events

Los Angeles
#5 Art & Design Event
Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the modern design event drew 19,530 attendees. The 285 exhibitors showed their products and services in more than 86,000 square feet of exhibit space. Notable guests and speakers included Jamie Durie, Lo Bosworth, Donald Robertson, June Ambrose, Gary Sinise, and keynote Sui Fujimoto. Some of the event’s offerings included the Prime Edition Pavilion for up-and-coming designers and creators, home tours of 15 residences, and Designers & Books Fair. Next: June 23-25, 2017

Miami Beach
#1 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The massive festival—presented by Food Network and Cooking Channel—celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2016 by continuing to expand on recent upgrades, including adding more live music and DJs, offering free shuttle service to and from downtown Miami, and boosting amenities such as more seating and shaded areas. Attracting about 60,000 people a year, the five-day extravaganza offers wine-and-food tasting, culinary demonstrations, and celebrity meet-and-greets. Expanding its reach into Broward County, the event introduced the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series that included Seaside Eats, hosted by Robert Irvine at the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens; intimate dinner experiences at various Fort Lauderdale restaurants; and the Bloody Mary Brunch, hosted by the cast of Chopped at the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale. New events in South Beach included a Grilled Cheese Happy Hour; Midnight Breakfast hosted by Chrissy Teigen and Fireman Derek; Croquetamania hosted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; and a screening of the 1992 movie Like Water for Chocolate followed by a conversation with screenwriter Laura Esquivel. Next: February 22-26, 2017

Chicago
#2 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Among the most coveted prizes in the U.S. culinary industry, the awards honor chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, and restaurant architects and designers. The event’s 30th anniversary was hosted by chef and television personality Carla Hall at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and attended by about 3,560 guests. Honorees included the Chicago eatery Alinea (which received the award for Outstanding Restaurant), the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York (winner of the Design Icon award), New Orleans eatery Shaya (Best New Restaurant), and New York-based Ken Friedman—owner of the Spotted Pig, the Breslin, Tosca Cafe—who was named Outstanding Restaurateur. Next: May 1, 2017

New York
#3 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The sister event to the older, more established South Beach Wine & Food Festival has firmly established its own unique identity since it launched in 2008. With its main hub at Pier 92 and Pier 94, the event attracts about 55,000 attendees a year, and is also a fund-raiser whose proceeds benefit No Kid Hungry and Food Bank for New York City. Coca-Cola has signed on as a presenting sponsor for the festival this year. Also new in 2016: Although most of the festival activities are restricted to people ages 21 and over, fans of all ages have the opportunity to access the Samsung Culinary Demonstrations at a 135,000-square-foot playground that will include Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite. Next: October 13-16, 2016

Las Vegas
#4 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The four-day culinary and wine event held at multiple venues introduced new activities in 2016 to celebrate the festival’s 10th edition. Chase Sapphire Preferred is a presenting sponsor of the event, whose concept was developed by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and advertising agency R&R Partners, in partnership multiple resorts and Bon Appétit magazine. For the first time this year, the festival went to downtown Las Vegas with epicurean revelries, including a Steakhouse Redux at the Golden Steer featuring chef Michael Mina. Other new activities included After Hours Sake & Sushi: The Night Rolls on at Tao at the Venetian; brunch at Giada; sushi-making and sake-tasting with chef Nobu Matsuhisa at Caesars Palace’s Nobu Restaurant and Lounge; and an all-star chef dinner hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Daniel Boulud at Doge's Palace Piazza at the Venetian and the Palazzo. Next: April 2017

New Orleans
#5 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Produced by the nonprofit New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society since 2002, the event is considered the most essential U.S. gathering for the international spirits industry. The six-day event, which culminates with the Spirited Awards, attracts about 10,000 people and 200 participating organizations yearly. Award winners this year included ABV San Francisco (Best Bar Team), Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon (American Bartender of the Year); and Connaught Bar at the Connaught in London (World’s Best Cocktail Bar). Next: July 18-23, 2017

Aspen, Colorado
#6 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Presented by Food & Wine, the festival attracts a sold-out crowd of 5,000 people for cooking demonstrations, wine tasting and seminars, and educational sessions throughout the mountain resort town. It was the first year for presenters José Garces and Anne Burrell, as well as Food & Wine editor Nilou Motamed, who joined the title in March. Also new in 2016, Tennessee’s famed Blackberry Farm hosted a dinner honoring Southern classics at the top of Aspen Mountain. In addition, more than 300 wines and luxury lifestyle brands gathered in the Grand Tasting Pavilion, the epicenter of the event, to feature and sample their newest products. Simultaneously, American Express hosted its 27th annual Restaurant Trade Program, an educational and networking event for hospitality professionals. Next: June 16-18, 2017

New York
#7 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (new to the list)
While there is some debate over when the contest really began—some say it was 1916, while others cite 1972—the event has become more than a novelty, garnering worldwide attention for being a must-see spectacle for many food enthusiasts. In 2016, about 40,000 people gathered at Coney Island in Brooklyn to witness reigning champion Joey Chestnut consume 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes—setting a new record for the contest. In the women’s category, Miki Sudo defended her title by eating 38-and-a-half hot dogs in 10 minutes. The contest, televised on ESPN and ESPN2, was the networks’ most-watched show on July 4, with about 1 million U.S. viewers, an increase from about 900,000 in 2015. New this year, Cake Boss presented a specially made cake for the 100th anniversary of Nathan’s Famous. Next: July 4, 2017

