Engage Business Media has announced the return of the Engage Employee Summit in 2026, bringing together senior leaders from HR, internal communications and employee engagement for two days of learning and collaboration. The free-to-attend event will be held on 20–21 May 2026 at Evolution London.
Now in its 11th year, the Summit will expand its format to accommodate a growing audience, with more than 3,000 professionals expected to attend. The event will feature 250 speakers, 120 exhibitors and six dedicated topic stages alongside the main stage, creating a comprehensive platform focused on the evolving world of work.
The Summit programme is shaped around a central theme of human-centred organisations, where technology supports rather than replaces the employee experience. Day One examines current challenges facing organisations, from engagement fatigue and skills shortages to changing leadership demands and the realities of managing hybrid and frontline teams.
Across both days, attendees will engage with practical case studies, open discussions and evidence-based insights designed to highlight what is delivering results in practice. Day Two looks ahead to emerging trends, including AI adoption, workforce flexibility, new career models and shifting expectations around wellbeing, reward and communication.
The sessions will explore how organisations can adapt their structures and strategies while maintaining trust, capability and resilience. Delegates will also have access to a dedicated Summit app, providing tools for networking, accessing live content and interacting directly with sessions and speakers.
The Engage Employee Summit will feature six topic stages, alongside a high-impact main stage, covering the critical levers of modern workforce strategy:
- Organisational Culture & HR Leadership – exploring culture, trust, employee voice and the changing identity of HR, including leadership in an AI-enabled workplace and culture in a borderless world.
- Talent, Skills & Workforce Evolution – for talent and workforce leaders focused on dynamic skills strategies, hiring decisions, retention under pressure and predictive workforce planning.
- Internal Communications & Employee Voice – aimed at internal communicators and engagement specialists working to cut through the noise, elevate employee voice and prove impact through measurement and insight.
- Communication & the Connected Workplace – focused on reaching deskless and dispersed teams, digital engagement and redefining what “connected” really means at work in hybrid and frontline settings.
- Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion – examining mental health, resilience, psychological safety, financial wellbeing and inclusion as a cultural foundation, as well as the next era of employer-supported wellbeing.
- Reward, Recognition & Future Benefits – for reward and benefits leaders designing human-centred, data-informed strategies, from recognition that truly works to personalised benefits and the evolving reward value exchange.
Across these stages, delegates will access cutting-edge insights, practical tools and actionable strategies spanning leadership, talent, communication, wellbeing, reward and the digital workplace.
As part of the agenda and exhibition, the Summit will host 120 leading employee engagement and HR software providers, integrated as strategic sponsors and partners. These organisations will showcase how technology can enable culture, communication, listening, wellbeing, reward and recognition at scale, helping senior leaders translate strategic ambition into operational reality.
Throughout the two days, sponsors will deliver live demonstrations, product walk-throughs and case studies aligned to the Summit themes, illustrating how platforms are being used to strengthen connection, measure sentiment and drive meaningful behaviour change. Positioned at the heart of the exhibition, they will offer consultative conversations, practical tools and proof-of-concept examples to help attendees accelerate transformation in their own organisations.
The 2026 Summit is shaped by the Engage Employee Advisory Board, a group of senior leaders whose expertise and insight ensure the programme reflects the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing employee engagement professionals.
Featured speakers for 2026 include HR, internal communications, reward, wellbeing and talent leaders from brands such as Google, Visa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Bupa, British Airways, Heathrow, Gymshark, Jaguar Land Rover, Diageo, the NHS, PwC UK, Starbucks, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Chartered and many more. Their sessions will spotlight real-world case studies, measurable outcomes and replicable approaches that delegates can adapt within their own contexts.
The Engage Employee Summit is designed for senior leaders responsible for people, culture and transformation, including:
CPOs, CHROs and senior people leaders shaping culture and organisational transformation
- Internal comms and engagement specialists who shape the stories employees hear every day
- HR, people and culture leaders driving healthier, more equitable employee experiences
- Wellbeing and inclusion leaders aligning support, equity and lived experience with organisational purpose
- Reward and benefits leaders redefining value, recognition and benefits for the modern workforce
- Talent leaders accountable for attracting, developing and retaining critical skills in dynamic labour markets
Delegates will leave with new perspectives, proven frameworks and practical tools to strengthen satisfaction, performance, loyalty and overall employee experience at individual, team and organisational level.
Hosted at Evolution London, the Summit benefits from a state-of-the-art venue supported by the latest AV technology. The space is optimised for learning, networking and business development, with turnkey exhibitor solutions and premium branding opportunities for partners.
Networking is built into the event design, with:
- Topic-led roundtables for focused peer-to-peer discussion and knowledge-sharing
- An AI-powered meetings programme and concierge service to facilitate tailored 1–2–1 meetings with senior professionals
- An interactive event app enabling delegates to connect, access live content and engage with speakers and sessions in real time
- A Summit Party after Day One, combining networking with entertainment to help delegates reset ahead of an energised Day Two
The Engage Employee Summit offers an all-access pass free of charge for approved senior HR and employee engagement professionals, including access to:
- Six topic stages and main stage keynotes
- Interactive interviews and panel debates
- Pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, focus groups and roundtables
- Full use of the event networking app
Registrations are subject to approval and are not available for suppliers or vendors.
