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If your networking has mostly happened on LinkedIn lately, fall is a good time to change that. A lot of the biggest gatherings for Black professionals happen this time of year, and the options run from festival weekends in Brooklyn to recruiter-packed expo floors in Los Angeles and Houston. There’s something here for recent grads and for people who already have the title and are eyeing the next one.
Between registration, flights and a hotel, a single conference can easily run into the thousands, and that’s a lot to ask if you’re between jobs or were caught in a round of layoffs this year. Be choosy, and if your employer has professional development funds, ask about them. For anyone job hunting, the events with career fairs make the most sense, and a lot of conferences offer volunteer spots, discounted day passes or virtual options that bring the price down. The list below runs in date order, and a few of these are tied to membership organizations, so read the registration details before you book.
National Black MBA Association Annual Conference
Sept. 23-25 | Los Angeles
In the words of Drake, “If you’re reading this, it’s too late.” Well, almost. The 48th Annual Conference & Exposition is already underway at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and it’s the first time the conference has been back in Los Angeles in 15 years. This year’s theme is “PIVOT,” and the Career Expo runs through Friday with hundreds of Fortune 1000 employers on the floor interviewing and hiring on-site. If a same-week flight to L.A. isn’t realistic, put it on your list for next year.
CultureCon NYC
Oct. 3-4 | Brooklyn, N.Y.
CultureCon returns to the Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard with this year’s theme, “Museum of Us.” The lineup keeps growing, and Michael B. Jordan, Aaron Pierre, Wale and Tobe Nwigwe were just added to a roster that already included John Legend, Mahershala Ali, Colin Kaepernick, Niecy Nash-Betts, Daniel Kaluuya and Sherri Shepherd. The celebrity names get the headlines, but organizers have also made more room for career building this year. A new campus space houses Braindate networking, a Career Lounge, a Small Business Marketplace and a Creative Business Stage, and the festival is partnering with Black Girl Art Show, Black Boy Art Show and Literature and Libations. Try to get to New York early, because CultureCon Week kicks off beforehand with five days of dinners, screenings and community events.
NAHSE Annual Educational Conference
Oct. 7-9 | Los Angeles
The National Association of Health Services Executives is the professional organization for Black healthcare executives, and this year it brings its flagship conference to the Westin Bonaventure. The 2026 theme is a mouthful: “Lights, Camera, Action! The Time Is Now: Transformation, Innovation, and Policy Change.” Executives, policymakers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and future leaders will all be in the room. Students should look into the Everett V. Fox Case Competition, and it’s a strong way to get noticed early in a healthcare career.
NAAAHR National Conference
Oct. 7-11 | Norfolk, Va.
HR professionals, this one is for you. The National Association of African Americans in Human Resources is returning to Norfolk and the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel under the theme “Leading Today | Designing Tomorrow.” Subject matter experts will dig into how AI is reshaping HR. The program is approved for 13 HR recertification credit hours through HRCI, and attendees get discounted rates on certification exams. The organization is pitching it to a wide audience that runs from CHROs and talent acquisition leads to college and early-career talent.
THRIVE by BLK Men in Tech
Oct. 11-13 | Dallas
Last year’s THRIVE was in Fort Lauderdale, and this year the conference heads to Dallas. It’s designed for the whole tech community, with a special focus on the Black male experience. The career support here is practical, and tickets include a Recruiter Row with recruiters from top tech companies, a Career Accelerator Hub for resume, LinkedIn and interview prep, and quick live coaching sessions.
Black Travel Summit
Oct. 15-18 | Milwaukee
After its first international edition in Rio de Janeiro, the Black Travel Summit is back in the U.S. under the theme “Renaissance: Rebirth. Renew. Reclaim.” The four days of workshops and networking happen at Milwaukee’s Baird Center, and the theme draws on the legacy of the city’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood. Travel advisors, tour operators, creators and travel entrepreneurs can expect skills sessions and B2B matchmaking, but save some energy for the Black Travel Awards Gala and the pitch competition too.
Black Enterprise XCEL Summit for Men
Oct. 21-23 | Orlando, Fla.
Black Enterprise is marking 10 years of the XCEL Summit for Men at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, and it expects more than 800 executive leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries. Kirk Franklin, Exelon CEO Calvin Butler, NASA astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas are among the keynote speakers. BET founder Robert L. Johnson will also receive an XCEL Award. Between the awards, the programming includes panels, peer-to-peer masterclasses and structured deal-making sessions.
National Council of Negro Women National Convention
Oct. 21-25 | Atlanta
NCNW holds its national convention every two years, and it brings together members and affiliates to handle the organization’s business and talk through issues affecting Black women and girls. This is where members set the organization’s direction, vote on policy and elect national officers. The 2024 convention in Baltimore drew more than 1,200 attendees, so expect a full house in Atlanta. The convention is open to NCNW members, members of its affiliate organizations and invited guests.
ELC Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium
Oct. 29-30 | National Harbor, Md., and virtual
Anyone stuck in the middle of the org chart and trying to figure out the next move should look at this one. More than 1,000 mid-level and senior professionals attend, and ELC members, who are among the most accomplished executives in business, come to work with attendees directly. The symposium is part of ELC Gala Week at the Gaylord National Resort, so D.C.-area readers can skip the flight and stick around for the ELC Recognition Gala on Oct. 30.
AfroTech Conference
Nov. 2-6 | Houston
AfroTech launched in the Bay Area in 2016 with 650 attendees. A decade later it’s back at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center for its anniversary edition, and the 2025 conference drew more than 40,000 people. The timing makes this year interesting. The conference falls during election week, two days after the midterms, and organizers are hosting the first-ever AfroTech Policy Breakfast to debrief the results with public leaders. Pack your flyest ‘fit too. Blavity is throwing a party called Blavity In Black, where all-black attire is encouraged and the soundtrack is built on the songs that defined AfroTech’s first decade.
Black Men in Education Convening
Nov. 13-15 | Philadelphia
Black men make up just 1.3% of teachers in the U.S., and the Center for Black Educator Development built this convening to change that number and support the men already in classrooms. The ninth annual gathering heads back to Philadelphia with speakers, workshops and time set aside for mentorship and community building. It has grown quickly, and last year’s convening had 1,400 registered attendees, more than 80 breakout sessions and over 100 main stage speakers.
NABSE Annual Conference
Dec. 2-6 | Orlando, Fla.
The National Alliance of Black School Educators holds its conference at the very end of fall, but it’s worth budgeting for now. Regular registration for the 54th annual conference runs through Oct. 28 at $725 for members and $875 for nonmembers, and it covers every session, the networking events, the luncheons and the Awards Gala. There’s also a $300 Saturday-only pass that includes a Gala ticket. Get there a day early if you can, because the Dec. 2 pre-conference options include K-12 school visits, a cultural tour of Orlando and an Aspiring Superintendents institute.