Austin
#1 Music Festival
Known as a launching pad for new artists and a must-attend event for music insiders, this year 2,224 acts performed on 103 stages. But the festival has expanded beyond its musical roots to become a multimedia hybrid of a conference and festivals covering music, film, and interactive technology. The 2016 edition scored a rare presidential booking when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama gave keynote speeches for the event’s interactive programming. It was the first time that a sitting president gave a keynote address at this type of conference, and led to the announcement of South by South Lawn, an event from the White House and SXSW organizers, to take place October 3. Next: March 10-19, 2017

Indio, California
#2 Music Festival (up from #4)
Presented by Goldenvoice and held over two weekends in April at the Empire Polo Club, the event is the world’s largest money-making festival for a reason: It has become a lifestyle destination in addition to being a festival that attracts about 99,000 people a day. More than 180 artists performed this year including headliners LCD Soundsystem, Guns N’ Roses, and Calvin Harris. Sponsors piggyback on the laid-back vibe. For instance, H&M sold the new clothing brand H&M Loves Coachella—the first fashion-line partnership between the festival and a clothing company—at a pop-up shop on site. Another partnership saw Doppler Labs offering attendees a smartphone app to let users personalize their live audio environment through their headphones using presets for each stage. Next: April 14-16 and April 21-23, 2017

Las Vegas
#3 Music Festival
The electronic dance music festival produced by Insomniac has several editions throughout the world, but the Las Vegas flagship stands out with its stunning art installations and fireworks displays. The three-day festival had a redesigned landscape this year that included eight new stage designs. It also celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with about 130,000 people attending per day and more than 250 performing acts that included Tiësto, Afrojack, and the Chainsmokers. The festival, which hosted 160 weddings this year, had its first nationally recognized same-sex wedding, which was streamed live on the Smirnoff-sponsored E.D.C. Live. Next: June 2017

Chicago
#4 Music Festival
The festival celebrated its 25th anniversary by stretching to four days (compared three days in previous years), leading to an increase in the number of artists performing at the festival, from 130 in 2015 to 170 in 2016. The event—held in Chicago’s Grant Park and produced by C3 Presents—attracted about 100,000 people per day, and stayed true to its original focus of modern rock, hip-hop, and electronic dance music by booking headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, J. Cole, LCD Soundsystem, and Radiohead. To make festivalgoers more comfortable, more seats and shaded areas were provided. Next: August 3-6, 2017

Milwaukee
#5 Music Festival (up from #6)
One of the country’s longest-running and highest-attended music festivals, the event attracted 850,000 people over the course of 11 days. It had a number of family-friendly activities, fireworks, a skyglider, a comedy tent, a talent contest, and a Latin dance area, plus the main stages that presented acts from rock (Alabama Shakes, Weezer, Garbage) and country (Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Tim McGraw). In a new promotion, attendees who arrived from noon to 5 p.m. on July 10 received one general admission ticket to Summerfest 2017. Next: June 28-July 2 and July 4-July 9, 2017

Austin
#6 Music Festival (up from #7)
Inspired by the PBS live-music series Austin City Limits, the festival—held over two weekends in Zilker Park—is Austin’s most-attended annual event, with about 450,000 people going per year. Now in its 15th year and produced by C3 Presents, the festival is known for its eclectic mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, blues, and country. Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, and Mumford & Sons are headlining the lineups of more than 140 artists this year. In March, premier sponsor AT&T debuted the Road to ACL, a 60-minute documentary about the festival. AT&T’s on-site presence at the 2015 festival included the “GigaPower Gallery” that showcased live graffiti art with local artists, as well as live streaming performances from concert stages. Next: September 30-October 2 and October 7-9, 2016

New Orleans
#7 Music Festival
Heavy rain caused the event’s second Saturday to be partially cancelled, which led to a drop in total attendance—from 460,000 in 2015 to 425,000 over two weekends. Audiences still were able to see artists such as Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul Simon, and Flo Rida. But there was good news for the event: Jazz Fest and presenting sponsor Shell’s partnership, which began in 2006, was renewed through 2019, when the festival will have its 50th edition. Next: April 28-30 and May 5-7, 2017

Nashville
#8 Music Festival (new to the list)
Formerly known as Fan Fair, the country music festival drew a record-setting daily attendance of 88,500 fans for the event’s 45th anniversary. More than 600 artists and celebrities participated in more than 250 hours of concerts on 11 stages, seven of which were free. Notable performers included Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. More fans used the festival’s app, with more than double the amount of downloads compared to 2016 and a 21 percent increase in usage. Next: June 8-11, 2017

Charleston, South Carolina
#9 Music Festival
The festival—a counterpart to the annual Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy—is a 17-day performing-arts event that encompasses more than 150 performances in opera, dance, theater, symphonic, chamber, jazz, and choral music. Now in its 40th year, about 84,000 people attended performances throughout the city, including in the new Charleston Gaillard Center, which reopened after a three-year renovation. The festival also presented activities related to its new production of Porgy and Bess, including a walking tour and art exhibitions. The event also presented the world premiere of an operetta called Afram ou La Belle Swita by the late Charleston composer Edmund Thornton Jenkins. Next: May 26-June 11, 2017

