A new national conference is entering the professional leadership and speaking landscape, focusing on scale, access, and real opportunity. SpeakFest 2026 will convene speakers, educators, executives, scholars, and institutional leaders from across the United States and abroad for a multi-day event designed to connect voice-driven professionals with pathways to broader influence.
SpeakFest will take place May 11–14, 2026, at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia. The conference is structured for professionals who already operate in leadership, education, business, wellness, and public-facing roles and seek to expand their reach through larger platforms and institutional engagement.
Rather than positioning itself as a motivational or introductory event, SpeakFest emphasizes visibility, evaluation, and access. The conference integrates curated programming with live audition opportunities, allowing select participants to be considered for placement on national and regional speaker tours, as well as institutional and organizational stages. This approach reflects a growing demand among professionals for conferences that offer tangible outcomes beyond education alone.
This approach reflects a growing demand among professionals for conferences that offer tangible outcomes beyond education alone. Attendees are not just passive participants but active contenders, showcasing their skills and securing future opportunities through real-time evaluations. By offering a direct pathway to high-impact speaking engagements, SpeakFest sets itself apart from traditional events, focusing on measurable results and strategic career advancement. The conference is designed to provide more than just knowledge; it is a gateway for speakers to gain the exposure they need to elevate their professional profiles. With its focus on both learning and advancement opportunities, SpeakFest positions itself as a game-changer in the speaking industry.
Programming at SpeakFest addresses the operational and strategic elements of scaling a speaking platform. Sessions focus on leadership development, professional positioning, certifications, grants, wellness, institutional partnerships, and the systems required to sustain long-term speaking and advisory work. Attendees engage not only in learning, but in environments designed to support advancement and opportunity.
SpeakFest also functions as a convening space for decision-makers and program leaders who influence speaker selection, curriculum development, and professional programming within organizations and institutions. By bringing these groups into a single environment, the conference creates opportunities for alignment among speakers and those responsible for booking, programming, and strategic partnerships.
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From an executive and organizational perspective, SpeakFest presents a concentrated opportunity to engage with a highly influential audience. Attendees include professionals with purchasing authority, program oversight, and the ability to shape messaging and initiatives across educational institutions, corporations, and community-based organizations.
The conference reflects broader shifts within the professional development and leadership ecosystem, where individuals are increasingly seeking platforms that combine education with access to decision-makers and scalable opportunities. SpeakFest positions itself within this shift by offering a structured environment that embeds visibility, evaluation, and connection into the experience.
As SpeakFest prepares for its 2026 debut, it aims to establish itself as a national platform for speakers and leaders who are ready to operate at a higher level of impact and influence.
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Additional information, including speaker announcements, audition opportunities, and participation details, will be released in the coming months.
