Experience the 2026 Workplace Pride International Conference at World Pride Amsterdam
Event Details:
Title: Leading with Inclusion
Date: 7 August, 2026
Location: Beurs van Berlage
Workplace inclusion is no longer optional—it defines how organisations lead, innovate, and grow. As Workplace Pride marks its 20th anniversary, this international conference brings together global leaders, changemakers, and professionals to explore what it truly means to lead with inclusion in today’s complex and fast-changing world.
Hosted at the Beurs van Berlage on Friday, August 7th, 2026, and taking place during WorldPride 2026, the conference centres on the theme “Leading with Inclusion.” It explores how inclusive leadership drives cultural transformation, strengthens organisational resilience, and unlocks the full potential of diverse talent—particularly during times of economic uncertainty, political pressure, and rapid societal change.
The conference programme features a diverse array of keynote conversations, panels, Global Town Halls, and 10 breakout sessions designed to explore a wide range of topics, perspectives, and real-world challenges facing organisations today. These sessions create space for meaningful dialogue, practical learning, and the exchange of ideas that participants can bring directly back into their workplaces and communities.
The three Global Town Halls provide a platform for international perspectives and open exchange between regions, industries, and communities. They spotlight the realities of inclusion across different cultural and political landscapes, while encouraging collective learning and shared accountability.
At the centre of the programme is Voices of Inclusion—a powerful series of lived experiences and personal stories that bring authenticity and human connection into the conversation. These voices challenge assumptions, inspire reflection, and reinforce the importance of creating workplaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Several breakout sessions will focus specifically on tangible outcomes for businesses navigating challenging times. Participants will gain practical strategies, measurable approaches, and actionable insights to help organisations strengthen inclusive leadership, sustain employee engagement, and build resilient workplace cultures.
Throughout the conference, participants will explore:
• How inclusive leadership shapes decision-making at the highest levels
• Practical strategies to embed LGBTIQ+ inclusion across global workplaces
• The role of allyship, accountability, and intersectionality in leadership
• Real-world case studies
Morning Sessions 11:15 – 12:30
Title: Open for Business: Economic Empowerment
Take a deep dive into the economic imperative for LGBTIQ+ inclusion across countries, cities, and all employers around the world. In this statistics-focused session, Open for Business presents its extensive research demonstrating that LGBTIQ+ inclusive organisations perform better and are more economically sound.
Title: Bridge the Gap: Engaging Operational & Frontline Teams
This session explores how middle managers translate LGBTIQ+ inclusion from policy into daily practice on the frontline. Building on 2025 insights, it uses real examples to show how managers shape team culture, respond to real situations, and foster psychological safety through practical, inclusive leadership.
Title: The era of AI in Inclusion
Artificial Intelligence is on the top of everyone’s mind now, but the impact for the LGBTIQ+ community goes beyond just potentially discriminatory algorithms. This highly interactive session explores how AI can be used to promote greater inclusion of the LGBTIQ+ community so that both they and the organisations that employ them can have the upper hand with one of the most important developments of our time.
Title: The Multiplier Effect: Creating Impact Through Partnerships
Title: Moving ERGs from Nice to Have to Business Critical
LGBTIQ+ ERGs have long driven visibility and community but in today’s changing landscape, that’s no longer enough. Expectations are shifting, support is not always guaranteed, and the pressure to demonstrate value is increasing. This session explores how ERGs can move from “nice to have” to truly business-critical. Together with ERG leads, executives, and HR, we’ll focus on what works today: clear positioning, leadership alignment, and tangible impact.
Afternoon Sessions 14:15 – 15:15
Title: Leading with Voices of Inclusion
“Voices of Inclusion” amplifies perspectives that are often underrepresented within the LGBTIQ+ community. Aligned with the theme “Leading with Inclusion,” the session explores lived experiences, fosters empathy and dialogue, and highlights how inclusive leadership can create environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive.
This interactive session goes beyond listening. Participants will have the opportunity to engage, ask questions, and contribute their own perspectives, creating a dynamic dialogue on what it truly means to lead with inclusion in today’s workplace.
Join us to gain new insights, challenge assumptions, and explore practical ways to create cultures where inclusion is not just celebrated, but actively lived every day.
Title: EPBN: Business impact of EU LGBTIQ+ Legislation
This breakout session, organised by European Pride Business Network and LGL from Lithuania and with special input from Professor Emeritus Kees Waaldijk, will explore the tangible business impact of European Union policies and legislation on LGBTIQ+ workplace and business inclusion.
Title: Defining Success in a Challenging Landscape
In an increasingly polarised environment, leaders are expected to navigate complex social issues while maintaining trust and team cohesion. This session explores practical strategies for leading difficult conversations, fostering psychological safety, and driving meaningful inclusion through confident, authentic leadership.
Title: The Intersectionality of Communities: Driving Workplace Inclusion
This breakout session brings together Workplace Pride communities, including Academia, PoC, Tech, Trans+, Women, and Young, to explore how intersectional collaboration strengthens LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion. It highlights key insights, deliverables, and initiatives while creating an interactive space for authentic engagement and shared learning.
Title: Safe Spaces, Brave Business: Navigating the Global Pushback.
Civil society and business organisations play complementary roles in advancing LGBTIQ+ inclusion globally. Aligned with “Leading with Inclusion,” this collaboration combines lived experience and advocacy with business reach and resources. Together, they drive meaningful change through partnerships, shared learning, and a focus on dignity, belonging, and inclusive workplaces worldwide.
