Whether it's revealing industry innovations at trade shows, gathering celebrities for glitzy award shows, or hand-selecting attendees for exclusive business conferences, the top events in the United States have clear purposes and deliver experiences that impressed, engaged, and thrilled guests in attendance and watchers from afar.
Sometimes quite afar: With appeal that spans the globe, gatherings as varied as the Super Bowl, New Year’s Eve in Times Square, the Oscars, and the State of the Union Address were broadcast and streamed to millions of viewers worldwide.
New additions on this year's list span several industries. With citywide festivals that welcome thousands of fans, the impact of the N.B.A. All-Star Game and the N.F.L. Draft extends beyond their sports. Fiesta San Antonio generates hundreds of millions of dollars for its hometown each year, and Burning Man has evolved from a casual beach party into one of the most immersive art experiences in the world. The innovative Code Conference gathers the tech world’s game-changers, and the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner is a must-attend event for politicians.
To choose and rank the annual events on this list, we look at several factors, including economic impact, buzz, innovation, and an event's prominence within the communities it intends to serve.
