The 10 Best Business and Leadership Conferences in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Direct answer
Leadercast, on April 8, 2027, in Kansas City with tickets from $189, is the best business and leadership conference to plan for, because its date, city and price are all published. CFO Leadership Conference (June 14-16, Boston) is #2 and SHRM HR-X Live! (June 27-30, Chicago) is #3.
Church, nonprofit and small-business teams who want a low-cost leadership day near home
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Leadercast Conference
Best for finance leaders
CFO Leadership Conference
Best for HR leaders
SHRM HR-X Live!
Best for global leaders
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
Best low-cost option
Global Leadership Summit
The ranking
1
Leadercast Conference
Photo: Savannah River Site / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe easiest leadership day to plan and budget.
When: April 8, 2027Where: Midland Theatre, Kansas CityPrice: Tickets from $189, plus taxes and feesTheme: The Power of Human ConnectionTrack record: 25 years of Leadercast history
Leadercast’s 2027 conference is April 8 at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, with tickets from $189 plus taxes and fees. The 2027 theme is The Power of Human Connection, and the organizer cites 25 years of Leadercast history.
Go ifManagers who want a one-day leadership event with the price posted up front
Skip ifYou want a multi-day program or a CEO-only room
Why #1 over #2: It publishes a date, city and price, where CFO Leadership’s price is limited to finance roles.
2
CFO Leadership Conference
Answrs VerdictThe peer conference for senior finance leaders.
When: June 14-16, 2027Where: The Westin Boston Seaport District, BostonPrice: Finance Leader $995; CFOLC Member $795; Conference + Membership $1,195 (listed as valid until 1/8/2027)Who attends: Exclusively for finance leaders and event sponsors
The CFO Leadership Conference is June 14-16, 2027, at The Westin Boston Seaport District. Finance Leader tickets are $995, CFOLC Members pay $795 and Conference + Membership is $1,195, all listed as valid until 1/8/2027. It is exclusively for finance leaders and event sponsors.
Go ifCFOs, VPs, directors and controllers who want a peer-only finance event
Skip ifYou sell to finance teams and are not a sponsor
Why #2 over #3: It also publishes date, city and price, and has a deeper peer focus than SHRM’s broad HR audience.
3
SHRM HR-X Live!
Photo: HRPro14 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe HR leadership event, now credential-based.
When: June 27-30, 2027Where: Chicago, IllinoisPrice: $2,095 per person for SHRM members; the rate goes up Nov. 19Format: Four days; the old SHRM Annual Conference renamed HR-X Live!, built around a skills credential
SHRM’s annual event is now called HR-X Live! and runs June 27-30, 2027, in Chicago. The listed price is $2,095 per person for SHRM members, rising Nov. 19. SHRM describes it as a four-day event built around a credential rather than attendance.
Go ifHR leaders who want a credential as well as sessions
Skip ifYou want a short, low-cost day
Why #3 over #4: It publishes all three facts but costs more than the first two.
4
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
Photo: Foundations World Economic Forum / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe most famous leadership gathering, with no public price.
When: January 18-22, 2027Where: Kongresszentrum Davos, Davos Platz, SwitzerlandPrice: Not publishedScale: About 3,000 participants expectedFounded: January 24, 1971, by Klaus Schwab
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is January 18-22, 2027, at the Kongresszentrum in Davos, with about 3,000 participants expected. The Forum was founded on January 24, 1971, by Klaus Schwab. No ticket price is published.
Go ifSeeing where global business and political leaders set the year’s agenda
Skip ifYou need a public ticket you can buy today
Why #4 over #5: Its date and city are confirmed, and it is bigger than the World Governments Summit’s expected crowd.
When: February 1-3, 2027Where: Dubai, United Arab EmiratesPrice: Not publishedScale: Typically about 90 speakers from 150 countries and some 4,000 attendeesHeld since: 2013
The World Governments Summit is February 1-3, 2027, in Dubai. Wikipedia says it has been held annually since 2013 and typically hosts about 90 speakers from 150 countries and some 4,000 attendees. No price is published.
Go ifLeaders in government and public-sector business who follow policy and technology
Skip ifYou want a corporate management program
Why #5 over #6: Its government focus is clearer than TED’s mixed program, and it comes first in the year.
6
TED Conference
Photo: Sue Gardner / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe big-ideas conference, by application.