Las Vegas
#1 Technology Industry Event
Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association, the show is the pioneer of all events for technology enthusiasts. In 2016, the 50th edition of the event reached a new attendance record at 177,393 people. The show had 3,886 exhibitors across 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space in the event hubs of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, and the Sands Expo & Convention Center. It also debuted a C Space Storytellers conference track for panels and sessions to discuss marketing and technology. Google, Facebook, and Target were among the companies that participated. Next: January 5-8, 2017

San Francisco
#2 Technology Industry Event
With an estimated 170,000 attendees, the show is one of the biggest gatherings for industry professionals and consumers to learn about the world’s largest cloud ecosystem. About 10 million people also watch the event online. Salesforce, in association with George P. Johnson Experience Marketing, produces the conference, which customizes its communication with attendees according to their respective industries via the conference’s mobile app and with the more than 2,000 conference workers brought in to help with feedback and questions from attendees. In 2016, guest speakers include Tony Robbins, Melinda Gates, and Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff. The event has more than 2,000 discussion and information sessions. Next: October 4-7, 2016

San Francisco
#3 Technology Industry Event (up from #5)
For its ninth anniversary, the developer conference moved from its original location from the Moscone Center in San Francisco (where the event was held from 2008 to 2015) to Shoreline Amphitheatre in Google’s headquarters city, Mountain View, California. The event also debuted a new format that borrowed elements from music festivals, with an outdoor festival village and sessions taking place in domed tents. Charlie XCX and Kygo performed at an opening-night party, and there was an after-hours party on the second night. About 7,000 people attended. Next: Spring 2017

Los Angeles
#4 Technology Industry Event
Also known as E3, the expo continues to be the leading trade show for the electronic entertainment industry, but the event took a big blow in 2016 when several major companies—Electronic Arts, Disney, Activision, and VentureBeat—opted not to exhibit. Attendance for the event was still healthy (an estimated 70,000 people), and the show broke its own records for social media participation, for example counting more than 7 million posts on Twitter. In addition, more 42 million gamers watched content on Twitch, the show's official streaming partner, making it Twitch’s largest audience for video-game content. More than 250 exhibitors across 720,000 square feet of exhibit space participated in the show, which is produced by Entertainment Software Association and took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. One of the standout activations at this year’s E3 was the Doritos #MixArcade, which hosted performances for E3 Live attendees. Wiz Khalifa, Big Boi, Steve Aoki, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Mix Master Mike were among the artists who performed. Next: June 13-15, 2017

San Francisco
#6 Technology Industry Event
Technology giant Oracle’s event drew 6,000 people and 500 exhibitors to various locations throughout the city. During his keynote address, Oracle executive chairman and chief technology officer Larry Ellison made a provocative statement about a company rival, saying that “Amazon is over.” The event also included several product and service introductions. Next: September 2017

Las Vegas
#7 Technology Industry Event (new to the list)
The cybersecurity conference, founded in 1997 and now owned by UBM, attracted more than 15,000 attendees to Mandalay Bay. Speakers included representatives from Apple, Google, Microsoft, NATO Cyber Center, Adobe Systems, Columbia University, and Endgame. Next: Summer 2017

Los Angeles
#1 Award Show
The premier award show dealt with intense criticism for the lack of lack of racial diversity among its actor nominees in the past two years—summarized in the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite—and in response the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences this year changed the eligibility rules for its members and actively recruited more women and people of color. To address another perennial gripe—the show’s long running time—producers added a new element: scrolling winners’ thank-you lists at the bottom of the screen during acceptance speeches. The show reliably attracts the most viewers and media attention. In 2016, the 88th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Chris Rock and held at the Dolby Theater, had 34.4 million U.S. viewers—down from the 36.6 million who watched in 2015 and nowhere near the 43.7 million for the 2014 Oscar telecast. Still, ABC renewed its U.S. telecast rights for the show through 2028. Next: February 26, 2017

Los Angeles
#2 Award Show
The 58th edition, hosted by LL Cool J at the Staples Center, was a critically acclaimed event that had a slight dip in the ratings. The show, which was televised on CBS, had 23.7 million viewers, compared to 24.8 million viewers the previous year. The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presents most of the awards in a pre-telecast that is streamed live, while the main show is more about the performances and the most prestigious categories. Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were among the biggest winners, while performances paid tribute to David Bowie, Lionel Richie, B.B. King, Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind & Fire co-founder Maurice White, and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmeister. Next: February 12, 2017

Los Angeles
#3 Award Show
Presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the awards remain the most prestigious recognition in television. Critics gave the show mostly positive reviews for host Jimmy Kimmel and for the diversity of winners, which included multiple honoree The People v.  O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Ratings for the show slightly dipped, drawing 11.3 million viewers for the ABC broadcast compared to 11.9 million last year. Next: September 2017 Next: September 2017

Los Angeles
#4 Award Show
For the 73rd edition of the show, British comedian Ricky Gervais returned to host the show for the fourth time—even though he swore after the third time he would never host the show again. His sometimes racy performance drew mixed reviews, and NBC’s ratings decreased slightly to 18.5 million versus last year’s 19.31 million. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association presents the awards to honor work in movies and television. Next: January 8, 2017

