Social enterprise and impact investing events in 2026 and beyond
Ready to network, learn and get inspired? Don't book your diary without the Pioneers Post roundup of impact economy events coming soon – for social entrepreneurs, impact investors and all those working within the global impact economy.
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11-15 October 2026
Ecosystem Leadership Exchange
What: Organised by Social Enterprise World Forum, this event will take participants to South Korea, to learn from the institutions, policies and partnerships behind one of the world's most developed social enterprise ecosystems. Participants will directly learn from the people shaping South Korea's social enterprise policy policy and putting it into practice, and will consider how those lessons might be adapted to accelerate economic transformation in their own countries.
Who: Senior leaders in social and economic policy, social finance, CSR, corporate procurement and social enterprise.
Where: Seoul, South Korea.
Tickets: Tickets start at £1,699. More information on the event website.
12-13 October 2026
New Economies 2026
What: Organised by Partners for a New Economy, this event will explore how to build fairer, more resilient and regenerative economies. Under a theme of ‘Turning Together’, the event will focus on three key topics: new economic ideas, openings for change, and collective power. The programme includes keynotes, breakout sessions, facilitated networking and a deep listening session along the Rhine river.
Who: Social entrepreneurs, funders, researchers, activists, representatives of public institutions and civil society.
Where: Bonn, Germany.
Tickets: Attendance is free, but with limited capacity. Apply to attend via the event website.
12-14 October 2026
SOCAP26
What: SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) convenes a diverse group of impact investors, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, business leaders and innovators to accelerate progress in addressing the world’s toughest challenges through market-based solutions. Happening in Chicago for the first time, the conference will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities aimed at fostering impactful collaborations.
Who: Impact investors, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, business leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders committed to social and environmental impact.
Where: Chicago, Illinois, US.
Tickets: Tickets available for US$1,199. More information here.
12-16 October 2026
Catalyst Now Week
What: An online, international event connecting social innovators with a global network and audience. Each day of the week focuses on a different theme, including: funding, finance and shifting funding paradigms; education and youth; climate and environment; AI for social innovation; and culture and wellbeing.
Who: Social innovators, business leaders, government representatives, academics and funders.
Where: Online.
Tickets: Register through the event website.
13-16 October 2026
Barcelona 4 Impact
What: City-wide celebration through which organisations delivering social or environmental impact or working on systemic change host events under the Barcelona 4 Impact banner. Topics covered in the programme include impact investing, regenerative food systems and the circular economy.
Who: Social entrepreneurs, investors, representatives of universities, public institutions, innovation hubs and startups.
Where: Barcelona, Spain.
Tickets: Tickets or registration for events available through the Barcelona 4 Impact website.
13 October 2026
NPC Ignites
What: Organised by NPC, this event aims to help impact economy leaders navigate what’s next and maximise the impact of their work. Speakers include Kate Lee, CEO at NCVO, Fiona Spellman, CEO at SHINE and Joshua Meek, Chief Impact Officer at Unity Trust Bank.
Who: Representatives of charities, foundations, social enterprises and purpose-driven organisations.
Where: London, UK.
Tickets: Available from £175 through the event website.
14-16 October 2026
Blue Earth Summit
What: An annual conference focused on sustainable and regenerative business solutions for the planet, featuring keynotes, live pitching sessions, interactive debates, workshops and networking. Speakers for the 2026 edition include Kate Raworth, Deborah Meaden, Chris Turner and Adam Garfunkel.
Who: Startups and scaleups, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, investors, scientists, environmentalists.
Where: London, UK.
Tickets: Available from £359 through the event website.
20 October 2026
The Gap in Between Annual Summit
What: An event that brings together a diverse range of actors to tackle the most pressing social and environmental challenges, under the theme “Future Forward Business”. Expect panel discussions, roundtables, networking and startup exhibitions.
Who: Entrepreneurs, corporates, investors, policy makers and members of civil society and academia who seek to create systemic change.
Where: Valencia, Spain
Tickets: From €80. Book here, more information here.
27-29 October 2026
GIIN Impact Forum
What: A global impact investing event including keynote speakers, panel discussions and interactive sessions. Organised by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).
