Milken Institute’s 2026 Global Conference Convenes Changemakers in Los Angeles, May 3–6

At a defining moment for international stability, leaders will focus on solutions through open dialogue and cross-sector collaboration.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Milken Institute today announced the initial speaker lineup for the 2026 Global Conference, taking place May 3–6, 2026 at The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. The annual gathering brings together thousands of world leaders from business, government, finance, health, philanthropy, and civil society for four days of cross-sector dialogue on the issues shaping global markets, public health, and long-term prosperity.

As geopolitical tensions rise, economies recalibrate, and technological change accelerates, the need for trusted, nonpartisan spaces where leaders can engage in difficult—but civil—conversations has never been greater. The Milken Institute Global Conference has long served as a platform for open exchange across sectors and perspectives, advancing practical ideas that move from dialogue to action.

The 2026 program, centered on the theme of Leading in a New Era, will feature high-level conversations on global markets, health and biomedical innovation, financial security, philanthropy, and international cooperation—focused on translating research and insight into strategies that strengthen opportunity, resilience, and shared prosperity.

This year's programming will include a robust slate of panel discussions spanning the issues that define our era. Key themes across the agenda will include: the AI imperative, private markets evolution, geopolitical and trade realignment, health innovation and longevity, energy transition and climate capital, emerging market opportunities, inclusive growth and economic mobility, leadership in new era, real assets and infrastructure, and the future of work and talent, among others.

Featured speakers across the Global Conference program will include:

• Dominique Crenn, Chef & Restauranteur
• Thasunda Duckett, President and CEO, TIAA
• Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
• Jenny Johnson, CEO, Franklin Templeton Investments
• Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube
• Dina Powell McCormick, President and Vice Chair, Meta
• Dan Schulman, CEO, Verizon
• Mark Suzman, CEO, Gates Foundation
• Ariel Szarfsztejn, CEO, Mercado Libre
• Mike Wirth, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Chevron Corporation

“The Global Conference is designed to bring together people who don’t always sit at the same table,” said Richard Ditizio, CEO of the Milken Institute. “In a polarized world, creating space for rigorous, respectful dialogue is not optional—it’s essential to solving the challenges that affect health, prosperity, and stability worldwide.”

The conference will conclude with a special closing concert performance by Grammy-winning musician Armando Christian Pérez (Pitbull), whose global influence and philanthropic work reflect the conference’s spirit of connection across cultures and communities.

For updates on the event, follow the Milken Institute on BlueSky, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook using #MIGlobal.

Global Conference at a Glance:

• What: The Milken Institute Global Conference is an annual cross-sector leadership summit held in Beverly Hills, CA convening heads of state, CEOs, investors, scientists, nonprofit leaders, health care leaders, and more to advance evidence-based solutions to challenges in global health, finance, and geopolitics, among other timely and important topics.
• Dates: May 3-6, 2026
• Location: The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, California
• Format: Multi-day, multi-track conference across business, health, finance, philanthropy, global affairs, and more
• Closing: Concert performance by Pitbull (Armando Christian Pérez)
• Website: https://milkeninstitute.org/events/global-conference-2026
• Hashtag: #MIGlobal

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/