10 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss IAMPHENOM 2026

The wait is over. IAMPHENOM returns to Philadelphia March 10-12, 2026, for HR's only conference dedicated to applied AI and automation. This year's event returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, bringing together more than 3,000 HR professionals for 3 days of innovation and practical learning covering how to hire, develop, and retain talent with AI,  automation, and experience.

Here are 10 reasons why you don’t want to miss IAMPHENOM — plus, an email template to get your boss on board: 

1. Hands-On Learning at The AI & Automation Lab for HR

IAMPHENOM is all about real customer stories, practical HR solutions, and interactive learning opportunities. The AI & Automation Lab for HR returns larger this year with a 13-station experience showcasing over 70 HR use cases you can test for yourself. The biggest addition this year? The new Agents Center brings agentic AI to life through hands-on experiences with the Sourcing Agent, Voice Screening Agent, Intake Agent, Fraud Detection Agent, and Virtual Interview Simulation Agent. These are fully interactive, live environments where you can see how agents actually execute work, from finding candidates and coordinating intake to detecting fraud and conducting interviews. You work directly with product experts, test features in real time, troubleshoot scenarios, and build skills designed for immediate use.

Pro Tip: Don't forget to lean on your CVM and account team. Experts will be stationed at booths in the main conference hall, ready to answer questions and connect you with peers 

2. A Packed Lineup of Speakers and Sessions

With over 100 speakers and 100+ sessions spanning talent acquisition, talent management, HRIT, and executive leadership, the agenda stays full from start to finish. Simon Sinek, creator of "Start with WHY" and multiple best-selling author, headlines the main stage, joined by customer speakers from leading organizations across healthcare, financial services, retail, and technology.

The conference app lets you filter sessions by industry (healthcare, manufacturing, financial services) and persona (recruiters, marketers, talent management). You'll find two distinct types of breakout sessions:

• Customer Breakouts: Sessions where customers share success stories, thought leadership, and data-driven results.

• Value Workshops: Hands-on sessions led by Phenom's team, organized by beginner and advanced levels, so you can leave ready to adapt best practices in your own environment.

Pro Tip: Conference amnesia is real. Bring a pen and paper, divide and conquer sessions with your team, and build in time to regroup daily. Aim to leave with three goals: one long-term objective for the year and two short-term wins to tackle next quarter.

3. Momentum to Move from Legacy Tech to Applied AI

Attending signals a shift for you as a professional and for your organization. It represents the decision to move past outdated HR technology and step into the future with applied AI. Sessions deliver both inspiration and practical roadmaps for transitioning from manual workflows to intelligent automation. Here's a preview of what you'll hear: UMMS on their journey from RPO reliance to internal TA excellence, from Dutch Bros on shifting from reactive hiring to proactive talent marketing, and from Truist on cutting scheduling coordination from days to hours. 

If you're wondering how AI will impact your role, you'll hear a consistent message from early adopters: AI isn't taking jobs, it's transforming them. Whether your team is just beginning to explore AI or already running advanced implementations, organizations at varying stages of maturity will share what worked, what failed, and what they would change.

4. Innovation and Product Announcements

This year's conference zeroes in on applied AI, moving beyond general tools like fit scoring to highly specific use cases. This is where you see the future first. AI advancements, product announcements, and new developments in talent technology take center stage across keynotes and demo sessions. You'll see beta testing and live applications of Phenom's sourcing, voice, and candidate fraud detection agents, and hear directly from early adopters about how AI has optimized the daily lives of recruiters and talent managers. These are live demos where you see the technology in action, not slide presentations. Phenom also outlines its product roadmap and provides early access to features still in development. You leave with a clear picture of what is coming next and how emerging tools can support your long-term HR strategy.

5. Customer Love and the Customer Appreciation Gala

Phenom customers are invited to an exclusive Customer Appreciation Gala and the HR Awards Ceremony, recognizing achievements across candidate experience, recruiter efficiency, talent management, and AI adoption. The evening brings together the Phenom customer community for dinner, conversation, and celebration in a relaxed setting away from the main conference floor. Beyond the gala, the conference highlights candid customer stories that reflect both early challenges and measurable outcomes. These sessions offer a realistic look at what implementation actually looks like and how teams created long-term value.

