12 Leadership Conferences to Attend in 2026 + Top Weekly Leadership Links

Check out the list of 12 Leadership Conferences to attend in 2026. Plus, the top weekly leadership links as well. Listen in to the latest episode of the H3 Leadership Podcast, episode 298. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the full list and all the show notes. Share them with your team, repost the lists, and follow and subscribe. Plus including below an additional 13 Conferences to know about as well.

Make sure to access the Show Notes at the H3 Leadership website.

Special thanks to CONVOY OF HOPE and GENERIS for their partnership on this episode.

CONVOY OF HOPE 

Please donate to the Jamaica hurricane relief efforts and ongoing work at http://convoyofhope.org/donate. Convoy is my trusted partner for delivering food and relief by responding to disasters in the US and all around the world. Right now, Convoy of Hope is responding to the Texas Floods destruction, the LA fires rebuilding efforts, along with devastation in the southeast US from Hurricane Helene and Milton, providing basic needs like food, hygiene supplies, medical supplies, blankets, bedding, clothing and more. All through partnering with local Churches. Join me and please support their incredible work. To donate visit http://convoyofhope.org/donate.

GENERIS

One of the biggest challenges today is building a culture of generosity. But our friends at Generis have the proven giving strategies that will help accelerate generosity in your church, school, college or non-profit. For over 30 years Generis has helped thousands of churches and non profits develop a sustainable culture of generosity to fund their God-inspired vision. Get started at http://generis.com to schedule a conversation with one of their incredible consultants. It will be worth your time. Again, visit http://generis.com to get started. Generis has the experience and heart to inspire generosity, advance your mission, and grow your impact for the Kingdom. 

12 Conferences to Attend in 2026

Life Surge – happening throughout 2026 in major cities

Exponential – March 16-18 in Orlando

ARC – April 21-22 in Charleston

Church Leaders Conference – April 27-30 in Dallas

Thrive Conference – April 29 – May in Sacramento

Training Camp – May 1 in Jacksonville

EntreLeadership Summit – May 17-20 in Orlando  

VOUSCon – June 10-14 in Miami

GrowLeader – July 21-23 in Birmingham

Global Leadership Summit – August 6-7 in Chicago

Faith Driven Conference

THINQ Culture Summit – October 1-2 in Nashville

LEAD TEAM (a new invite only gathering I’m doing)

Plus 12 others

ZOE Conference

C3 Conference

SWGP

Live2Lead with John Maxwell

Church Conference (formerly Orange)

Drive Conference

Church Leader Summit

Spire

Art of Leadership Live

Strategic Launch Network Annual Gathering

Kingdom Advisors

94X Summit

Top Weekly Leadership Links

Baby boomers are retiring early. Gen Z wants to quit. We have generational conflict.

The Gen Z Playbook – from Tim Elmore – article in Fast Company

Great video from Daniel Pink – for planning for a great year

Guide to using Notebook LM

A former navy seal commander shares the secrets of mental toughness

25 best ideas from 2025 from Sahil Bloom

Mountain to climb? Well, remove the pebble. You can’t climb the mountain until you remove the pebble from your shoe.

You can also find additional interviews with Patrick Lencioni, Bob Goff, Adam Grant, Charles Duhigg, Andy Stanley, Coach PJ Fleck, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Kevin Kelly, NT Wright, Rick Warren, Michael Jr, Jon Gordon, Jessica Jackley, John Mark Comer, Scott Harrison, Chris Tomlin, Lysa Terkeurst, and many more.

20 Young Leaders to Know + Top Weekly Leadership Links

Check out the new edition of the Young Influencers List with! 20 Young Leaders to Know. See the Full List below. And listen on the latest episode of the H3 Leadership Podcast episode 297.

These are influencers in music, sports, business, entertainment, and the Church. Plus, the top weekly leadership links as well. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the full list and all the show notes. Share them with your team, repost the lists, and follow and subscribe. Make sure to access the Show Notes at the H3 Leadership website.

Special thanks to SUBSPLASH and COME and SEE FOUNDATION for their partnership on this episode.

