If you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. As learning and development (L&D) leaders, we spend a lot of time developing our workforce’s skills, but what about our own? L&D events, like conferences and expos, are a great way for learning leaders to invest in their own development, connect with thought leaders from around the world and gain insights and strategies to build more effective learning programs.
Why Should I Attend an L&D Conference?
From collaborating with fellow learning leaders and attending educational sessions to meeting with vendors and engaging with subject matter experts (SMEs), L&D conferences offer significant value. As an L&D professional, attending events can help you stay current on emerging trends, find solutions to pressing challenges, learn from peers and develop new skills that support your career growth.
According to a 2026 Training Industry survey of learning professionals, nearly 50% said they attend industry conferences as a form of professional development. Additionally, 30% of respondents identified in-person conferences as the most valuable type of professional development they receive.
For learning solutions providers and vendors, industry events offer valuable opportunities to connect with prospective buyers, strengthen relationships with current clients, increase brand visibility and showcase solutions directly to learning leaders seeking new partners and technologies.
“L&D conferences, whether in person or virtual, can help facilitate the knowledge and learning needed to leverage your skills as a trusted business partner.”
Top 10 L&D Conferences and Events
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular and well-attended L&D conferences in the industry. Whether you’re looking to network with peers, explore learning technologies, discover innovative training strategies or stay ahead of emerging trends, these events offer valuable opportunities for professional development.
Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE)
The Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE) offers an unmatched experience, focused solely on the role of the L&D leader. For three days, learning leaders gather to gain valuable insights and tangible takeaways for their most pressing learning challenges. TICE is hosted in Raleigh, North Carolina every June.
TICE is the perfect size for the learning leader, with over 650 attendees representing all major industries. Attendees gain new insights and knowledge during live keynote sessions, delivered by innovative speakers, and engaging breakout sessions. Roundtable topic discussions give attendees the opportunity to meet and speak with other learning leaders about specific challenges in L&D. Engaging networking events provide attendees with an opportunity to not only connect with other learning leaders but also have transparent conversations with vendors, away from their booth.
Vendors and learning solutions providers can be a part of TICE by signing up for a booth in the expo hall. Here, vendors can share new products and services with learning leaders and showcase the latest innovative learning technologies. TICE cultivates a community where learning leaders and corporate training solutions providers can make valuable connections.
- Number of Attendees: 650+
- Who Attends: Current and aspiring learning leaders
- Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Learning Technologies
The Learning Technologies conference takes place in London and explores technology-supported learning in the workplace, including the latest application of learning technologies and best practices for building learning strategies in today’s digital era.
The annual conference has eight themes to choose from, focused on the emerging trends and insights on using learning tech in training development. From tools and technologies, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, to content design and the future of L&D, Learning Technologies features sessions on a tradeshow floor, presented by vendors of training technologies and related services.
As Europe’s largest L&D conference, Learning Technologies is an opportunity for learning solutions providers to market their products and services in front of the people who need it most. With over 15,000 L&D and HR professionals in attendance, it gives vendors the opportunity to showcase new, immersive technologies in front of a large audience.
- Number of Attendees: 15,000
- Who Attends: L&D and HR professionals
- Location: London
ATD International Conference & Expo
The ATD International Conference & Expo attracts thousands of L&D professionals from across the globe to gain insights from L&D thought leaders. From L&D practitioners to team leads, chief talent officers to instructional designers, and anything in between, the ATD conference holds value for professionals charged with leading learning in their organization.
With 300+ exhibitors, attendees are able to explore products and services from leading industry experts and emerging companies.
The ATD conference is a full learning experience built around the way talent development professionals grow: through big ideas, practical sessions, peer connection, hands-on learning and new solutions.
- Number of Attendees: 10,000
- Who Attends: Learning and talent professionals
- Location: Varies per year (Boston, Massachusetts in 2027)
Training Conference & Expo
The Training Conference & Expo is produced by Training magazine and attracts learning and development professionals actively searching for the tools, technology and partners that will shape their organizations’ success. Training Conference & Expo features skill-building content that covers leading topics in L&D, such as train-the-trainer essentials, gamification, leadership development, digital learning and emerging technologies.
The conference is held in Orlando, Florida every year, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Training Conference & Expo works to nurture diversity, inclusion and belonging, dedicating Walt Disney World as the permanent gathering place as the Disney company upholds the same values of celebrating the things that make Training magazine so different.
- Number of Attendees: 2,000+
- Who Attends: Training and development, learning and performance leaders
- Location: Orlando, Florida
Chief Learning Officer Breakfast Club
For more than two decades, Chief Learning Officer Breakfast Club brings learning and talent leaders together to connect, exchange ideas and explore what’s next.
