UNLEASH World Paris 2026: dates, ticket prices, speakers and whether it’s worth it
Last checked 2 October 2026
UNLEASH World Paris is Europe’s largest HR and WorkTech event, running 20 to 22 October 2026, with the main conference and exhibition at the Paris Convention Centre, Porte de Versailles. General Admission is €3,195 + VAT, and 8,500+ attendees, 300+ speakers and 250+ exhibitors are expected.
| Dates | 20–22 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Days 2 and 3: Paris Convention Centre, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris. Day 1 summits: Shangri-La Paris |
| Tickets | General Admission €3,195 + VAT; Diamond €5,495 + VAT; Explorer by application (price not published) |
| Scale | 8,500+ attendees, 300+ speakers, 250+ exhibitors, 140+ countries |
| Theme | Repurposing Humanity in the Age of Machines |
| Headline speakers | Louis Theroux, Nicolas Hieronimus (L’Oréal), Eddie Wilson (Ryanair), Josh Bersin, Brian Glaser (Google) |
Is UNLEASH World Paris worth it?
UNLEASH World Paris is worth it if you buy, evaluate or shape HR technology and want 250+ vendors, 300+ speakers and senior HR peers in one place. It is a large, three-day event, so the cost is hard to justify for a single narrow topic. Here is how to decide:
- Go if you are shortlisting HR or WorkTech vendors and want to compare them side by side.
- Go if you lead people strategy and want the AI, skills and workforce-planning conversation across the main stage and breakouts.
- Consider Diamond (€5,495 + VAT) if you want the day-one summits and salons at the Shangri-La, fast-track entry and speaker meet and greets.
- Apply for Explorer if you are a senior HR leader who wants small-group company visits and an executive dinner. It is application-only and vendors are not accepted.
- Skip it if you only need depth on one topic, or cannot spend three days away.
Hoogly will be in Paris. If you want to see how a team can hear from its people and act within days, ask us for a live demo.
Where is UNLEASH World Paris 2026?
UNLEASH World Paris is at the Paris Convention Centre, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France. The main conference and exhibition fill the venue on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2026. Day one, Tuesday 20 October, is for summits and company expeditions elsewhere in Paris.
- Tuesday 20 October (Day 1): invite-only summits and salons, mostly at the Shangri-La Paris, plus company expeditions at host sites around the city.
- Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October (Days 2 and 3): the main conference, seven stages and the exhibition at the Paris Convention Centre, Porte de Versailles.
The venue is part of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in the 15th arrondissement. It is served by Porte de Versailles station on Métro line 12 and by the Porte de Versailles stops on tram lines T2 and T3a. Check the RATP journey planner for the day, as services can change.
What are the highlights of the UNLEASH World Paris 2026 agenda?
The biggest names are on the main stage, Stage 1 (Humans x AI), on Wednesday and Thursday. These are the sessions most people plan around:
| When | Session | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct, 09:00 | Eddie Wilson, Ryanair: how Ryanair is deploying AI at scale (keynote) | Stage 1 |
| Wed 21 Oct, 09:00 | Brian Glaser, Google: AI transformation in theory and practice (keynote) | Stage 4 | Skills |
| Wed 21 Oct, 17:30 | Nicolas Hieronimus, L’Oréal: CEO–CHRO partnership (fireside) | Stage 1 |
| Thu 22 Oct, 09:00 | Josh Bersin: HR 2030, how the HR tech landscape is up for grabs (keynote) | Stage 1 |
| Thu 22 Oct, 15:05 | Louis Theroux: Two Visions, Two AI Strategies (fireside) | Stage 1 |
The invite-only summits include the UNLEASH Future Readiness, HR 2030 and AI summits on day one, and the UNLEASH 100 and CHRO summits on Wednesday. Times and rooms are from the published agenda on 2 October 2026 and can change, so check the UNLEASH app. Our own pick of sessions for people who care about culture is in Hoogly’s top 5 at UNLEASH World Paris.
How much does UNLEASH World Paris 2026 cost?
There are three passes. General Admission is €3,195 + VAT. Diamond is €5,495 + VAT, with limited spaces. Explorer is application-only for senior HR leaders, and its price is not published on the pricing page.
- General Admission (€3,195 + VAT): days 2 and 3 conference access, all 7 stages, full exhibition access, official networking events, an attendee-only hotel room block, community access via the app and the UNLEASH Journey Book.
- Diamond (€5,495 + VAT): everything in General Admission, plus the day-one Summits and Salons at the Shangri-La Paris, UNLEASH curated experiences, fast-track entry, UNLEASH Lounge access, speaker meet and greets, reserved stage seating and the UNLEASH Intelligence Report.
- Explorer (application only): everything in General Admission, plus a day-one expedition inside a leading employer, an executive dinner, explorer tours, accelerator labs, lounge access, speaker meet and greets, fast-track entry and full three-day access.
Prices are from the official UNLEASH pricing page as of the date above and can rise closer to the event. Check unleash.ai for the current figure.
Who are the UNLEASH World Paris 2026 speakers?
The organiser lists these headline speakers:
- Louis Theroux, Presenter
- Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO, L’Oréal
- Eddie Wilson, CEO, Ryanair
- Josh Bersin, Founder and CEO, The Josh Bersin Company
- Brian Glaser, VP and Chief Learning Officer, Google
- Natalia Wallenberg, Chief Human Resources Officer, Ahold Delhaize
The agenda is organised around AI, skills, operating models, workforce strategy, reward, data and technology. Josh Bersin is listed for a day-three keynote.
Are there parties and drinks at UNLEASH World Paris?
Yes. The agenda lists three official evening events, and all three are invite-only:
- UNLEASH Kickoff Party: Tuesday 20 October, 18:00–20:00, Le Perchoir Porte de Versailles.
- UNLEASH Rooftop Party: Wednesday 21 October, 18:00–20:00, Terminal 7.
- UNLEASH Startup Drinks & Reception, powered by Playroll: Wednesday 21 October, 18:00–21:00, Courtyard by Marriott Paris Porte de Versailles. Aimed at startup founders in the HR tech ecosystem.
The agenda does not say how invitations are issued. General Admission includes official networking events, so ask the organiser what your pass covers. Vendors and sponsors also host their own side events around the show, and the exhibition floor is the easiest place to hear about them.
Is there good coffee at UNLEASH World Paris?
Paris has no shortage of excellent cafés, but a trade show hall is another matter, and with 8,500 people in one building the expo coffee queue can be long. If you are stuck in a queue or holding a grim cup, come and find the Hoogly team. A proper coffee and a chat about culture, or anything else, is often on the cards.
How do you get the most out of UNLEASH World Paris?
Decide in advance who you want to meet and book those meetings before you travel. Most conference follow-up fails on speed, because contacts go cold within weeks. Block time on day two or three for the expo, and keep day one free if you hold a Diamond badge for the summits.
Sources: UNLEASH World, UNLEASH Paris passes and pricing, UNLEASH World Paris speakers. Prices, speakers and programme can change, so confirm with the organiser before you book.