The curated guide to conferences across global development, philanthropy, technology, health, and climate — with a real point of view on what's worth attending. Tracking AI? There's a filter for that.
— conferences mapped · from the team at TechChange
Hand-picked convenings we're paying closest attention to this year.
The conferences where digital and social impact meet. Filter to find yours.
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Google.org
A one-day Washington forum bringing together social innovators, nonprofits, philanthropic funders, academic pioneers, and agency heads to chart pathways to scaled, ethical, socially impactful AI adoption and skilling. Google.org reviews and accepts applicants on a rolling basis until the event.
AIThe entire forum is about scaled, ethical AI adoption and skilling for the social sector.
ISC Intelligence in Science
A sprawling, hybrid program of sessions running through September alongside the 81st UN General Assembly, connecting science, policy, and the SDGs. Topics span One Health, AI, climate, food systems, and science philanthropy, with a heavy share of free and virtual sessions.
Semafor
Semafor's full day of live journalism during UNGA week on digital inclusion and the emerging economies where the next three billion people come online. Candid, on-the-record conversations with leaders across tech, finance, and development. 2026 date to be confirmed, expected late September.
Devex
Devex's hub during UNGA and NY Climate Week, running September 21-24, 2026: a multi-day series of on-the-record conversations, partner events, and networking for the global development community, hosted by the Devex editorial team.
UN Global Compact
The UN Global Compact's flagship UNGA-week convening for the corporate sustainability community, back for 2026 during high-level week. Brings together CEOs, government leaders, and UN officials around private sector action on the SDGs. Dates to be confirmed.
Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg
A one-day leadership gathering on September 20, 2026 alongside UNGA 81, convened by the Qatar Economic Forum with Bloomberg. Themed Growth on New Terms: Capital, Risk and Resilience, it gathers heads of state, policymakers, and investors around the global economy.
UN Global Compact / Global Africa Business Initiative
The flagship event of the Global Africa Business Initiative, convened by the UN Global Compact on the sidelines of UNGA high-level week. The 2026 theme is Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future, gathering African heads of state, CEOs, and global investors. 2025 ran September 21-22; 2026 dates to be confirmed.
Global Citizen
The free advocacy mega-concert on Central Park's Great Lawn that closes UNGA week, drawing up to 60,000 people. Tickets are earned by taking action on Global Citizen's campaigns, and world leaders and companies announce commitments from the stage. 2026 date to be confirmed, expected the final Saturday of high-level week.
Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation's flagship UNGA-week event, gathering around a thousand government, philanthropy, and private sector leaders around progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Invite-only, 2026 dates to be confirmed.
Women Deliver
One of the world's largest convenings on gender equality and the health and rights of girls and women, held roughly every three years. The next edition has not yet been announced; expected 2027.
Government of the UAE
Dubai's annual convening on the future of government, spanning digital government, AI policy, and public sector innovation. 2027 dates to be confirmed, typically February.
AIAI in government is a headline track
Open Government Partnership
The biennial summit of the Open Government Partnership, convening governments and civil society on transparency, participation, and digital governance. Next edition expected in 2027, host to be announced.
Devex
Devex's flagship convening on the future of global development, drawing agency leadership, funders, and implementers to Washington. Next edition expected in 2027, dates to be confirmed.
Intellecap · Aavishkaar Group
One of the largest impact enterprise and investment platforms in the Global South, anchored in Mumbai with regional editions in Africa. 2026 dates to be confirmed, typically late in the year.
Philea (Philanthropy Europe Association)
The annual gathering of European philanthropy, convening foundations and funder networks from across the continent. 2027 dates and host city to be confirmed, typically early summer.
Health Systems Global
The biennial gathering of the health systems research community, alternating regions each edition. Next edition expected in late 2026, dates and host city to be confirmed.
Africa CDC
Africa CDC's flagship public health conference, the continent's largest health convening. 2026 dates and host city to be confirmed, recent editions have run in the fourth quarter.
