Honoring the people who built the events industry.
The Event Industry 50 Over 50 recognizes 50 professionals whose decades of work, mentorship and integrity keep this industry going. Not just the C-suite. Not a popularity contest. Not pay-to-play.
Nominations open December 1, 2026.Open through January 31, 2027. Nominate a colleague, a mentor, or yourself.
Be first to know
Get a note the day nominations open, plus updates on the 2027 program.
Experience is not the past. It is the peak.
The Event Industry 50 Over 50 celebrates professionals over 50 who have made a lasting difference to the events and meetings world. Venue operators, chefs, association leaders, suppliers, consultants, organizers. Anyone whose work made events better and people stronger.
We look for the stories behind the titles: the mentor who trained a generation, the operator who never made the stage but made the show possible.
- Longevity and consistent impactYears of showing up and doing the work well.
- MentorshipPeople who lifted others up along the way.
- Ethics and integrityKnown for doing the right thing.
- Behind-the-scenes excellenceUnsung contributors count as much as executives.
Three steps, one big announcement.
Nominate
Nominate someone you admire, or nominate yourself. A short form and a few sentences on their impact is all it takes.
Independent judging
A panel of industry judges scores every nomination against a rubric. Judges never score anyone they have a direct relationship with.
Honorees announced
Fifty honorees are recognized, each with a video profile in their own words.
Nominations close January 31, 2027. Honorees are announced March 9, 2027.
In 2026, the industry showed up.
The 2026 honorees came from venues, associations, trade show organizers, suppliers and consultancies, with titles from executive chef to CEO. See who was recognized.
Meet the 2026 honorees