Who: Impact investors from a range of financial institutions, including pensions, venture capital funds, government agencies and NGOs.
Where: Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Tickets: From US$1,800 to US$2,600. Book here.
28 October 2026
Social Enterprise Awards Scotland
What: Social Enterprise Scotland's annual award ceremony. The event includes awards presentations, entertainment, champagne and canapés and a sit-down two-course dinner. Scottish first minster John Swinney will attend.
Who: Members of the Scottish social economy community.
Where: Glasgow, Scotland.
Tickets: Tickets available from £114 through the event website.
5-6 November 2026
Forward Summit
What: Event focused on how to build and drive a European vision for social impact through inclusive procurement. Organised by Telos, ESDP and EGLCC – The European LGBTIQ Chamber of Commerce.
Who: Procurement professionals, business leaders, suppliers and social innovators.
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Tickets: From €210, more information on the event's website.
5-6 November 2026
Wayfinder Nairobi
What: An event bringing together around 100 social innovation practitioners to explore three key questions: How does a fragmented global field coordinate without recreating the extraction dynamics it is trying to end?; How do we rebuild the social imagination and the political courage to build genuinely new worlds rather than better versions of the current one?; And what does social innovation actually look like, in method and daily practice, when the stable world it was designed for no longer exists? Organised by EdelGive/SIX, a partnership between the EdelGive Foundation and Social Innovation Exchange.
Who: Social innovation ecosystem builders, practitioners, impact investors, philanthropists, policy makers and researchers.
Where: Nairobi, Kenya.
Tickets: Submit an expression of interest through the event website.
9-11 November 2026
2026 AVPA Conference
What: The African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) annual conference, which will bring together stakeholders dedicated to advancing impactful social investment across Africa under the theme 'Beyond Aid: Financing Africa's Future for Sustainable Impact'.
Who: Impact investors, philanthropists, policy makers, development actors and the social impact investing community.
Where: Cape Town, South Africa.
Tickets: Tickets available from $870 through the event website.
9-20 November 2026
COP31
What: The 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31). The event brings together nearly 200 countries to negotiate global climate action and review progress on agreements like the Paris Agreement. This year the event will be hosted in Türkiye but Australia will be the 'negotiations president'.
Who: Impact investors, philanthropists, policy makers, development actors and the social impact investing community.
Where: Antalya, Türkiye.
Tickets: More information available through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change website.
11-13 November 2026
Inclusive Finance
What: The annual conference of e-MFP, an international network for inclusive finance organisations. The conference was formerly known as European Microfinance Week. The theme for this year’s conference is youth-inclusive finance. Other topics covered will include gender finance and green and climate finance.
Who: Consultants and support service providers, investors, multilateral & national development agencies, NGOs and researchers.
Where: Luxembourg and online.
Tickets: Early bird tickets available through the event website.
19 November 2026
SERI Annual Social Enterprise Conference 2026
What: Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland’s annual conference. With Ireland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, this year’s theme is: Ireland, Europe and Social Enterprise. Participants will have opportunities to hear from leading Irish and European voices in social enterprise, explore emerging policy and practice across Ireland and Europe and learn from practical examples of social enterprise in action.
Who: Social entrepreneurs, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, community leaders and other stakeholders from Ireland and across Europe.
Where: County Meath, Republic of Ireland, and online.
Tickets: In-person tickets sold out. Free virtual tickets available through the event website.
21-24 November 2026
Social Enterprise Open Camp
What: An immersive, residential training event dedicated to social entrepreneurship and impact investing. The programme includes workshops, case studies from around the world, plenary sessions and keynote speeches. Organised by OPES-LCEF Foundation and Consorzio Nazionale. Pioneers Post is delighted to be a media partner to the event, and our editors Tim West and Julie Pybus will be there.
Who: Social entrepreneurs, international cooperation professionals, investors and academics.
Where: Bologna, Bertinoro, Cesena and Forlì, Italy.
Tickets: Available from €500 through the event website.
