Inc. to Host the 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala in Dallas, Featuring Reed Hastings, Kerry Washington, Marc Lore, Jay Shetty, Cynthia Rowley, Marissa Mayer, Steven Bartlett, Tiffany Haddish, the Founders of Rivian and Supergoop!, and more

The three-day celebration brings together America’s fastest-growing companies and leading entrepreneurs

Dallas, TX, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inc., the media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business leaders, will host its annual Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala on October 14-17, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. The three-day event will bring together founders and executives from the prestigious 2026 Inc. 5000 list, which recognizes America’s fastest-growing private companies, for a celebration of entrepreneurship and perseverance. 

The 2026 Inc. 5000 companies collectively generated more than $385 billion in revenue in 2025, created more than 627,000 jobs over the past three years, and achieved more than $200 billion in revenue growth since 2022. With rankings determined by percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025, this year’s list offers a data-driven snapshot of the private companies driving innovation and economic growth across the country. 

“Every year, the Inc. 5000 helps us better understand the state of American entrepreneurship—where it stands today and where it’s heading next—and this year is no exception,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hofman. “The Conference brings this exclusive community together in one place to network, learn directly from one another, and celebrate the people building some of the country’s fastest-growing companies.”  

This year’s Conference will feature conversations with top founders and executives, including: 

• Steven Bartlett, founder and CEO of Steven.com and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast 
• Ty Haney, founder and CEO of Try Your Best  
• Tiffany Haddish, comedian, actress, author, and Gala host  
• Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Powder and co-founder and former CEO of Netflix
  
• Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc.  
• Natalie Holloway, co-founder and CEO of Bala  
• Marc Lore, founder and CEO of Wonder  
• Suneera Madhani, founder and CEO of Worth AI and founder of Stax Payments  
• Marissa Mayer, founder and CEO of Dazzle AI  
• Janet Napolitano, former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security  
• Eric Ries, bestselling author and founder of Long-Term Stock Exchange  
• Cynthia Rowley, founder and creative director of Cynthia Rowley Inc.  
• RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian  
• Jay Shetty, co-founder of Juni  
• Joanna Strober, co-founder and CEO of Midi Health  
• Holly Thaggard, founder of Supergoop! and WaterOuai!  
• Kerry Washington, actress, producer, director, author, activist, and founder of Simpson Street  
• Alli Webb, founder of Drybar and Messy by Alli Webb 

Over three days, attendees will have opportunities to learn from industry leaders and fellow entrepreneurs through mainstage conversations, breakout sessions, and workshops as well as networking, happy hours, wellness experiences, and more. The Inc. 5000 Conference will culminate with its signature Black-Tie Gala to celebrate all honorees, hosted by Tiffany Haddish. 

“We’re grateful to our partners, whose expertise, resources, and commitment to the entrepreneurial community help us create a richer, more dynamic experience for our attendees, from the programming on stage to the opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate throughout the Conference,” says Mansueto Ventures chief revenue officer Cece Ryan.  

Inc. is proud to welcome back Capital One Business as Partner of the 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala. Inc. is also excited to acknowledge its other sponsors, including Dell Technologies, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Insperity, Oracle NetSuite, Principal, Salesforce, Google, Innovate Alabama, Paramount Ads Manager, Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), DatabaseUSA, and Humani HR.  

Capital One Business will bring the long-running Your Next Move editorial series live to the Conference mainstage, produced in collaboration with Inc. and featuring a special guest. In addition, Capital One Business will host the homecoming-themed party on Thursday, October 15. Capital One Business will also allow attendees to share success stories on-site at the Your Next Move media lounge, featuring a video and podcast recording booth in the Conference marketplace.  

“Capital One Business joined forces with Inc. in 2019, rooted in a mutual commitment to the deeply personal adventure of building a business from scratch,” says Dan Arellano, senior vice president, Capital One Business. “Now in our eighth year supporting this celebration of entrepreneurship, we continue to admire the visionary leaders behind the growth represented on the Inc. 5000 list. Earning a spot among these companies is a true mark of entrepreneurial success. We are honored to celebrate this milestone alongside them and recognize the inspiration and grit behind their achievements.” 

Dell Technologies, a new Presenting Sponsor, will invite attendees to share and record the stories behind their business growth through an interactive marketplace activation celebrating the entrepreneurial journeys of Inc. 5000 leaders. Attendees can also connect with Dell experts and enjoy exclusive giveaways throughout the event.  

Insperity, a long-time Presenting Sponsor, will offer attendees the opportunity to appear on the cover of Inc. magazine in a bespoke marketplace activation. Don’t miss Insperity on the mainstage discussing talent strategy, AI readiness, and cultures designed to scale.  

IHG Hotels & Resorts returns as a Presenting Sponsor, with sponsorship of both the opening night cocktail party and Inc. Leadership Forum events, as well as a panel on how community and customer relationships fuel growth.  

Oracle NetSuite, also returns to the Conference this year with a presence in the marketplace and a breakout session dedicated to using technology to scale your business.  

Principal, celebrating 25 years as an Inc. 5000 Conference sponsor, will encourage attendees to look back on the lessons that shaped their journeys and learn from the experiences of others. Extending their sponsorship of Inc.’s Expert Exchange series, they’ll host a stage dedicated to expert advice and shared insights. At the Gala on Friday, October 16, they’ll help celebrate the recipient of the Inc. 5000 Legacy Award.  

Salesforce returns as a sponsor of the Conference and the Inc. 5000 CEO survey with a conversation featuring highlights and insights from the survey, along with a panel about scaling and building growth in the age of AI.  

For more information about the 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, including registration and the full speaker lineup, visit events.inc.com/2026incconference. 

For complete results of the 2026 Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database, visit Inc. 5000. 

About Inc. 

Inc. is the premier media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com. 

Alyssa Carroll
Head of Communications, Inc.