New York
#5 Award Show (new to the list)
According to Nielsen and CBS, the 70th annual tribute to Broadway scored its largest audience since 2001. Hosted by James Corden and taking place at the Beacon Theatre, the show delivered 8.73 million viewers, up 35 percent from 2015. Boosted by the hit musical Hamilton, which was the biggest winner at the ceremony, the show started on a somber note as it began with a moment of silence to honor victims of the shooting the Orlando gay nightclub Pulse, which occurred just hours before the show. Next: June 11, 2017

Los Angeles
#7 Award Show
The 24th edition of the sports awards—hosted by John Cena at the Microsoft Theater and televised on ABC—offered new sponsor integrations. Capital One brought a unique 360-degree photo angle to the red carpet with the Capital One Quicksilver Cam. Booking.com took over ESPN’s Snapchat Discover edition, while sports retailer Fanatics created a signature jersey wall on the Espys red carpet. The promotions weren’t enough to boost the show’s ratings, which dropped to 5.5 million viewers compared to the 7.7 million last year. Basketball star LeBron James collected the most awards of the evening. Next: July 2017

Los Angeles
#8 Award Show
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has taken an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to its annual award show ever since the ceremony changed TV networks from Fox to TV One in 2014. The show has kept the same host (Anthony Anderson) and the same venue (the Pasadena Civic Auditorium), which will be the same formula the ceremony will have in 2017. At the 47th edition of the show, Empire won the most prizes, with Queen Latifah, Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, and Anderson among the other winners. The show had 1.1 million viewers—a significant increase from the 596,000 who watched in the previous year. Next: February 11, 2017

New York
#1 Benefit
About 4,000 people gathered at the Jacob K. Javits Center to help raise $61.2 million, making it the city’s largest single-night fund-raiser. The foundation, which fights poverty in New York, announced an initiative for research in brain science intended to make the city an “Early Learning Metropolis.” Board member Katie Couric hosted the evening, which included performances by Usher, the Zac Brown Band, and comedian Jim Gaffigan. During the event, the Empire State building, the Bloomberg building, the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square, and Madison Square Garden were lighted in the foundation’s signature green hue. Other events taking place the same day as the gala included a Nasdaq opening bell ceremony with the Children's Aid Society; PesiCo’s giveaway of tickets to a Yankees game to 10,000 people served by Robin Hood-funded organizations; and BlackRock-sponsored concerts at Terminal 5 and Irving Plaza that drew younger donors. Next: May 2017

National
#2 Benefit
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the New York edition of the gala series, which raised $1.2 million for the AIDS research charity. Produced by Josh Wood Productions and held at Skylight at Moynihan Station, the gala drew 1,100 guests including Leonardo DiCaprio, Zayn Malik, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Zac Posen, and Kelly Osbourne. Naomi Campbell and Louis Vuitton men’s style director Kim Jones received the Award of Inspiration, while Jason Derulo performed. The evening’s live auction, conducted by Andrea Fiuczynski of Sotheby's, included a private portrait-sitting with photographer Steven Klein, a surprise package to attend the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation’s annual gala in St. Tropez, and exclusive Louis Vuitton scarves. Other editions of the Inspiration series in 2016 take place in São Paulo and Los Angeles. Next: October 27, 2016, Los Angeles

New York
#3 Benefit
The gala benefits the museum’s annual fund, as well as the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden where the fund-raiser is held. This year’s event honored collection artists Huma Bhabha, Mark Bradford, and Brice Marden, as well as philanthropists Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman and Sally and Wynn Kramarsky. Following cocktails and dinner, pop singer Robyn and artist/DJ Matthew Dear entertained guests. About 630 attended the event’s dinner, and 1,200 came to the after-party. The event raised $4 million. Next: June 2017

Los Angeles
#4 Benefit
The gala honored artist Ed Ruscha and included a special viewing of “Don’t Look Back: The 1990s at MOCA,” which consisted of works from the museum’s permanent collection. The event featured catering from Wolfgang Puck in an adjacent tent built for the occasion and actor Balthazar Getty spinning tunes as a DJ. Some 770 guests helped raise $3 million for the museum. Next: May 2017

St. Paul, Minnesota
#5 Benefit (up from #7)
Benefiting the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the gala is on a hot fund-raising streak, increasing its tally from $8.7 million in 2014 to $9 million in 2015 to $9.5 million in 2016, which will help open the Starkey Hearing Institute in Zambia, Africa. About 1,500 people attended the event at St. Paul RiverCentre in Minnesota. Gala honorees included actress Jennifer Garner, Pacer executive director and co-founder Paula F. Goldberg, and former United Kingdom prime minister Tony Blair. Entertainers who performed at the gala included Jay Leno, John Mellencamp, country duo Maddie & Tae, American Idol winner Trent Harmon, and rock band Hollywood Vampires, whose members include Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry. Next: July 2017

Naples, Florida
#6 Benefit
With a theme of “Great Expectations,” the benefit raised $11.1 million thanks to its impressive live auction, which included a top single bid of $750,000 for a bespoke 2016 Rolls-Royce Dawn, designed for the festival, making the winning bidder the first person in the world to receive this vehicle. Other auction highlights included a $650,000 winning bid for a customized Ferrari 488 Spider, as well as $400,000 to attend a private cooking class with Glenn Close taught by chef Mario Batali. Next: January 27-29, 2017