Consortium of Universities for Global Health
The academic global health community's annual meeting, bridging universities, implementers, and policy. 2027 dates and city to be confirmed, typically spring in the US.
Technology Association of Grantmakers
The gathering of technology leaders inside foundations and grantmaking organizations, with a heavy responsible-AI agenda. 2026 dates and host city to be confirmed, typically November.
AIResponsible AI adoption in philanthropy is the central theme
Arizona State University · GSV Ventures
Where education, workforce, and impact capital markets meet, with the deepest AI-in-learning programming of any major summit. 2027 dates to be confirmed, typically April in San Diego.
AIThe AI Show and AI-in-education programming anchor the agenda
Temasek
Temasek's annual sustainability week for Asia's capital allocators, business leaders, and policymakers. 2027 dates to be confirmed, typically early May, co-located with the Philanthropy Asia Summit.
Temasek Trust · Philanthropy Asia Alliance
Temasek Trust's flagship convening of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, with over a billion dollars pledged across its member network. 2027 dates to be confirmed, typically alongside Ecosperity Week.
AVPN
Asia's largest social investment network brings 600+ member organizations together across philanthropy, impact investing, and corporate giving. Host city rotates, 2027 edition to be announced.
UN OCHA
The humanitarian sector's largest working-level gathering, combining remote sessions with an in-person week in Geneva. Free to attend. 2027 dates to be confirmed, typically spring.
Charité Berlin · WHO
The strategic forum for global health, held annually in Berlin under the patronage of the German Chancellor and the WHO Director-General. 2026 dates to be confirmed, historically mid-October.
AIDigital health and AI governance sessions each year
UNFCCC · Government of Ethiopia
The 32nd UN climate COP heads to Addis Ababa, putting African adaptation and climate finance at the center of the agenda. Dates to be confirmed, typically November.
UNFCCC · Government of Türkiye
The 31st UN climate COP, with the World Leaders' Summit on November 11 and 12. The central negotiating and convening moment of the global climate year.
Prince Mahidol Award Foundation · Thai MOPH · Mahidol University · WHO
The annual global health policy conference, co-hosted by WHO, the World Bank, and the Thai government. The 2027 theme is the commercial determinants of health.
AIAI and digital health recur across policy tracks
Access Now
Access Now's first thematic summit: a 24-hour online event circling the globe, created after the effective cancellation of RightsCon 2026 by the government of Zambia. A single day of fireside chats, debates, strategy sessions, and networking built around resilience, movement building, and multistakeholder action, on a pay-what-you-can basis. Registration opens August 26 and closes September 21, with the platform live from September 7.
AIAI governance, accountability, and rights run through the digital rights agenda here, though the summit's stated frame is resilience and movement building rather than AI specifically.
New Ventures
Latin America's main gathering for impact investing and social entrepreneurship, connecting fund managers, entrepreneurs, family offices, and development finance across the region. Spanish-first, with the deal conversations that most global impact events talk about but rarely host.
Taleemabad · Friends of Pakistan Society & Fund · Mulago Foundation
A working summit for nonprofit and for-profit leaders who already have a proven model and need a path to millions of users. Participants arrive with a working social product or service and leave with a scale blueprint, presented live to philanthropists and investors on the final day.
AISeveral sessions on integrating current digital and AI thinking into scale strategy, framed around delivery rather than technology.
Social Innovation Summit · Landmark Ventures
Corporate impact, philanthropy, and technology leaders convening alongside the UN General Assembly, with 2026 programming built around human skills in an AI-enabled world and the future of impact. Heavy on cross-sector dealmaking rather than technical depth.
AIDedicated AI track, angled at what human capability looks like alongside AI rather than at the technology itself.
Tech Impact
Tech Impact's annual gathering for nonprofit technology leaders, built around operational tech and strategic planning: cloud, cybersecurity and risk, data management, AI adoption, and digital strategy. Roughly 90% of attendees and 90% of speakers come from nonprofits, so the case studies are peer-to-peer rather than vendor-led.