SUBSPLASH 

Engage your congregation through Subsplash. Schedule your free demo at http://subsplash.com/brad. Subsplash is the platform made to help maximize your church’s growth and engagement. The go to for mobile apps, messaging, and streaming, along with building websites, groups, integrated giving, AI and key communication tools, Subsplash puts today’s most innovative church technology into your hands so you can focus completely on ministry. Visit http://subsplash.com/brad and join more than 20,000 churches and ministries who partner with Subsplash. Again, visit http://subsplash.com/brad to schedule a quick, no obligation demo.

COME and SEE FOUNDATION

Reaching a billion people with the story of Jesus. Visit http://comeandseefoundation.org. Come and See Foundation is on a mission to ensure that all 7 seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and kept FREE for all. From Michigan to Madagascar, people are encountering Jesus through The Chosen, Join Come and See in inviting a billion people to find and follow Jesus. You can play a supporting role in introducing the world to Jesus. Lean more and get involved at http://comeandseefoundation.org. 

20 Young Leaders to Know

Jonathan Pokluda – author, host of the Becoming Something Podcast and Conference, and pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church

Jason Mitchell – pastor of LCBC Church in Pennsylvania, one of the largest and most influential churches in the state.

Sara Wendland – Global marketing director at NIKE. 

Frank Bealer – CEO of Generis in Atlanta.

Chloe Hamaker – executive director of Jennie Allen Ministries out of Dallas. 

Noah Herrin – pastor of Way Church in Nashville.

Ryan Leak – top corporate speaker in America, author, and host of the Ryan Leak Podcast.

Adam Mesa – pastor of Patria Church in east LA, and host of Beyond the Letter and Beyond I Do Podcasts.

Jason Dyba – storyteller, videographer, and creative director.

 Gloria Umanah – founder and ex director of the Ex-Nihilo Collective, visionary of Hope Booth, communicator and spoken word artist. 

Daryl Black – speaker, Instagram influencer, and teaching pastor at Grace Family Church in Tampa.

Jordan Montgomery – speaker, author, podcaster, and executive coach.

Will Sweeney – former college athlete and current offensive assistant football coach with University of Clemson.

Jess Ekstrom – speaker, author, podcast host, founder of Headbands of Hope and MicDrop Workshop.

Joe L Barnes – singer, songwriter, worship leader and artist. 

Sara Wendland – Global marketing director at NIKE. 

Kyle Kutter – Chief Development Officer for YouVersion.

Joe Gilliland – founder of ProVisions and manager of YouTube Golf starts like Grant Horvat.

Justin Forsett – former NFL Pro Bowl running back, and now top rated speaker and co-founder of Hustle Clean.

 Brian Jung – investor, entrepreneur and influencer – notably on YouTube with crypto 

Jason Richardson – founder and CEO of Bad Birdie Golf 

Philip Anthony Mitchell – lead pastor of 2819 Church in Atlanta

Top Weekly Leadership Links

The Friendship Recession – from Levi Lusko

The Why Not You Podcast with Ed Newton

Warren Buffet’s Final Letter to Berkshire Shareholders

12 Objects That Defined 2025 – from Fast Company

Barna’s Top Trends of 2025, Part One

Bible Reading among Gen Z and Millenials has grown almost 20% in 1 year in America

Top Church Conferences to Attend in 2026 from Brian Dodd

The Global Phenomenon known as The Chosen 

You can also find additional interviews with Patrick Lencioni, Bob Goff, Adam Grant, Charles Duhigg, Andy Stanley, Coach PJ Fleck, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Kevin Kelly, NT Wright, Rick Warren, Michael Jr, Jon Gordon, Jessica Jackley, John Mark Comer, Scott Harrison, Chris Tomlin, Lysa Terkeurst, and many more.

Top Theologian and Podcaster Joel Muddamalle on The Unseen Battle + Top Weekly Leadership Links

Check out my interview with JOEL MUDDAMALLE on the H3 Leadership Podcast Episode 296. Listen in to the convo through Apple Podcasts or Spotify or on the Website.

JOEL MUDDAMALLE is one of the top young theologians in America. Dr. Joel is director of theology and research at Proverbs 31, is co-host of the Therapy and Theology Podcast with Lysa TerKeurst, and author of the brand new book The Unseen Battle. We discuss spiritual warfare, what parts we skip over in Scripture, aliens, spiritual hunger, the stewardship of leaders, and much more. Plus, check out the Top Weekly Leadership List. Make sure to access the Show Notes at the H3 Leadership website.