Dallas
#7 Benefit (new to the list)
The 17th annual benefit dinner and contemporary art auction raised $8.6 million with just 500 people in attendance at the black-tie event. The event is hosted annually by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky at their Richard Meier-designed home, the Rachofsky House, in Dallas. Notable art that sold during the auction in 2015 included a piece from artist Ellsworth Kelly that fetched $2.3 million. Presenting sponsors of the event were Harry Winston and Audi of America. Next: October 22, 2016

San Francisco
#8 Benefit
The grant-making organization that aims to fight poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area has a more casual fund-raiser than comparable events that raise millions of dollars. For this year’s edition, there was a “Bay Area Block Party” at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Alabama Shakes headlined the show, which had about 7,000 people in attendance. In 2016, the event raised $13.3 million. Next: May 2017

Washington
#10 Benefit
Held at the Washington Hilton’s Columbia Ballroom, the boxing-themed benefit raises money for early childhood education in the metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Last year’s benefit, attended by about 1,900 people, raised a record $5 million and included a tribute to Muhammad Ali, as well as appearances from Creed star Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler. New in 2016, the Fight Night Party Deck will have a reception, interactive elements, tickets to the main event, access to the after-party, and a designated area with full bar and a buffet-style dinner. Next: November 10, 2016

Detroit
#1 Trade Show
The nation’s premier auto show continued its hot streak of increasing its attendance since the trade show rebranded in 1989. An estimated 815,575 people attended the show in 2016—the second-highest total ever—compared to 808,775 in 2015. The show—produced by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and held at Cobo Center—showcased 750 cars in about 723,000 square feet of exhibit space. Roadshow by CNET became the event's official digital news and video partner, hosting live streaming of vehicle debuts and real-time news coverage. In 2017, organizers will launch AutoMobili-D, a new technology and innovation expo within the auto show that promises the participation of more than 100 companies. Next: January 8-22, 2017

Las Vegas
#2 Trade Show
North America’s largest fashion trade show showcases the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories, and manufacturing. Held every February and August, Magic has more than 85,000 attendees and about 2,000 exhibitors across 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the show’s main site. In April, UBM, the company that produces the show, acquired Business Journals Inc., adding to its portfolio Business Journals’ fashion trade shows AccessoriesTheShow, Edit, Moda, Mrket, Fame, and StitchNext. In 2017, UBM is launching Children’s Club Magic, a West Coast version of the New York-originated trade show Children’s Club. Children’s Club Magic will run concurrent to the main show. Next: February 21-23, 2017

Chicago
#3 Trade Show
The 97th annual show and the co-located Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants at NRA Show posted record sold-out exhibit space of 680,000 square feet at Chicago’s McCormick Place, up from 638,424 square feet of exhibit space in 2015. Attendance grew to more than 67,000 people, an increase from 62,000 in the previous year. The retail registration category saw the highest growth, with 21 percent. Next: May 20-23, 2017

High Point, North Carolina
#4 Trade Show
The show, which specializes in retail sales of home furnishings, takes place every April and October and attracts more than 75,000 people per event. It counts more than 2,000 exhibitors in 11.5 million square feet of exhibit space. For the October edition, there will be 20 activities to connect attendees, including a TrendWatch seminar, an “Inside the Designers’ Studio with Vicente Wolf” discussion and book signing of The Four Elements of Design, and “Curated Tours of the Suites” with feedback and opinions from designers. In addition, country singer Maggie Rose and R&B group the Pointer Sisters will perform. Next: October 22-26, 2016

Atlanta
#5 Trade Show
Hosted by AmericasMart Atlanta, the show takes place twice a year: in January and July. Each show averages about 91,000 people and 2,400 exhibitors in 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space. In addition, more than 7,200 brands in categories of gifts, home decor, and furniture can be found at the event. Next: January 10-17, 2017

Columbus, Ohio
#6 Trade Show
Presented by Classic Productions, the event reached a milestone by offering the highest number of sports and events (55) since it began in 1989. The athletics festival, named after co-founder Arnold Schwarzenegger, is held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio Expo Center, and several other venues in central Ohio. New events this year include IFBB Arnold Pro wheelchair bodybuilding, indoor triathlon, and baton twirling. The festival’s 1.7 million square feet of the exhibit area at the convention center includes 900 booths of the latest in sports equipment, apparel, and nutrition, as well as a stage that hosts competitions and entertainment. Next: March 2-7, 2017

Las Vegas/Orlando
#7 Trade Show
Now in its third year, the week added new partners with the International Surface Event and the International Window Coverings Expo. The week is co-produced by the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show and the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, which announced this year that Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association, a leading trade association for the residential technology industry, will be a strategic partner in 2017. As part of the partnership, the I.B.S. show floor will feature the Cedia Smart Home Pavilion designated for exhibitors who specialize in technology solutions for the home. The 2016 show had more than 2,100 exhibiting companies in more than 900,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center. About 80,000 people attend the gatherings, which will move to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for the 2017 and 2018 shows, before returning to Las Vegas in 2019 and 2020. Next: January 10-12, 2017