AIAI shows up as a practical thread across sessions, mostly adoption, governance, and data readiness inside nonprofit operations rather than as the headline theme.
Human Potential Network
The annual anchor event of the Human Potential Network, a community of employers rethinking talent and workforce strategy. Designed as a working session rather than a stage show, it convenes employers, workforce and education innovators, and nonprofit leaders around unlocking human potential as AI reshapes work.
AIAI Readiness is one of four summit priorities: using AI to expand human capability, not just automate
CAEL
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning's annual conference on aligning learning and work for adult learners. It gathers educators, employers, and workforce leaders across the postsecondary-to-employment ecosystem, focused on economic mobility and work-and-learn pathways.
Shift Work Forward
Shift Work Forward's annual gathering (formerly the National Fund for Workforce Solutions) on job quality, economic mobility, and reshaping how workforce systems serve workers, employers, and communities. It convenes practitioners, employers, funders, and policymakers around practical, systems-level change.
AISessions on how AI is reshaping the labor market and job quality
SMEX
SMEX's convening on digital rights and a more just, community-centered digital future across the WANA region. The 2026 edition returns to Beirut under the theme Realities Reimagined, focused on alternative infrastructures, governance models, and movement-building for the future of the internet in the region.
Feedback Labs
Feedback Labs' summit on listening as essential infrastructure for the social sector. The 2026 edition, Listening in a Shifting Landscape, examines not just how to listen well but when, why, and with whom, as power dynamics shift and new tools reshape how feedback is collected and used.
AIA dedicated AI track on how new tools are transforming feedback and listening
Build Up
The annual conference at the intersection of peacebuilding and technology, convening practitioners, activists, technologists, and researchers working to prevent and transform conflict. The 2026 edition is in Waterloo, Canada, co-organized with the Kindred Centre for Peace Advancement.
NTEN
NTEN's annual gathering for nonprofit professionals, funders, consultants, and technology partners, running since 2000. A practical, community-driven conference on using technology effectively and equitably for social good, offered in Portland and virtually.
AIAI adoption for nonprofits is a major recurring theme across sessions
Aspen Digital & Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
A one-day forum on how AI is reshaping the way we create, connect, and live, convening artists, technologists, and cultural thinkers. Co-hosted by Aspen Digital and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
AIWhole event: AI's impact on creativity, culture, and what it means to be human.
Opportunity Collaboration
An all-inclusive 'un-conference' on poverty and social justice, built around small, facilitated workshops instead of panels and plenaries.
Accion
Accion's global summit on using fintech to expand financial access for underserved people. It connects inclusive-finance leaders, investors, and technology providers around what's actually reaching customers.
AIPrior editions covered AI/embedded finance for inclusion
Silicon Flatirons Center
Tech-policy conference at CU Boulder; recent focus on access to advanced AI and big data.
AIRecent editions covered access to advanced AI/big data; separate AI Initiative conference
OECD
OECD's global forum on anti-corruption and integrity; AI in fraud detection, audit, and risk.
AIAI at the centre of 2026: ML/analytics for fraud detection, audit, risk
UN Office of the Envoy on Technology
UN Office of the Envoy on Technology's convening on open-source program offices for the public good.
AIPart of UN Open Source Week; 2026 centered on AI, DPI and OSPOs
Elevandi · Kigali International Financial Centre
Pan-African inclusive fintech gathering; 2026 anchor theme was AI-powered financial inclusion.
AI2026 anchor theme was AI-powered financial inclusion
African e-governance conference on digital public services.
SID-US
The US chapter of the Society for International Development's annual conference, long a fixture of the Washington development community. A good pulse-check and networking venue for where global development is heading across policy, practice, and careers.
AIAI framed as a force for good for the SDGs
Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth's convening on making growth reach more people, timed to the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington. A high-level room on inclusive finance and the digital economy.
