers include Colleen Wegman, CEO of Wegmans Food Markets, and Michael C. Bush, Global CEO of Great Place To Work.
Why attend? The summit focuses on actionable strategies to support productivity growth through inclusive leadership. You’ll hear from CEOs and people-first leaders on how they sustain high trust during change. Expect hands-on sessions, networking, and stories from top workplaces that push culture forward.
4. APQC Connect - Houston, TX (April 22-23, 2026)
- Dates: April 22-23, 2026
- Location: The Westin Houston Memorial City
- Pricing: Starts at $1,995 (members), $2,295 (non-members)
- Social Media: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
APQC Connect is a productivity conference designed for process improvement professionals and senior managers. Put on by the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC), it brings together a cross-industry audience to explore best practices in knowledge management, benchmarking, and operational excellence.
The event features sessions led by thought leaders, senior vice presidents, and other executives from major global organizations. One former attendee shared:
"The breakout sessions are amazing, the overall setup is always superb, and the networking is great. The whole atmosphere and attention to detail is out of this world!"
Why attend? At APQC Connect, you’ll get practical strategies you can apply to your organization’s productivity efforts right away. Sessions focus on knowledge sharing, process frameworks, and real examples from high-performing companies.
Whether you work in finance, healthcare, manufacturing, or government, you’ll learn how peers drive measurable improvement across teams. The program includes interactive panels, case study breakouts, and networking opportunities that go beyond typical lectures. You’ll return with templates, benchmarks, and proven approaches tailored for results.
5. Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Spring 2026 - Cambridge, MA (April 24, 2026)
- Dates: April 24, 2026
- Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Spring 2026 is an academic conference put on by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). It's designed for economists, scholars, and researchers focused on firm dynamics, innovation, and productivity trends.
This invite-only event brings together top academic minds in economics to explore the latest research in productivity and innovation, offering a platform to discuss groundbreaking ideas and their implications on entrepreneurship.
Why attend? You’ll join a closed-door environment where researchers present cutting-edge working papers and exchange critical feedback. Sessions cover productivity shifts, startup ecosystems, R&D investment, and economic measurement.
It’s an academic forum for sharing early findings and shaping the next wave of research. If you’re involved in economic policy, business economics, or innovation studies, this is where high-impact ideas start.
6. Productivity Forum - Birmingham, UK (September 10, 2026)
- Dates: September 10, 2026
- Location: National Conference Centre
- Pricing: Free
- Social Media: LinkedIn
The Productivity Forum is a free, one-day event put on by ReThink Productivity. It's focused on addressing business productivity challenges through practical strategies for boosting workforce efficiency and tech-led productivity. The forum brings together executives, analysts, and solution providers to share data-driven insights and case studies.
One past attendee said: "Really good balance of keynote speakers, discussion panels and networking opportunities."
Why attend? Join the Productivity Forum to hear what top brands are doing to improve productivity and manage labor spend across frontline teams. The agenda features real-world case studies, panel sessions, and roundtable discussions.
It’s built for people driving operational change who want to benchmark performance and explore new workforce tools. You can also meet vendors and analysts who specialize in optimization tech and business transformation.
7. Management Summit - Lisbon, Portugal (September 22-23, 2026)
- Dates: September 22-23, 2026
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- Pricing: TBA
The Management Summit 2026 is a premier event for business leaders and managers. It focuses on redefining leadership and management strategies for the coming decade.
Participants will benefit from fast-paced modules, interactive discussions, and insights from global leaders. This summit is ideal for individuals seeking to refine their strategic thinking and leadership skills.
Why attend? Attend the Management Summit and get firsthand insights into leadership strategies that support productivity and sustainable growth. The summit covers economic outlooks, workforce transformation, and real business challenges.
Sessions mix research-based findings with applied corporate initiatives. It’s a space where you and your team can step back, rethink goals, and learn from high-level peers.
8. NAPO2026 - Virtual (Spring 2026)
- Dates: Spring 2026 (exact dates TBA)
- Location: Virtual
- Pricing: Starts at $200
- Social Media: Facebook
NAPO2026 is a virtual educational event aimed at professional organizers, productivity consultants, and business owners in the organizing and productivity field. It's put on by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO).
It launches in Spring 2026 as a fully virtual format, featuring two learning tracks — a Client-Facing Track and a Back-End Business Track — each offering four on-demand courses and four live sessions.
Why attend? NAPO2026 focuses on productivity enhancement and organizing systems. You can gain access to two customizable learning tracks—one focused on client‑facing skills and another on back‑end business operations. You’ll also benefit from on‑demand courses starting March 23 and live interactive sessions during the week of April 20, all without travel.
The virtual format allows for flexible pacing while still offering networking and peer interaction opportunities in the productivity and organizing profession. Since NAPO selected this format based on member feedback, the experience is tailored for broader participation and relevance.
Find more project management conferences here, and check out this list of project management newsletters.
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