Las Vegas
#8 Trade Show
The show is organized by the Specialty Equipment Market Association, which represents the automotive aftermarket industry. About 140,000 people will attend the show for its 50th edition this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In 2015, there were 2,400 exhibitors, which included more than 500 that were new to the conference. There is more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space in the convention center, as well an additional 1.5 million square feet of features and attractions throughout the convention center, outside areas, and neighboring Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. Next: November 1-4, 2016

National
#10 Trade Show (new to the list)
Presented by Reed Exhibitions' ReedPop, the expo is North America’s largest gathering of book-industry professionals from around the world. About 17,000 people attend the event, which averages 126,000 square feet of exhibit space. More than 680 exhibitors attended the 2016 edition at McCormick Place in Chicago. Sponsors include American Booksellers Association, Association of American Publishers, and Association of Author Representatives. In 2014, the expo added a two-day consumer event, BookCon, that takes place following the expo at the same location. Next: May 31-June 2, 2017, New York

New York
#1 Fashion Event
Held every February and September, the event reigns as the most important U.S. showcase for established and up-and-coming designers. About 125,000 people attend each edition, which is presented by IMG at various locations around the city. In 2016, highlights included Tom Ford’s lavish, star-studded gala streamed live from the Four Seasons New York Hotel Downtown to Kanye West’s ambitious but critically maligned outdoor performance art/runway show that saw models fainting from the heat. Several brands and retails jumped on the see-now, buy-now trend, offering looks available to purchase now rather than collections available months in the future. Macy’s Presents Fashion’s Front Row—held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden and shown as an E! Entertainment Television special—returned for a second year, with performances by Ariana Grande and Flo Rida; runway showcases for designers such as Betsey Johnson, Tommy Hilfiger, and Kenneth Cole. Next: February 2017

New York
#2 Fashion Event
The museum—in collaboration with Vogue magazine—produces the invitation-only event for about 610 guests, including a mix of A-list celebrities. This year’s theme, “Manus X Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology,” had attendees sporting tech-forward fashion, with Claire Danes, Beyoncé, and Katy Perry landing on many “best-dressed” lists for the event, which raised about $13.5 million. The gala’s prestige has grown to the point that it got its own documentary, The First Monday in May, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Next May 1, 2017

New York
#3 Fashion Event
Even as competitors arise, the event continues to be the fashion industry’s most important U.S. award show. In 2016, the council and sponsor Swarovski presented the ceremony at the 2,200-seat Hammerstein Ballroom. Beyoncé, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Norma Kamali, and the late David Bowie were among the honorees. Actor Joel McHale hosted the show, which also had performances from Jennifer Hudson and Michael C. Hall. Next: June 2017

Park City, Utah
#2 Entertainment Industry Event
A vital launching pad for independent films, the festival, presented by the Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute, attracts about 46,000 people a year to several locations in Park City. The event is often an early forecaster of what will get recognition at the Academy Awards. This year, the festival reached a milestone when Fox Searchlight acquired The Birth of a Nation in a record-setting $17.5 million deal. The movie also won several Sundance awards, which have categories for audience and jury votes. Next: January 19-29, 2017

New York
#3 Entertainment Industry Event (up from #4)
Every year in May, TV networks present their upcoming shows to advertisers and other sponsors for the networks’ largest bids to increase advertising and marketing revenues. In 2016, several networks—including Discovery Communications and Sony Pictures Television's Crackle—increased the virtual-reality content in their presentations, which were held at various locations throughout the city. Next: May 2017

Las Vegas
#4 Entertainment Industry Event (up from #5)
The association hosts several events throughout the year, but the show at the Las Vegas Convention Center is considered the biggest and the best. What started out in 1923 as a gathering for radio professionals has grown and evolved in the digital age into the world’s largest electronic media convention that includes companies representing radio, television, the Internet, mobile communications, gaming, and emerging technologies. In 2016, NAB Show attendance (103,000 people) and exhibit space (more than 1 million square feet) were about the same as the previous year, but the convention had significant growth in the number of exhibitors: 1,874 companies, compared to 1,789 in 2015. Next: April 22-27 2017

Washington
#5 Entertainment Industry Event
Every year since 1978, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts selects five honorees who have made outstanding contributions to the performing arts. They are feted in a ceremony at the Kennedy Center Opera House, with the president and first lady in attendance. CBS later broadcasts the ceremony. In 2016, the honorees are Al Pacino, the Eagles, Mavis Staples, James Taylor, and Martha Argerich. Ratings for the show dipped in 2015 (with 7.5 million viewers, compared to 9 million viewers the previous year), but the viewership was still high enough to win in its time slot. Next: December 4, 2016

Los Angeles
#6 Entertainment Industry Event
Held every January and July, the tour is the TV industry’s biggest gathering to promote its shows to journalists. Stars and executives participate in discussion panels, and the networks host memorable parties. The annual TCA Awards (presented during the July session) has grown in prestige since their launch in 1985, because the award nominations are announced about one week before the Emmy nominations ballots are due. Next: January 5-21, 2017