AI2026 theme: Financial Health in the Intelligence Era
RegTech Africa
African regtech gathering; AI, SupTech, and data-driven compliance.
AISpotlighted AI, SupTech and data-driven compliance
Academic City University
Fintech-for-inclusion summit / ICBDI hosted in Accra; AI applications in finance for development.
AI2024 had an AI Applications in Finance for Development track
mySociety
mySociety's conference on the real-world impacts of civic technology, for people who care about evidence. Less about launching tools than asking whether they actually work, and for whom.
AIRecent programming covers AI and democracy
ICWE
The long-running pan-African conference on technology for learning, skills, and development. A practical, relationship-driven room bringing together education ministries, edtech companies, and practitioners from across the continent.
AIAI in education a headline theme (AI on Africa's terms)
UNESCO
UNESCO's work on internet trust and digital platform governance, including AI content systems.
AIPlatform-governance work covers algorithmic and AI content systems
Social Enterprise World Forum
The main global gathering of the social enterprise movement, rotating host countries each year and connecting entrepreneurs, support organizations, and policymakers. Note that 2027 is planned as regional events rather than one flagship.
AIAI in social enterprise is a stated focus area
Center for Financial Inclusion
A convening on responsible, customer-centric finance in the Accion and Center for Financial Inclusion orbit. Focused on protecting and improving the financial health of low-income customers.
AIExamines how responsibly-governed AI can advance financial health
Paris Peace Forum
An annual gathering focused on improving global governance and multilateral cooperation on shared challenges. It convenes heads of state, international organizations, and civil society around concrete governance projects.
AIAI governance a central pillar (legacy of the AI Action Summit)
Smart Africa
Smart Africa's flagship summit on the continent's digital transformation, hosted with African governments. The main political-level venue for Africa's digital agenda, gathering ICT ministers, regulators, and startups.
AIAI in Africa is a recurring focus theme
GPSDD
The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data's festival on data and technology for the SDGs. A lively, Global-South-forward gathering of the data-for-development community.
AIData and technology for the SDGs
data.org
data.org's convening for people using data and AI to solve social problems at scale. It gathers nonprofits, funders, and technologists sharing practical applications rather than hype.
AIEntire event is data and AI for social impact
Transparency International
The world's leading forum on fighting corruption, long tied to the Transparency International movement. It draws activists, investigators, journalists, and reform-minded officials for candid conversation, with its 22nd edition the first in the Caribbean.
AIA dedicated track on the tech innovation race covers AI
World Affairs / GPF
A convening of philanthropists and social investors focused on strategic, globally-minded giving, run by the World Affairs Council. A good peer-learning room for donors thinking about how to give across borders.
AI2026 theme AI-adjacent (Operating Systems for a New Era)
NAFSA
The world's largest gathering for international education, drawing university leaders, study-abroad professionals, and government agencies. The field's central marketplace for partnerships, recruitment, and policy on global student mobility.
AIAI in education abroad and AI in higher ed sessions
Alliance for Financial Inclusion
A showcase from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, the network of central banks and regulators from developing economies. Distinctive for its policymaker and central-bank lens on inclusive fintech.
AI2026 covered AI-enabled financial services and supervision
Comparative & International Education Society
The main academic conference for comparative and international education research, drawing scholars, students, and practitioners. Expect a dense program on education systems, equity, and reform across countries.
AIMultiple AI-in-education sessions
GIJN
The global summit for investigative and data journalists, convened by the Global Investigative Journalism Network. Part training bootcamp, part reunion, with hands-on sessions on techniques, tools, and cross-border collaboration.
AIAI-in-investigations is a heavily programmed theme
ID4Africa
The annual meeting of ID4Africa, the movement around digital identity and civil registration across the continent. Where African government identity authorities meet vendors, funders, and technical experts to compare approaches.
AIAI-driven identity fraud, deepfakes, and AI-vs-AI authentication
The Union
The Union's global conference on tuberculosis and lung health, spanning research, clinical practice, and public-health policy. The field's central annual meeting, drawing clinicians and scientists from the highest-burden countries.
