Forward Summit 2026

Taking place in Amsterdam on November 5–6, 2026, the first-ever is more than a conference about what needs to change. It’s a place to meet the people making it happen.

The Forward Summit brings together 200+ industry experts, procurement leaders, underrepresented suppliers, and ESG practitioners to build and drive a European vision for social impact through inclusive procurement.

Over two days, explore how inclusive procurement, ESG commitments, and social impact can move forward together through expert talks, practical insights, supplier perspectives, one-on-one meetings, and meaningful connections.

The Forward Summit is co-hosted by , , and . Three organizations coming together around a shared vision for more inclusive procurement, stronger partnerships, and greater social impact across Europe.

Info: Start the Summit with coffee, meet fellow attendees, explore the agenda, and plan your day.

Info: EGLCC, ESDP, and telos open Forward Summit 2026 with a shared ambition: to connect the people who can make inclusive sourcing work at scale and turn conversation into meaningful action.

Info: Why does Europe need its own approach to inclusive sourcing? Explore the specifics of European markets, fragmented national approaches, ownership diversity, the social economy, policy, procurement, and the opportunities this creates.

Info: A senior perspective on the changing procurement landscape and the opportunity to build more inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking sourcing ecosystems in Europe.

Info: Take a break over a cup of coffee, continue the conversation, and meet new contacts.

Info: What can Europe learn from the U.S. experience of supplier inclusion, and where should we take a different path? Hear perspectives from procurement, suppliers, and advocates on what could actually work in the European context.

Info: Hear directly from LGBTIQ, ethnic-minority, and social-economy businesses about their experiences in the market. From accessing opportunities and navigating barriers to building sustainable growth.

Info: Connect over themed buyer tables with the right people and explore potential opportunities. An easy way to start conversations and discover potential business connections.

Info: Put faces to the procurement opportunity. Meet corporate buyers, hear what matters to them, and get an informal introduction to the people you may want to meet during the Day 2 Matchmaking Sessions.

Info: In Europe, inclusive sourcing does not look the same everywhere. Explore different regional and thematic perspectives and what they mean for businesses looking to build more inclusive supply chains.

Info: Take a break over a cup of coffee, continue the conversation, and meet new contacts.

Info: What does it really take to win corporate business? Underrepresented suppliers share the barriers they face when accessing procurement opportunities and what corporate buyers need to understand to make access work better.

Info: If the opportunity is clear, why isn’t inclusive sourcing scaling faster? Hear different perspectives on the barriers, challenge assumptions, and explore practical solutions that can move the market forward.

Info: Bring the day’s ideas together, identify the themes that matter most, and connect them to the Amsterdam Principles. What have we learned, what needs to change, and what should we take forward together?

Info: Keep the connections going. Join fellow attendees, speakers, buyers, and suppliers for an evening of curated networking, conversation, and a special performance before drinks and informal connections continue.

Surprise Performance: Something to sparkle up the evening!

Info: Start the day with coffee, conversations, and new connections. Meet fellow attendees, plan your day, and explore the agenda for Day 2.

Info: What could success look like by 2030? A senior corporate perspective sets the challenge for the day and asks what needs to change now to create meaningful progress in inclusive sourcing.

Info: How does corporate procurement actually work? Get practical insight into sourcing cycles, categories, frameworks, onboarding, compliance, and, crucially, how suppliers can reach the people making purchasing decisions.

Info: Take a break over a cup of coffee, continue the conversation, and meet new contacts.

Info: Hear directly from corporate buyers about the products and services they source, what they look for in suppliers, and how businesses can position themselves for meaningful procurement conversations.

Info: Move from networking to targeted business connections. Pre-arranged one-to-one meetings connect underrepresented suppliers with relevant buyers for focused conversations around real procurement opportunities.

Info: Continue the conversation over lunch themed buyer tables with procurement leaders, suppliers, partners, and peers.

Info: Practical insight for suppliers ready to grow. Explore what it takes to win business with multinational companies, alongside focused roundtables and ecosystem conversations for deeper discussion and connection.

Info: Take the next step in your conversations. A second round of targeted meetings creates space to deepen relationships, follow up on opportunities, and identify where to go next.

Info: Take a break over a cup of coffee, continue the conversation, and meet new contacts.

Info: Now it’s time to turn the conversation into a shared commitment. Review the Amsterdam Principles shaped by the discussions across the Summit and have your say through a live vote. Together, we’ll define a practical framework for moving inclusive sourcing forward across Europe.

Info: Three voices. Three commitments. One shared direction. Buyers, suppliers, and advocacy leaders make commitments to take inclusive sourcing forward after the Summit.

Event venue & nearby stays

World Trade Center (Amsterdam), 1 Strawinskylaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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