Las Vegas
#7 Entertainment Industry Event (new to the list)
The official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners launched in 2011 as a rebranding of the association’s ShoWest. Since then, the event, held at Caesars Palace, has become the largest and most important U.S. gathering for the worldwide motion-picture theater industry. In an era of major movie studios scaling back their presence at Comic-Con International as television shows rise in prominence there, the major studios are still fully on board to showcase their expected blockbusters here. In 2016, the event had about 5,000 attendees and more than 500 booths and 12 premium demonstration suite locations in about 300,000 square feet of exhibit space. The International Cinema Technology Association and National Association of Concessionaires help present the show. Next: March 27-30, 2017

Miami
#8 Entertainment Industry Event
With the Shelbourne Wyndham Grand as its main hub, the conference was presented over four days—a decrease from its five-day outing the previous year. The rise of Electric Daisy Carnival and other festivals geared to electronic dance music has meant more competition, but it is still considered the most prestigious conference for people in the E.D.M. industry, with an estimated 100,000 attendees every year. Next: March 2017

Washington
#1 Political Event
The dinner, traditionally attended by the president and first lady, has become a star-studded affair with a guest list of 2,700 that includes V.I.P.s in politics, entertainment, sports, and business. The event, which the White House Correspondents Association has hosted since 1920, has become an A-list political roast, which this year saw President Obama deliver a set followed by comedian Larry Wilmore. With an average of 1 million U.S. viewers, the show has been a ratings winner for CNN, which triumphed over its cable-news rivals again this year on the night that CNN televised the event. Media properties take advantage of the prominence of the dinner to host parties before and after the main event, including soirees hosted by Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, Atlantic Media, the Hill, and MSNBC. Next: April 29, 2017

New York
#2 Political Event
The premier event for the Clinton Foundation announced that its 12th edition, held in September, would be its last, as Hillary Clinton’s role as Democratic presidential nominee has complicated the event’s operations. The gathering drew about 1,000 business and political leaders as well as celebrities and others to tackle global challenges and secure philanthropic commitments. Former President Bill Clinton was among speakers at the final summit, which was held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. Other speakers included Queen Rania of Jordan, U2 lead singer Bono, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Procter & Gamble group president of North America Carolyn Tastad. Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi, who received the Clinton Global Citizen Award, performed at the event, as did Andrea Bocelli.

Washington
#3 Political Event (up from #4)
On January 12, Barack Obama gave his final annual address to Congress as President. About 580 people assemble at the U.S. Capitol, including members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as guests of First Lady Michelle Obama who in 2016 included community activists, students, military veterans, and Microsoft C.E.O. Satya Nadella. One seat was left purposely empty to symbolize victims killed by shootings in the United States. Next: January/February 2017

National
#4 Political Event
Since 1872, the association, the most powerful gun lobby in the United States, has hosted its annual membership. In 2016, amid ongoing controversy over mass shootings in America, the event drew about 80,000 people to multiple conference venues in Louisville, including the Kentucky Exposition Center, where more than 800 exhibitors displayed their products and services over more than 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space. Programming included panel discussions, dinners, auctions, concerts, raffles, seminars, workshops, and book signings. Next: April 28-30, 2017, Atlanta

Washington
#5 Political Event (up from #6)
The conference was one of the few political events this year attended on the same day by major-party presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who spoke separately. The gathering, which draws about 15,000 people a year for its pro-Israel messages, also included speaking appearances from Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator Ted Cruz, and Ohio Governor John Kasich. Next: March 26-28, 2017

Aspen, Colorado
#6 Political Event
Presented by the Aspen Institute in partnership with The Atlantic magazine, the festival is open to the public and attracts about 3,000 people for discussion-oriented programming on a variety of global issues. Spread across numerous venues at the institute’s Aspen Meadows campus, the 12th edition of the summit covered issues such as the Zika virus, the presidential election, climate change, and the search for life beyond earth. Headliners included Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and I.M.F. Managing Director Christine Lagarde. Next: June 22-July 1, 2017

National
#1 Sports Event
The National Football League's championship game—the 50th edition of the game—broke so many records that it set the standards for other Super Bowls to come. A total of 167 million U.S. viewers watched the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, making it the most-watched single broadcast in television history. Streaming coverage of Super Bowl 50 on CBS and N.F.L. digital properties also set viewership records with 3.96 million unique viewers. In addition, a record-setting 1.1 million people visited activations Super Bowl City, the 50th Mile, and Super Bowl Experience. The Super Bowl is big business for the hosting region too. According the N.F.L., Super Bowl 50 and its related events had a net positive economic impact on the San Francisco Bay Area of at least $240 million. Coldplay headlined Super Bowl 50's half-time performance, which also featured past Super Bowl headliners Bruno Mars and Beyoncé as special guests. Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem at the game, and she impressed enough people that she's been tapped to headline Super Bowl 51. Next: February 5, 2017, Houston

National
#3 Sports Event (new to the list)
Major League Baseball's championship event has enjoyed increased viewership on TV. The 2015 series, in which Kansas City Royals beat the New York Mets, had a total of 14.7 million U.S. viewers on Fox, making it a 6 percent increase from ratings for the 2014 edition. The event draws top-tier sponsors which in 2015 included Budweiser, Chevrolet, and MasterCard. Next: October 25-November 2, 2016