When: March 1-4, 2027Where: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CaliforniaPrice: Not publishedTheme: Our terrifying, exhilarating futureHow to attend: By application; TED reads every application
TED2027, themed Our terrifying, exhilarating future, is March 1-4, 2027, at the San Diego Convention Center. Attendance is by application and TED reads every application; no price is published.
Go ifIdea-driven leaders who want talks across business, science and the arts
Skip ifYou want a conference with a posted price
Why #6 over #7: Its broad program suits business leaders better than the Skoll Forum’s social-impact focus.
7
Skoll World Forum
Answrs VerdictThe social-entrepreneurship forum, free to join online.
When: April 6-8, 2027Where: Oxford, U.K., and onlinePrice: Free online; in-person attendance is by invitationScale: More than 1,500 delegates each year
The 2027 Skoll World Forum is April 6-8 in Oxford, U.K., and online. More than 1,500 delegates attend each year; joining online is free and open to everyone, while in-person attendance is by invitation.
Go ifSocial entrepreneurs and leaders in business and philanthropy
Skip ifYou want to buy an in-person ticket
Why #7 over #8: Its free online option means anyone can join, where Workhuman Live’s price is not posted.
8
Workhuman Live
Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
When: April 26-29, 2027Where: Nashville, TennesseePrice: Not published
Workhuman Live 2027 takes the stage in Nashville on April 26-29. Workhuman’s events page does not list a price.
Go ifPeople leaders focused on recognition and workplace culture
Skip ifYou want pricing before you plan
Why #8 over #9: Its date and city are confirmed, which Milken’s city is not.
9
Milken Institute Global Conference
Photo: Cain International / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Los Angeles finance-and-business conference.
When: May 2-5, 2027Where: 2027 venue not stated; the 2026 edition was at The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills in Los AngelesPrice: Not publishedScale: The 2026 edition drew more than 1,000 speakers and 4,000 participants
The Milken Institute lists its next Global Conference as May 2-5, 2027, without naming a 2027 venue. The 2026 edition was at The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and drew more than 1,000 speakers and 4,000 participants.
Go ifExecutives and investors who want finance, health and technology under one roof
Skip ifYou need a confirmed venue today
Why #9 over #10: Its date is fixed, where the Global Leadership Summit has no 2027 dates yet.
10
Global Leadership Summit
Answrs VerdictThe lowest-cost option, with 2027 dates still to come.
When: 2027 dates not yet postedWhere: Local sites, a studio audience and onlinePrice: Local Summit $199; Studio Audience from $259; Online $199
The Global Leadership Summit’s 2027 page lists Local Summit ($199), Studio Audience (from $259) and Online ($199) formats but has not posted 2027 dates or a city.
Go ifChurch, nonprofit and small-business teams who want a low-cost leadership day near home
Skip ifYou need confirmed dates today
How we ranked these
We ranked each event on how many of three 2027 facts its organizer publishes on its own site (date, city and ticket price), then by 2027 date. Leadercast, CFO Leadership and SHRM HR-X Live! publish all three; the Global Leadership Summit publishes only prices, and ranks last. Sources are each organizer’s site, plus Wikipedia for founding details. The tech, AI, marketing and cybersecurity conference pages already cover CES, Web Summit, SXSW and similar events, so this list leaves them out. The Inc. conference, Aspen Ideas, Gartner Symposium and Fortune events have no 2027 dates posted yet. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest business and leadership conference in 2027?
Leadercast tickets start at $189 for April 8, 2027, in Kansas City, and the Global Leadership Summit lists Local Summit and Online tickets at $199.
When is the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in 2027?
January 18-22, 2027, at the Kongresszentrum in Davos, with about 3,000 participants expected; no public ticket price is published.
How much does SHRM HR-X Live! cost in 2027?
The listed rate is $2,095 per person for SHRM members for June 27-30, 2027, in Chicago, and it goes up Nov. 19.
Can anyone attend the Skoll World Forum in 2027?
Joining online is free and open to everyone; in-person attendance on April 6-8, 2027, in Oxford is by invitation.
Lowest listed ticket price at a glance
Leadercast Conference189 USD
Global Leadership Summit199 USD
CFO Leadership Conference995 USD
SHRM HR-X Live!2,095 USD
Lowest listed ticket price, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
