PMI Global Summit 2026 Recap: Highlights, Announcements and More

From major announcements and inspiring keynotes to career connections and a city built around possibility, PMI® Global Summit 2026 showed what happens when project professionals turn momentum into meaningful change.

Detroit knows a thing or two about reinvention. So, it was a fitting backdrop for PMI’s flagship event, where project professionals from around the world gathered from 21–24 October to explore what comes next for the profession.

This year’s theme, “Built to Move”, captured a simple idea: “Nothing happens until something moves.” It was more than a call to embrace change. It was a reminder that progress takes people willing to make decisions, challenge assumptions and turn ambitious ideas into real-world outcomes.

PMI Global Summit 2026: Key highlights

• Thousands of project professionals all in one place.
• 90+ breakout sessions packed with fresh perspectives, practical strategies and skills to put into action.
• 5 inspiring keynote speakers challenging perspectives, sparking new ideas and exploring what's next for the profession.
• 3 city tours offered opportunities to explore Detroit, experience its rich history and culture, and connect with peers beyond the Summit.
• 4 learning excursions showcased the real-world impact of project management in action.
• 12 networking meetups bringing project professionals together to exchange ideas, build relationships and expand their networks. 
• 60+ exhibitors and sponsors showcasing innovations, tools and solutions shaping the future of project management.

Beyond the big announcements and inspiring sessions, it was the conversations that made this year’s event special. From new connections to shared ideas, there was a sense of possibility in every corner. Because when project professionals come together, they don't just talk about what's next; they help make it happen.

Whether you joined us in Detroit or followed along, here’s a look at the moments, milestones and experiences that made this year one to remember.

Big announcements from PMI Global Summit 2026

As artificial intelligence reshapes how work gets done, the role of project professionals is evolving, too. The event introduced new opportunities to build skills, strengthen leadership and prepare for that future.

Here’s a look at what PMI unveiled in Detroit:

• Advanced Project Leader (APL)™ certification: A new certification designed for experienced project professionals leading complex, high-stakes work. The certification validates how you learn through uncertainty, align diverse stakeholders, make sound decisions, and keep delivery moving as conditions change. Currently available to eligible practitioners at accredited organizations.
• M.O.R.E. at Scale: A new learning experience that helps project professionals put PMI’s M.O.R.E. approach into practice and focus on delivering outcomes that matter. It’s available free to PMI members.
• New agentic AI courses: Two courses designed to help professionals understand and work with increasingly autonomous AI systems, available free to PMI members.
• Expanded PMI Infinity™ capabilities: Now with smarter, more personalized AI support grounded in PMI standards, PMI Infinity™ helps project professionals connect project information, identify potential risks, generate documentation and turn insights into actionable next steps. Available free to PMI members.
• PMI and Prosci partnership: PMI is partnering with Prosci, a global leader in change management, to help organizations turn AI adoption into real business value. Together, they're piloting a new professional certification focused on AI adoption, organizational change and delivering measurable results.

Together, these announcements reflected a central message: Technology is changing how projects get delivered, but people remain essential to deciding what success looks like and making it happen. That same human-centered message carried through the Summit's keynotes, where speakers explored the importance of human judgment, connection and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

PMI Global Summit 2026 keynote highlights

From neuroscience and urban transformation to high-stakes adventure and the future of technology, this year’s keynote speakers approached leadership from very different perspectives.

But their messages shared a common thread: Moving forward requires curiosity, courage and the ability to adapt.

Day 1—Dr. Beau Lotto: Changing how we think and lead

Neuroscientist Dr. Beau Lotto opened the Summit with an interactive exploration of how perception shapes the decisions we make.

Through visual demonstrations and audience participation, Dr. Beau challenged attendees to question what they think they know and recognize how assumptions can limit possibilities.

His message was especially relevant as project professionals navigate uncertainty and AI-driven change. Rather than relying on familiar ways of thinking, leaders can create new opportunities by changing how they frame a problem.

It was a powerful way to kick off a week focused on moving beyond established approaches and imagining what comes next.

Day 2—Johannes Heinlein, Interim President & CEO of PMI: Raising the bar for project success

As AI reshapes how projects are delivered, what will set project professionals apart?

In his address, Johannes Heinlein, Interim President & CEO of PMI, explored the evolving role of project professionals and the growing need to turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes.

Drawing on new PMI research on project success, he highlighted a widening gap between how organizational leaders and project professionals evaluate success, emphasizing the importance of strategic alignment, long-term value and return on investment.

