HELSINKI, Finland — Nordic Business Forum, Europe’s leading business and leadership conference, has sold out its 2026 flagship event a record-breaking six months in advance. This highlights a growing global demand for in-person gatherings and human-centric leadership skills in an increasingly technology-driven world.
All 8,500 tickets for the event, taking place on September 16–17, 2026, at Messukeskus in Helsinki, have now been secured. The conference has expanded its capacity by 1,000 seats this year to meet growing interest. The event’s international appeal has reached a new peak, with approximately 37 per cent of participants traveling to Finland from abroad.
The early sell-out stands in contrast to a broader post-pandemic trend in the events industry, where decision-making has shifted closer to event dates. For organizers, the pace of sales signals something deeper than strong demand.
As AI and automation continue to reshape industries, leaders are placing greater emphasis on distinctly human capabilities such as decision-making, collaboration, and performance under pressure.
The theme of Nordic Business Forum 2026, “The Human Edge,” reflects this shift.
“Selling out an event of this size so early in advance is unusual today,” says Priit Liiv, CEO of Nordic Business Forum. “We believe it reflects a clear need among leaders to come together, develop themselves, and strengthen the human side of leadership in a world increasingly defined by technology.”
The event will bring together 8,500 senior decision-makers from over 40 countries, with over 25,000 more expected to participate online. That makes Nordic Business Forum among the largest leadership gatherings in Europe.
The two-day event will feature a speaker lineup of internationally recognized leaders and thinkers, including:
- Oprah Winfrey– Global media leader
- Steven Bartlett– Entrepreneur and host of The Diary of a CEO
- Angela Duckworth– UPenn Professor and author of Grit
- Paul Polman– Former CEO of Unilever and co-author of Net Positive
- Patty McCord– Former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix
- Nando Parrado– Survivor, Entrepreneur, and leadership speaker
- Rahaf Harfoush– Digital anthropologist and bestselling author
- Alison Wood Brooks– Harvard Business School professor and author
- Shawn Kanungo– Innovation strategist
- Michael Beckley– Professor of Political Science at Tufts University
- Kjell A. Nordström– Economist and strategist
Together, these speakers will explore how leaders can use their human qualities, such as resilience, courage, and judgment, to build long-term success.
Nordic Business Forum continues its legacy of convening world-class speakers, with past events featuring President Barack Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Jack Welch, Brené Brown, George Clooney, and Simon Sinek. (GlobeNewswire)