6. World-Class Venue at the Pennsylvania Convention Center

The conference has outgrown every previous venue and now occupies Philadelphia's largest event space, home to the city's biggest events, including the Flower Show and Auto Show. The expanded footprint allows for more breakout rooms, larger demo areas, and dedicated networking zones where conversations can continue between sessions. The stage is larger than ever, the keynote lineup is one you won't want to miss, and the location puts you right in the heart of the city. City Hall and the iconic LOVE statue are just steps away, and for those traveling from out of town, the venue is easily accessible by car, train, bus, and air.

7. Networking at Philly Jawn Party 

Step away from the conference center and connect with speakers and practitioners in a relaxed setting. The Welcome Philly Jawn Party at Reading Terminal Market offers the chance to build relationships over iconic Philly food, live music, and good conversation. This is a private, invite-only evening where Phenom rents out the entire market, giving you room to mingle freely, sample everything from cheesesteaks to roast pork, and exchange ideas with peers from across industries. Attendee surveys consistently rank this networking event as a favorite part of the conference, and the connections made here often turn into ongoing relationships, collaborations, and friendships that last well beyond the event.

8. Building a Strong Foundation with Skills, AI, and Workforce Intelligence

Sessions cover the building blocks needed to level up your organization, from AI maturity frameworks to skills infrastructure and workforce planning. Here's what's on the agenda: Alight shares its approach to skills ontologies, Primetals Technologies discusses career pathing in change-averse industries, Giant Eagle explains how they created visibility from store floor to corporate roles, and Borealis walks through building AI-augmented development journeys based on employee feedback. Whether you are looking to implement a skills ontology, launch a talent marketplace, or understand how workforce intelligence fits into your broader HR strategy, you will find content that meets you where you are. 

9. A Championship-Level Experience

The event brings a championship mindset to the conference experience, continuing to improve and raise the bar each year. That commitment to excellence shows up in every detail, from the quality of the sessions to the food served at lunch to the energy of the networking events. Start your morning with a Rocky Run up the Art Museum steps, recharge with yoga and meditation, and end the night at the Philly Jawn party at Reading Terminal Market. Every moment is designed to keep you energized and connected.

10. The Capital of Applied AI for HR

IAMPHENOM continues to serve as a central gathering point for applied AI and automation in HR. The conference brings together organizations shaping the future of TA and TM, teams building the technology, and a growing community committed to advancing the profession. You'll also hear strategies for getting corporate AI policies approved internally, a challenge many teams face when trying to move from pilot to full adoption. The conversations and ideas shared here often influence industry priorities in the months that follow.

Related: State of AI & Automation for HR: 2026 Benchmarks Report

Bonus: Earn SHRM and HRCI Credits

As you attend sessions, you will earn professional development credits toward your recertification. All session recordings will also be available on demand after the event, so you can revisit key learnings and share insights with colleagues who could not attend.

[Email Template] Convince Your Boss to Send You to IAMPHENOM

Trying to get your boss on board? There’s still time! We've put together an email template that highlights the value of attending, what you'll bring back to the team, and what's included in your pass. Simply copy the template below, personalize it, and hit send.

Subject Line: Advancing Our HR Goals at IAMPHENOM 2026

Hi [Boss's Name],

I'm excited to share a professional development opportunity I think would benefit both our team and me. IAMPHENOM is taking place March 10-12, 2026, in Philadelphia, and I would like to attend. This is HR's only conference dedicated to applied AI and automation, featuring over 100 speakers and 75+ sessions covering talent acquisition, talent management, HRIT, and executive leadership. Organizations such as Truist, Regions Bank, United Airlines, Kohl's, and Southwest Airlines will share how they use AI and automation to hire faster, develop talent, and improve retention. Key takeaways from attending would include:

• Hands-on experience with AI and automation tools in interactive labs

• Practical frameworks for skills-based hiring and workforce intelligence

• Insights from peers tackling the same challenges we face

• Early access to product innovations and demos

• Networking opportunities with 3,000+ HR professionals

• SHRM and HRCI credits plus on-demand session recordings

The Late Bird pass is $800, ending on March 10, 2026. The conference also includes in-person access to all main stage keynotes, sessions, and breakouts, along with complimentary breakfast and lunch, discounted hotel rates, and on-demand session recordings post-event. Phenom customers also get access to the Customer Appreciation Gala and HR Awards Ceremony.

After the event, I'll put together a summary of key takeaways and recommendations for how we can apply what I learn to our goals. I'd really appreciate your support in attending.

Thank you for considering this opportunity.

Best, 

[Your Name]

Ready to Join Us? Register now, and we can't wait to see you in Philadelphia this March.