AIAI in TB screening / CAD radiology a recurring theme
United Nations
The UN's multistakeholder forum for the big questions of internet policy, now a permanent body. Governments, companies, technologists, and civil society meet as equals to shape norms on access, rights, and governance.
AIOverarching theme: Governing the Internet in the Age of Intelligence
HISP Centre, University of Oslo
The yearly gathering of the DHIS2 community, the open-source health information platform used by ministries of health across much of the world. It brings implementers, ministry staff, and developers together to share how they use the system in practice.
AIAI/ML sessions typical; parallel Climate & Health Academy
AGRA
Africa's largest food systems and agriculture gathering; 20th anniversary.
GSG Impact
The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment's flagship summit, convening the people moving capital toward measurable social and environmental outcomes. A good room if you're building the field infrastructure for impact investing, not just doing individual deals.
Clinton Foundation
The Clinton Foundation's flagship meeting, built around Commitments to Action, where leaders make concrete, measurable pledges. It draws heads of state, CEOs, and NGO leaders during UN General Assembly week in New York.
AIAI/tech for social good and AI in education access
Making Cents International
A practitioner summit on youth economic opportunity, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, run by Making Cents International. Hands-on and program-focused, drawing implementers and funders working on jobs for young people.
AISessions on AI and the digital economy and digital/AI skills
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
An academic-leaning conference on how data and AI should inform public decision-making and governance. It convenes researchers, government analysts, and technologists working at the evidence-to-policy boundary.
AICentral theme is governance of/with AI in decision-making
Independent Sector
Independent Sector's annual gathering for US nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, held for several years as Upswell. It centers the health of the sector itself: workforce, public trust, advocacy, and the policy environment charities work in.
Seattle International Foundation
The Seattle International Foundation's annual convening of funders working in Central America and its diaspora. The main regional table for philanthropy across the Northern Triangle and neighbors, spanning migration, governance, and opportunity.
SOCAP Global
One of the largest gatherings at the intersection of money and meaning, connecting impact investors, social entrepreneurs, and foundations, now in its first edition outside San Francisco. Good for discovery and deal flow if you're raising or deploying impact capital.
AIMultiple AI sessions (AI Is World-Building, responsible tech investing)
UN Statistics Division
The UN's flagship gathering for the global data community and the statistics behind the Sustainable Development Goals. National statistical offices, data scientists, and agencies meet to close data gaps and improve how evidence gets used.
AIProgramme includes improving AI with data and statistics
Global Impact Investing Network
The Global Impact Investing Network's flagship forum, aimed at investors putting real capital to work for impact. More institutional and investor-focused than the broader social-enterprise gatherings.
AIAI listed among explored topics
A pan-African network convening the continent's philanthropists, foundations, and social investors. The focus is growing homegrown African giving and directing it toward the continent's own priorities.
Social Performance Task Force
The Social Performance Task Force's annual meeting on responsible finance and client protection in financial inclusion. Practitioner-heavy, and useful if you work on the delivery side of inclusive finance.
Thomson Reuters Foundation
The Thomson Reuters Foundation's annual conference on human rights, media freedom, and the fight against modern slavery. It gathers journalists, lawyers, activists, and companies working on accountability, held in London.
AIAddresses AI, disinformation and human rights
Concordia
A cross-sector summit alongside the UN General Assembly, built around public-private partnership and convening power. One of the most active venues on the UNGA sidelines if you can't get into the official rooms.
AIAI a major 2026 theme (value creation, responsible innovation, governance)
CIPESA
CIPESA's flagship forum on digital rights and internet freedom across Africa. It gathers activists, technologists, policymakers, and journalists to defend online civic space on the continent.
AIAI and Emerging Technologies and AI data-governance are named 2026 themes
Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN)
Asia-Pacific's digital health network meeting — interoperability, digital public infrastructure, and responsible AI for people-centered health.