His message was clear: As AI takes on more tasks, project professionals have an opportunity to move beyond execution and take a greater role in leading decisions, challenging assumptions and aligning people around shared goals.

Day 2—Dan Gilbert and Jessica Sibley: Turning vision into reality

What does it take to transform an ambitious vision into something people can see and experience?

Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Rocket Companies, joined Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, for a conversation about Detroit’s ongoing transformation and the leadership required to make lasting change.

Dan reflected on the importance of collaboration across businesses, government and communities, as well as the willingness to make decisions and learn along the way.

His advice for project professionals was simple: Don't wait for everything to be perfect before taking action.

Against the backdrop of a city continually redefining its future, the conversation offered a real-world example of what it means to move from vision to execution.

Day 3—Jimmy Chin: Leadership, risk and trust

For Academy Award-winning filmmaker, photographer and mountain athlete Jimmy Chin, managing risk isn't theoretical. It's part of his everyday work.

Drawing on experiences from remote climbing expeditions and the making of “Free Solo”, Jimmy explored the decisions, relationships and resilience required to pursue extraordinary goals.

He also challenged attendees to think differently about risk—not just the consequences of taking a chance, but the opportunities lost by avoiding one.

For project professionals, his experiences reinforced the importance of questioning assumptions, assessing changing conditions and surrounding yourself with people you trust.

Jimmy closed with another lesson that resonated far beyond the mountains: Extraordinary outcomes rarely happen alone.

Day 4—Kara Swisher: AI and the future of work

Veteran technology journalist Kara Swisher joined PMI Chief Marketing Officer Menaka Gopinath for a conversation about AI, technology and the forces reshaping how organizations operate.

As AI becomes a bigger part of project delivery, the conversation reinforced the need for professionals who can ask the right questions, navigate complexity and keep people at the center of decisions.

A similar message carried through the Summit’s closing discussion, featuring Dr. Kory Kantenga, Head of Economics, Americas, at LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Research Institute; Melinda Bruno, Head of Partnerships, North America, LinkedIn Partnership Studio; and Jamila Smith-Dell, Insights Program Manager at LinkedIn, as they explored how AI is reshaping the skills employers need and why human capabilities—from leadership and adaptability to collaboration—remain essential as the world of work evolves.

Inside Momentum City: The Global Summit exhibit hall

The learning didn't stop when attendees left the session rooms. This year, the exhibit hall became Momentum City, an interactive destination inspired by Detroit and designed to help attendees explore their professional journeys.

Rather than simply moving from booth to booth, visitors could discover five distinct neighborhoods, each offering a different way to learn, connect or take action.

• Momentum Central helped attendees set their intentions and map out their experience.
• Origins Row connected the profession’s future to more than 50 years of PMI history.
• Innovation Harbor invited attendees to explore emerging ideas and approaches, from AI and change management to sustainability, agility and large-scale projects. Experiences included hands-on activities with PMI Infinity™, Prosci’s ADKAR model and projects connected to Detroit’s transformation.
• Discovery Market introduced products, partners and solutions designed to support project professionals.
• And Community Park brought the people side of the profession into focus, with opportunities to discover PMI chapters, explore membership, make mentoring connections and see how project professionals are creating impact.

Visitors could also step into the spotlight at the PMP Step Up optical-illusion staircase, explore personalized learning pathways with PMI Infinity™ and experience stories from “The Solutionaries”, PMI’s series with TIME Studios.

Throughout Momentum City, the message was clear: Professional growth isn't one-size-fits-all. Every attendee could find a next step that mattered to them.

PMI Global Summit’s first career fair

For the first time, PMI Global Summit featured a dedicated Career Fair, creating new opportunities for attendees to explore where their skills could take them next.

Professionals connected with employers including Rock and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, received LinkedIn profile guidance, explored skills and digital badge opportunities with Pearson and participated in career-focused conversations.

Attendees could also refresh their professional image with complimentary headshots at the Headshot Studio by Sensei.

The experience brought an important dimension to the Summit. It's one thing to talk about career growth, but it's another to give people practical tools and connections to help make it happen.

The recognition was a reminder that project success comes in many forms, from complex organizational initiatives to community leadership and work that creates lasting social impact.

And beyond the awards stage, the Summit celebrated the volunteers who help make PMI's global community possible. This year included recognition of volunteer service milestones, honoring people who have contributed years—and in some cases decades—to advancing the profession.

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