Special thanks to WONDER PROJECT and COME and SEE FOUNDATION for their partnership on this episode.

WONDER PROJECT

(TV STUDIO and SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE) Visit http://thewonderproject.com. An independent studio that produces premium theatrical films and television series. The mission is to entertain the world with courageous stories, inspiring hope and restoring faith in things worth believing in. Founded by established leaders from entertainment and technology, Wonder Project is dedicated to building a trusted brand, with projects like the most recent hit House of David. Get a FREE 7 day trial of Wonder Project on Prime Video at http://thewonderproject.com.

COME and SEE FOUNDATION

Reaching a billion people with the story of Jesus. Visit http://comeandseefoundation.org. Come and See Foundation is on a mission to ensure that all 7 seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and kept FREE for all. From Michigan to Madagascar, people are encountering Jesus through The Chosen, Join Come and See in inviting a billion people to find and follow Jesus. You can play a supporting role in introducing the world to Jesus. Lean more and get involved at http://comeandseefoundation.org.

Top Weekly Leadership Links

Strings and Heart

The Blood featuring JJ Hasulube – from Passion Conference 2026

Don’t Let the Dream Die – new podcast from Aaron Coe

The Heritage – Home (live) – thanks to Brian Wurzell for the recommend

Lost and Found

The Pros Pro Podcast with Joe McLean – from Ashton Owens

7 Disruptive Church Trends from Carey Nieuwhof for 2026

How do we know when revival is here? – from Ed Stetzer

Filtering Ourselves – from Seth Godin

Gen Z isn’t quit quitting – they’re disengaging and rejecting outdated leadership- they won’t stay around like those before

New Trend of temp/interim CEO’s – from Fast Company

Ways to professionally say it differently

You can also find additional interviews with Patrick Lencioni, Bob Goff, Adam Grant, Charles Duhigg, Andy Stanley, Coach PJ Fleck, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Kevin Kelly, NT Wright, Rick Warren, Michael Jr, Jon Gordon, Jessica Jackley, John Mark Comer, Scott Harrison, Chris Tomlin, Lysa Terkeurst, and many more.

Top Leadership Trends for 2026

It’s my annual Top Leadership Trends for 2026. See the Full List below. Plus, you can hear me unpack each trend on the H3 Leadership Podcast Episode 295. Listen in to the convo through Apple Podcasts or Spotify or on the Website.

Check out the Top Ten (+1) Leadership Trends for this year. This is an episode to share and discuss with your team, co-workers and boards. Make sure to access the Show Notes at the H3 Leadership website.

Special thanks to CONVOY OF HOPE and WONDER PROJECT for their partnership on this episode.

WONDER PROJECT

(TV STUDIO and SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE) Visit http://thewonderproject.com. An independent studio that produces premium theatrical films and television series. The mission is to entertain the world with courageous stories, inspiring hope and restoring faith in things worth believing in. Founded by established leaders from entertainment and technology, Wonder Project is dedicated to building a trusted brand, with projects like the most recent hit House of David. Get a FREE 7 day trial of Wonder Project on Prime Video at http://thewonderproject.com.

CONVOY OF HOPE 

Please donate to the Jamaica hurricane relief efforts and ongoing work at http://convoyofhope.org/donate. Convoy is my trusted partner for delivering food and relief by responding to disasters in the US and all around the world. Right now, Convoy of Hope is responding to the Texas Floods destruction, the LA fires rebuilding efforts, along with devastation in the southeast US from Hurricane Helene and Milton, providing basic needs like food, hygiene supplies, medical supplies, blankets, bedding, clothing and more. All through partnering with local Churches. Join me and please support their incredible work. To donate visit http://convoyofhope.org/donate.

Top Ten (+1) Leadership Trends for 2026

1. Continued Move Towards Curation – more about conversation and connection vs content.

2. The Power of Connection – as AI grows, Social and Relational intelligence will be even more needed.

3. A Commitment to different Core Values for Gen Z – purpose, collaboration, authenticity and flexibility are key values today.

