IMEX America 2026 is putting practical skills, human connection and more thoughtful event design at the center of its education program as event professionals face rapid changes driven by artificial intelligence, higher participant expectations and evolving workforce needs.
The education program for IMEX America, which takes place in Las Vegas from October 13 to 15, is now available online, giving planners access to sessions led by international industry experts working across technology, leadership, accessibility, wellness and event design.
The timing reflects some of the biggest questions currently facing the business events sector. The 2026 Global Meetings & Events Forecast from Amex GBT identifies the creation of more engaging experiences as the industry’s leading priority for the second year running. The report also found that half of planners are now using AI in their work, while expectations around interactive learning, meaningful networking and personalized experiences continue to rise.
Rather than treating technology as an end in itself, this year’s IMEX America program looks at how it can be used alongside better human-centered design. Five new learning tracks have been introduced, with a strong emphasis on designing experiences that produce stronger business results while also responding to the needs of the people attending them.
Artificial intelligence features prominently throughout the program. The focus, however, has moved beyond basic experimentation and prompting toward the practical ways technology can influence audience engagement and event performance.
The Tech Education Space, curated by Dahlia El Gazzar, founder of Dahlia+ and known in the industry as the “Fairy Godmother of Event Tech,” will offer interactive sessions involving technology specialists and exhibitors. The program is designed to help event professionals think more strategically about the tools available to them rather than simply adding technology because it is new.
Among the sessions is “AI and I: Innovating with intelligent audience engagement”, where Nick Fagan, Head of Innovation at DRPG, will examine how AI can help planners understand attendee behavior and identify insights that could lead to better event outcomes.
The human consequences of increasingly digital events will also receive attention. MPI keynote speaker and digital wellbeing expert Caitlin Krause will present “Empowered Connection in a Digitally Layered Landscape”, exploring how event professionals can design experiences that protect attention and encourage well-being as AI and always-connected technology become more deeply integrated into everyday life.
Professional development forms another important part of the program. Sessions addressing leadership, confidence and resilience are intended to help event professionals manage pressure and uncertainty in an industry where expectations can change quickly.
One of those sessions, “The Sky is the Limit: Ask a Female Pilot”, brings together former combat helicopter pilot Sarah Furness and endurance rally navigator Claudine Bloom for a discussion about resilience, confidence and the ability to perform under pressure. The session uses their professional experiences to explore lessons that can be applied beyond aviation and motorsport.
Accessibility and inclusion have also been given greater prominence through the new Design for Human Needs track. Its inclusion reflects a wider shift in event planning toward considering how different people experience a venue, schedule, communication style and overall event environment.
Paula Rowntree of the Australian Psychological Society will lead “Neurodivergent-Inclusive Events on Any Budget: Practical Actions”, focusing on changes planners can make without requiring large budgets. The session covers practical considerations including sensory-friendly spaces, communication and scheduling.
Another session, “Event Design to Optimize Experience for Neurodivergent Participants”, brings together Yush Sztalkoper, founder of Human Capacity Design, and clinical psychologist Dr. Matthew Zakreski. They will examine how event design and technology can affect participants differently and offer approaches for creating environments in which more people can participate comfortably and fully.
The program also takes a less conventional approach to event design through “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes: Designing Better Events Through Movement”. Led by Dena Lewis, founder of Running Mate, the session combines a wellness walk with practical thinking about the attendee journey. Participants will be encouraged to consider how movement, physical surroundings and well-being can influence the way people experience an event.
Education at IMEX America extends beyond the main show dates. Professional education is free, while specialist programs for association, corporate and agency planners will take place on Smart Monday, powered by MPI, on October 12.
For people attending IMEX America for the first time, the organizers are also placing greater emphasis on making the event easier to navigate and less intimidating. Dedicated welcome activities will introduce newcomers to the show, with the IMEX team providing practical guidance before guided networking activities led by leadership specialist Andrea Parker. Networking expert Nick Bramley will also share advice intended to help first-time attendees approach professional connections with greater confidence.
The emphasis on making information easier to retain continues through IMEX America’s partnership with Snapsight, Gevme’s AI-powered knowledge tool. Session highlights and key takeaways will be available online and through the event app, allowing attendees to remain focused during sessions while having an accessible record of useful insights afterward.
Much of the education program also carries professional accreditation value. The majority of learning sessions provide points toward Certified Meeting Professional and ICCASkills accreditations, as well as approval from CSEP, the Certified Special Event Professional program.
Taken together, the program reflects an event industry dealing with a more complicated set of expectations than simply delivering a successful meeting. Planners are being asked to use AI intelligently, create stronger connections, understand different participant needs and design experiences that people find worthwhile. IMEX America 2026 is positioning its education program around those practical challenges rather than treating them as separate trends.
First-time attendees can join an informal pre-show webinar on September 9, where they can meet fellow newcomers and hear the IMEX team’s insider knowledge on how to make the most of their first show experience.
IMEX America takes place October 13-15, 2026, at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, preceded by Smart Monday on October 12. Register—for free—here.
Explore the show’s learning line-up here