25-26 November 2026
9th Annual Convening on Impact Investing
What: Under the theme of 'unlocking institutional capital for Nigeria’s impact economy', this event promises delegates will hear from industry leaders and investors across Africa on topics including policy & domestic capital, investor strategy and deal flow, pipeline and innovation, and ecosystem strengthening. Organised by Impact Investors Foundation (formerly the Impact Investing Alliance of Nigeria).
Who: Policymakers, DFIs, investors, philanthropic organisations, academics and social entrepreneurs.
Where: Lagos, Nigeria and online.
Tickets: Tickets available from ₦50,000 through the event website, and complimentary tickets are available for selected participants.
10 February 2027
The Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum
What: Organised by NPC, this event will explore how to grow and maximise the potential of impact-led capital. Sessions are designed to inspire action and accelerate transformative social change and sustainable economic growth.
Who: Philanthropists, impact investors, philanthropy sector leaders, sustainable finance professionals, charity leaders, policy makers, academics, think tanks, regulators and the media.
Where: London, UK.
Tickets: From £200. Register through the event website.
23-25 February 2027
FLII: Latin American Impact Investment Forum
What: Now in its 17th edition, FLII will bring together a diverse community of leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators discussing creating positive social and environmental impact across Latin America. The 2027 edition is titled “The Creator Effect”.
Who: Social entrepreneurs and impact investors from around the world.
Where: Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
Tickets: Bookings open on 15 October 2026. Keep an eye on the event’s website for updates.
2-3 March 2027
GSG Impact Summit
What: Co-hosted with the Dutch NAB, GSG Impact Summit 2027 will convene leaders shaping the future of policy, finance, and business to explore the theme: 'Building Impact Economies – Financing the Future'.
Who: All stakeholders involved in impact business and finance, and related policymaking.
Where: The Hague, Netherlands.
Tickets: Early bird tickets available until 30 November 2027 from €675. Regular passes €900. Visit the event website to book.
6-9 April 2027
Skoll World Forum
What: The annual event, which has been taking place since 2004, brings together global leaders to collaborate on social change, spotlighting promising solutions and impactful social innovations. Expect dozens of plenaries, workshops and side events. Organised by the Skoll Foundation.
Who: Social entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders driving social progress worldwide.
Where: Oxford, UK and online.
Tickets: Not yet available. In previous editions, invitations were issued by the Skoll Foundation, with free virtual participation open to everyone. Keep an eye on the event’s website for updates.
26-28 April 2027
ChangeNOW Summit
What: The tenth edition of the summit, which organisers says will bring together 40,000 attendees, and representatives of 10,000 companies, from 140 countries. The 2027 event will focus on four key themes: energy sovereignty, resilience and adaptation, health and the environment and impact finance. Applications to showcase or share impact stories at the event are now open.
Who: Policy makers, activists, scientists, policymakers and business figures.
Where: Paris, France.
Tickets: Pre-registration open through the event website.
24-27 May 2027
Philea Forum
What: The annual gathering organised by Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), bringing together philanthropy professionals. Expect workshops, plenaries, networking breaks, social events and site visits. This year’s edition is hosted by a group of Italian foundations, chaired by Fondazione CRT.
Who: European philanthropy professionals and leaders, academics, policymakers and other representatives of civil society.
Where: Turin, Italy.
Tickets: Not yet available. Keep an eye on the event’s website for updates.
21–24 June 2027
AI for Good Global Summit
What: The 10th edition of the flagship event of AI for Good, an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union in partnership with more than 50 UN agencies and co-convened with the government of Switzerland. The gathering aims to bring people together around AI’s potential to solve global challenges, and foster discussion around international AI standards and governance. The event will start with exhibitions, networking, and curated activities before the official opening on 23 June which will make space for plenaries and workshops across multiple stages.
Who: AI social innovators, policymakers, startups, corporates and other stakeholders.
Where: Geneva, Switzerland.
Tickets: Not yet available – keep an eye on the event’s website for updates.
24-27 August 2027
Impact Minds 2027
What: The annual event run by Latimpacto, Latin America and the Caribbean’s network for social investment.
Who: Capital providers from the global social and environmental impact ecosystem, with a special focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Where: Cartagena, Colombia.
Tickets: Not yet available.
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