Across six in-person and four virtual events, learning leaders share perspectives, compare approaches and explore practical strategies they can apply within their organizations.
Each Breakfast Club combines original research, executive conversations, practitioner perspectives and audience participation to create an engaging experience that goes beyond traditional webinar programming.
- Number of Attendees: 100-500
- Who Attends: Learning, training and development executives
- Location: Varies per event (virtual and in-person in 2027)
SHRM HR-X Live
SHRM HR-X Live (formerly the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Annual Conference) is a curated event focused on empowering HR leaders to embrace change and drive innovation in their organizations with the tools to advance their professional development and career success. SHRM HR-X Live includes a customizable learning journey, equipping HR professionals with skills development and competency-based education suited solely for their role.
The conference also holds several opportunities for networking and fostering relationships with forward-thinking HR professionals. Partners in the expo can showcase a wide range of HR-related products, services, technologies and solutions.
- Number of Attendees: 20,000
- Who Attends: HR leaders and professionals
- Location: Varies per year and virtual (Chicago, Illinois in 2027)
DevLearn Conference & Expo
DevLearn Conference & Expo is an annual conference focused on L&D tools and technologies, exploring emerging and innovative tech in the world of learning. The conference holds more than 160 sessions, hand-selected to support the needs of instructional designers and professionals tasked with the creation of courses, and four keynotes designed to engage, inspire and motivate leaders of the future.
Learning professionals can discover learning technologies and emerging applications of AI from 175+ innovative suppliers and solutions providers at the DevLearn Expo, the largest learning technologies expo in North America. There’s also DemoFest, a science-fair-like eLearning competition that connects learning leaders with networking opportunities and activities.
- Number of Attendees: 4,000+
- Who Attends: Learning leaders and professionals
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Chief Learning Officer Symposium
The Chief Learning Officer Symposium brings together an influential community of learning and talent executives responsible for developing people, shaping workforce strategies and driving organizational performance.
The event combines executive keynotes, original research, practitioner case studies and collaborative discussions designed to turn emerging ideas into practical action. Featured formats include Voices of CLO Live executive panels, CLO Power Hours, peer forums, caseence polling, giving attendees opportunities to exchange perspectives, explore measurable approaches and identify priorities they can take back to work.
- Number of Attendees: 200-250
- Who Attends: Chief learning officers, heads of learning and senior decision-makers
- Location: Varies per year (Clearwater, Florida in 2027)
CLO Exchange
The CLO Exchange, hosted by Corporate Learning Network, brings together chief learning officers and senior learning and development executives to share insights, exchange best practices and explore emerging challenges in corporate learning. Held in different cities throughout the year, each Exchange provides an intimate setting for learning leaders to connect with peers from leading organizations.
The CLO Exchange is a three-day, invitation-only event filled with candid conversation, peer exchange and strategic problem-solving.
- Attendees: By invitation only
- Who Attends: Chief learning officers, heads of L&D and senior talent development executives
- Location: Varies per event
Training Industry Strategy Summit
The Training Industry Strategy Summit offers attendees the opportunity to get hands-on and walk away with a strategic L&D plan tailored to their unique needs. Designed for those driving learning and development initiatives, the Strategy Summit will help you create innovative solutions for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
The Strategy Summit includes three days of intensive learning and collaboration. Attendees leave equipped with the tools, frameworks and insights to lead L&D strategy with confidence. Conference learning objectives include: aligning learning strategies with business goals, adapting to rapid change with confidence, measuring impact and driving results, integrating innovative technologies and leading strategic change.
- Number of Attendees: 250+
- Who Attends: Senior learning and development professionals
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Conclusion
Attending conferences and events is a great way for L&D leaders to keep track of new trends and technologies, as well as network and collaborate with top leaders in their industry. L&D conferences, whether in person or virtual, can help facilitate the knowledge and learning needed to leverage your skills as a trusted business partner and move your business forward.
For the most optimal learning experience and outcomes, L&D leaders should choose an event aligned with their own learning preferences, as well as what they hope to gain from the experience. When selecting a conference, consider factors like size, location, networking opportunities, topic focus, technology offerings, etc.
For vendors and learning solution providers, L&D conferences and expos are a great business investment and opportunity to market your brand and sell to the people who need it the most. Innovation happens on the supply-side of the market, making conferences an advantageous way to showcase new tools and products, helping L&D professionals take their training programs to the next level.
With these 10 events to choose from, there’s no reason not to get your learning on this year.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published Dec. 19, 2023.
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