Career Fest 2026 returns with a focus on mobility, AI, and limitless career opportunities, following a record 2025 edition that attracted over 12,000 registrations and reached 26.77 million people on social media.
Radisson Hotel Group today announces the return of Career Fest 2026, its flagship global career festival, taking place throughout October. Designed to inspire, connect, and empower the next generation of hospitality professionals, the month-long hybrid event will engage thousands of team members and aspiring talent across more than 100 countries through a dynamic program focused on career mobility, learning, leadership, and the future of work.
Building on the success of previous editions, Career Fest 2026 shines a spotlight on the boundless career opportunities available within hospitality. This year’s theme reflects a fundamental truth about the industry: careers are no longer linear. From operational roles and leadership pathways to emerging technology-focused positions, hospitality offers an increasingly diverse range of opportunities for individuals to grow, reinvent themselves, and build meaningful careers across functions, regions, and disciplines. As hospitality continues to evolve alongside technological advancements, changing guest expectations, and new ways of working, Career Fest 2026 will explore how professionals can embrace change, develop future-ready skills, and unlock new opportunities. A central focus of this year will be the role of artificial intelligence, highlighting how AI is enhancing careers and creating new possibilities across the hospitality sector.
“Hospitality has always been an industry built on opportunity, where careers can evolve in many directions,” says Iñigo Capell, Global Chief People & Resources Officer, Radisson Hotel Group. “At Radisson Hotel Group, careers are not defined by traditional paths or geographical borders. Whether someone is taking their first step into hospitality, exploring a new function, progressing into leadership, or developing skills in emerging areas such as AI, we want to help them realize their potential. Career Fest is about demonstrating that growth can take many forms, and that hospitality remains one of the most dynamic, people-focused, and opportunity-rich industries in the world.”
Throughout October, participants will gain access to global and regional sessions, leadership conversations, hotel activations, workshops, and learning experiences designed to provide practical tools and inspiration for career growth. Topics will include career mobility and international opportunities, unexpected career journeys and professional reinvention, emerging hospitality roles, leadership development, AI and future skills, personal branding, interview success, and industry trends shaping tomorrow’s workforce.
Where talent grows, careers move forward
Career Fest 2026 reinforces Radisson Hotel Group’s commitment to creating meaningful career opportunities and supporting talent development at every stage of the employee journey. The event complements the Group’s broader people strategy focused on continuous learning, internal mobility, and leadership development. Recent initiatives have contributed to a strong culture of career progression, with internal talent growth remaining a strategic priority across the organization.
With a global presence spanning over 75,000 employees, and more than 1,660 hotels in operation and under development across more than 100 countries, Radisson Hotel Group continues to invest in building an agile, future-ready workforce while creating opportunities for talent to develop across markets, functions, and brands.
Exploring the future of careers in hospitality
A key theme throughout Career Fest 2026 will be the intersection of people and technology. Sessions will examine how AI is transforming the hospitality landscape, helping teams work smarter, personalize guest experiences, and create new career pathways. Rather than viewing technology as a challenge, Career Fest will position AI as an opportunity for professionals to enhance their skills, expand their expertise, and prepare for the future of work.
The program will also feature inspiring career stories from Radisson Hotel Group leaders and team members whose professional journeys demonstrate the industry’s unique ability to enable growth, mobility, and reinvention. From unexpected career pivots to international opportunities and leadership advancement, these stories will showcase the many paths available within hospitality.
