NOVEMBER 17-19, 2026 | TORONTO, CANADA
Interested in being part of the Design Leadership Summit?
We’re curating sessions for DLS 2026 and want to hear from people who’d love to contribute—talk, host, co-lead a workshop, join a panel, or run a roundtable. This isn’t a formal submission. It’s a quick “raise your hand,” and we’ll follow up if there’s a fit.
Ways You Can Participate
DLS isn’t just about keynote talks. We design the experience around meaningful conversations and shared learning. You could participate by:
Give a talk (solo or duo)
01
Join a panel
02
Host a roundtable
03
Lead a workshop
01
Share a case study teardown
02
Recommend someone (huge for sourcing)
03
Submit Your Proposal
Complete the form below to apply for a Talk, Workshop, or Panel at Design Leadership Summit 2026. Our team will review submissions on a rolling basis and notify applicants via email.
What We’re We Looking For
The Design Leadership Summit brings together hundreds of senior designers, managers, and executives from across the globe. Speaking here means you’ll:
Scaling design
Design operations
Building, managing remote teams
Scaling design
Design operations
Building, managing remote teams
Scaling design
Design operations
Building, managing remote teams
Past Speakers
Our January edition featured leading voices in design leadership who inspired and challenged our community with fresh ideas and bold perspectives.
What’s In It For Me
The effort and time required for speakers to present an incredibly engaging and valuable talk at a conference is a tough task. Our team will work closely with you to ensure your personal and professional goals from the speaking engagement are met.
Economy airfare to/from Toronto
We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.
2 hotel nights at a partner hotel
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
VIP speaker dinner(2 invites)
An invite-only dinner with fellow speakers and design leaders. A chance to connect, share stories, and build relationships beyond the stage.
Session recording + attendee feedback
Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.
How to Make Your Proposal Stand Out
We’re looking for sessions that are relevant, actionable, and engaging.
Keep these in mind when crafting your submission:
Relevance
Tie your topic to the current challenges and opportunities in design leadership.
Clarity
Clearly outline your audience’s takeaways — what will they leave knowing or able to do?
Engagement
Use stories, visuals, and interaction to keep your audience leaning in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about speaking at the next Design Leadership Summit.
Have more questions, drop us an email at support@designx.community
Who should apply?
What if I’m a first-time speaker?
Travel & accommodation details
Accessibility & recording consent
Can I submit more than one proposal?