4. Faith in the Common Square is more normal. “Faith Driven” and “Faith Centric” are in Vogue – people are interested in things of faith and spiritual life.

5. Trust in Individuals compared to Institutions – trust the podcaster more than the media company the podcaster is part of.

6. Most are back in the office, but hybrid still preferred work reality. With more AI agentic help, the skilled worker will require self-leadership and strategic thinking.

7. More fractional Executive Roles are Happening – Seasoned Older leaders stepping in for fractional discernment and wisdom. Leaders are aging out, but also stepping back in with fractional roles.

8. Free Agent Economy is still expanding and growing. More project minded compared to career arc minded.

9. In an Access Economy, everyone expects to be connected to whoever is in charge.

10. Talent development is complicated. Pipeline development is crucial, job hugging and “stayers” are creating barriers, entry level roles are shrinking because of AI, and 2 year mentoring pathway for new hires in a “residency” model is catching on.

11. Middle management is decaying - Climbing the ladder is no longer a thing- because orgs are flatter, lateral moves through projects compared to horizontal moves due to hierarchy titles and positions.  Authority is less through power of role and more through lateral projects and moves.

You can also find additional interviews with Patrick Lencioni, Bob Goff, Adam Grant, Charles Duhigg, Andy Stanley, Coach PJ Fleck, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Kevin Kelly, NT Wright, Rick Warren, Michael Jr, Jon Gordon, Jessica Jackley, John Mark Comer, Scott Harrison, Chris Tomlin, Lysa Terkeurst, and many more.

January Top Ten List + Carlos Whittaker, best-selling Author, Speaker, and hope dispenser

See the January Top Ten Leadership List below. Plus, check out my interview with CARLOS WHITTAKER on the H3 Leadership Podcast Episode 294. Listen in to the convo through Apple Podcasts or Spotify or on the Website.

Our guest is CARLOS WHITTAKER, a Best-selling author of multiple books, including his most recent book Reconnected. Carlos is a speaker, curator of the InstaFamilia community on Instagram, host of the Carlos Whittaker Podcast, and now a filmmaker and documentary creator with his most recent RECONNECTED Documentary. We discuss his latest recommend items, being a philanthropist, learning golf, weddings, Atlanta Falcons, Human School, and much more. Plus, check out the January Top Ten Leadership List. Make sure to access the Show Notes at the H3 Leadership website.

Special thanks to FOSTER THE CITY and COME AND SEE FOUNDATION for their partnership on this episode.

FOSTER THE CITY

Foster the City was launched out of Echo Church in CA, and now over 350 churches are raising up Foster Families and Support Teams to take on the thousands of kids needing a foster family around the US. Your church can be part - learn more at http://fosterthecity.org. Working towards a day when there will be a waiting list of churches instead of a waiting list of children in need of a home. Foster the City believes there is a church for every child. Learn how you and your church can partner and get involved at http://fosterthecity.org.

COME and SEE FOUNDATION

Reaching a billion people with the story of Jesus. Visit http://comeandseefoundation.org. Come and See Foundation is on a mission to ensure that all 7 seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and kept FREE for all. From Michigan to Madagascar, people are encountering Jesus through The Chosen, Join Come and See in inviting a billion people to find and follow Jesus. You can play a supporting role in introducing the world to Jesus. Lean more and get involved at http://comeandseefoundation.org.

January Top Ten Leadership List

Books

The Future Begins with Z – from Tim Elmore

Stand Firm and Act Like Men – from Joby Martin

The Greatest Story Ever Told – from Bear Grylls

Newsletters

The Points Guy – Brian Kelly and team

Podcasts

Street Peachers Podcast

Learning Leader Show – with guest Oz Pearlman

Tim Ferriss Show – with guest Arthur Brooks

Voices in leadership

Tim Timberlake

Justin Forsett

Conferences

Solving the Worlds Greatest Problems – March in Austin

Exponential Conference – March in Orlando

You can also find additional interviews with Patrick Lencioni, Bob Goff, Adam Grant, Charles Duhigg, Andy Stanley, Coach PJ Fleck, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Kevin Kelly, NT Wright, Rick Warren, Michael Jr, Jon Gordon, Jessica Jackley, John Mark Comer, Scott Harrison, Chris Tomlin, Lysa Terkeurst, and many more.