AIDedicated AI-for-health sessions alongside digital public infrastructure
Deep Learning Indaba
Africa's leading machine learning and AI gathering, strengthening the continent's research, talent, and community. As much a community-building movement as a conference, with a strong student and early-career presence.
AIAfrica's premier ML/AI gathering; 2026 theme is Sovereign Intelligence
DevelopMetrics
Responsible, practical AI for development, humanitarian action, NGOs, and donors — implementation and governance over hype. Day 1 of ECOSYSTEM Barcelona.
AIThe whole event is responsible, practical AI for development — explicitly anti-hype
TPC · NO.17 Foundation
A five-day forum and festival on the well-being economy — regeneration, impact investing, and systems change.
AISystems and infrastructure themes touch data and digital
Skoll Foundation
The flagship gathering for social entrepreneurs and the funders backing them, hosted each spring in Oxford. Intimate and invitation-heavy, known for deep networks over a big expo floor, with free virtual participation.
AIGrowing programming on AI, tech, and impact measurement
Climate Group
The world's largest climate event — 1,000+ affiliate events across NYC alongside the UN General Assembly.
AIClimate-tech, data, and AI programming across many affiliate events
Mozilla Foundation
Mozilla's festival for a healthier internet — open source, digital rights, and trustworthy AI.
AIStrong trustworthy-AI and digital-rights programming
UN OICT · Digital Public Goods Alliance
UN convening on open source and digital public goods for the Sustainable Development Goals.
AIOpen-source AI and digital public goods on the agenda
Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream's institute on using data and analytics to improve student success at community colleges. Aimed at US college leaders and institutional-research teams turning data into equity gains.
AIData and analytics for student success, with emerging AI sessions
FOSDEM
The largest free gathering of open-source software developers, held every winter in Brussels with no registration required. Sprawling and community-run, and increasingly relevant to open digital public goods.
AIGrowing open-source AI devrooms
Co-Develop · ITU · UNDP · World Bank
The global convening on digital public infrastructure — digital ID, payments, and data exchange for the public good. First Asia edition.
AIAI and DPI increasingly intertwined across sessions
Good Tech Together
A Washington DC summit from Good Tech Together where nonprofits, foundations, and technology leaders convene to design and deploy AI for social impact. Practitioner-focused and grounded in implementation, it gathers a few hundred changemakers rather than a mega-crowd.
AIThe whole summit is about deploying AI for social impact
Access Now
The world's leading summit on human rights in the digital age, convened by Access Now, known for a genuinely global, civil-society-forward crowd. RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka was effectively cancelled by the government of Zambia. Access Now is bridging the year with RightsCon Continues: a 24-hour online summit on September 22, plus an official RightsCon presence at other digital rights convenings, while building toward RightsCon 2027.
AIExtensive AI governance, rights, and accountability track.
TechChange · Thailand MOPH · WHO
The flagship convening for digital health, first Asia edition — with a dedicated AI-for-health track.
AIDedicated AI-for-health programming and showcase track
DSSG Fellowship Network
Applied convening on data science and ML for public-interest problems.
AIHands-on ML and data science for social impact
ITU
The UN's flagship AI-for-good gathering (rebranding toward the AI Summit Geneva for 2027), connecting AI innovation to the Sustainable Development Goals.
AIThe definitional AI-for-good convening
NetHope
Where nonprofit tech leaders gather on digital transformation across the humanitarian and development sectors.
AINetHope AI Accelerator (with Zoom Cares); accelerator participant presents
ICT4D Collective
A long-running annual convening on technology for international development, drawing NGOs, funders, and implementers who deploy tech in the field. Practitioner-heavy and grounded in what works in low-resource settings, and increasingly AI-forward.
AIGrowing AI-in-development track and sessions
The PopTech Institute
30th-anniversary edition, POPTECH30: Civil. A cross-disciplinary forum weaving technology, design, science, and social impact, from a community that refuses to leave the future to chance.
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