Daytona Beach, Florida
#4 Sports Event
Nascar’s most prestigious championship race continued to thrill audiences with its suspense factor: About 146,000 spectators at Daytona International Speedway watched Denny Hamlin triumph over Martin Truex Jr. in a photo finish at this year’s race. Adding to the excitement in 2016, Nascar partnered with Twitter to promote the Daytona 500 weekend with new emoji, Vine, and Periscope content from the speedway, and the first “Hashtag 500,” a Twitter race among fans that rewarded winners with Nascar memorabilia. On TV, Fox’s broadcast slipped in the ratings: 11.4 million viewers watched in 2016, compared to 13.4 million in 2015. In addition, 2016 marked Sprint Nextel’s last year as sponsor, since the telecommunications company decided not to renew its contract. A new title sponsor is to be announced. Next: February 26, 2017

New York
#5 Sports Event (up from #6)
In 2016, Stan Wawrinka won in the men’s division, while Angelique Kerber triumphed in the women’s division. Around 700,000 fans attend the United States Tennis Association’s marquee event. ESPN and the Tennis Channel televise the event, which addressed past rain delays with a new retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium, a new 8,000-seat Grandstand stadium, and an extensive renovation of the grounds of the U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. New food offerings were designed to appeal to the tournament’s upscale crowd and included an oyster bar and dishes from chefs such as David Chang, Ken Oringer, and Jamie Bissonnette. Next: August 2017

Augusta, Georgia
#6 Sports Event
The P.G.A.’s most storied tournament, held at the Augusta National Golf Club, is a rarity of sporting events: It limits the number of major sponsors to five and prohibits blatant signage during the game. The event is equally discreet about the tournament’s attendance numbers, but some reports suggest that about 35,000 people are allowed into the club to watch the game, which this year marked the first Masters victory for Danny Willett. Mercedes-Benz, AT&T, and I.B.M. are the event’s global sponsors, while Rolex and UPS are international sponsors. Next: April 3-9, 2017

Boston
#8 Sports Event
The marathon, presented by the Boston Athletic Association, is the oldest and perhaps the most-admired marathon in the world, even more so after the event returned following the deadly bombing in 2013. The competition, which began in 1897, now has 30,000 contestants, and about 500,000 people line the marathon route to watch the race, which this year was won by Lemi Berhanu Hayle in the men’s division and Atsede Baysa in the women’s division. Next: April 17, 2017

New York
#9 Sports Event
For purebred dog enthusiasts, no U.S. event is more important than the show, the oldest and longest annual tenant of New York’s Madison Square Garden, where an estimated 18,000 people attend the show every year. In the event’s 140th edition in 2016, the coveted Best in Show prize went to a 3-year-old German short-haired male pointer named GCH Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey, also known as CH. Two notable changes happened in 2016: The kennel club ended its broadcast relationship with the USA Network, which televised the show from 1984 through 2016, and signed a 10-year deal with Fox Sports to air the show on Fox Sports 1 and sister network Nat Geo Wild. This year also marked the final year with David Frei as co-host. Next: February 13-14, 2017

New York
#1 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
For the Thanksgiving holiday, there’s only been one event that has dominated for decades. Now in its 90th year, the parade—which is watched by an estimated 3 million people on the streets of Manhattan and 44 million viewers on NBC—appeals to wide ranges of age groups with its over-the-top floats and balloons, giant decorations, and a variety of live entertainment. The 2015 edition had 17 giant character balloons; 24 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles, and trycaloons; 27 floats; 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers; more than 1,000 clowns; 12 marching bands; and a slew of celebrity performers. Next: November 24, 2016

New York
#2 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
Watching the crystal ball drop in New York’s Times Square at the stroke of midnight has become a New Year’s Eve tradition for millions of people around the world. An estimated 1 million people brave the chilly winter weather to experience in person what is probably the world’s most famous New Year’s Eve party. In 2015, about 13 million U.S. viewers watched the event on ABC, which consistently has the highest-rated New Year’s Eve U.S. telecast, hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Artists who performed in Times Square for the ABC telecast included Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Demi Lovato, and Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. An estimated 6,000 New York police officers serve on duty that night, while about 2,000 pounds of confetti drop on revelers during the celebration. Next: December 31, 2016

New Orleans
#3 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
There are several Mardi Gras celebrations in the U.S., but none is more famous than the one in New Orleans, which draws an estimated 1.4 million people. The three days before “Fat Tuesday” have the biggest parades, such as Bacchus, Endymion, Orpheus, and the Zulu Lundi Gras. Next: February 28, 2017

Los Angeles
#4 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
The New Year’s Day tradition is the lead-up to the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena. Produced by the nonprofit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, and with Honda as a presenting sponsor, the 2016 parade had 44 floats, 19 equestrian units, 20 marching bands, and the theme of “Find Your Adventure.” Several TV networks—including ABC, NBC, HGTV, Univision, and Hallmark Channel—televised the parade, bringing a total U.S. viewership of 41.5 million people, with an estimated 700,000 people attended in person. The 128th edition of the parade will have the theme “Echoes of Success.” Next: January 1, 2017

Houston
#5 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
The largest show of its kind, it attracted about 2.46 million people to the 20-day event in 2016, while an estimated 1.3 million of those guests paid for rodeo or concert attendance. With more than 33,000 volunteers, the event is also a charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentations. New for the event in 2016 was the addition of Veterans Village, an area dedicated to organizations that help current and former military personnel. In addition, 21 acts consisting of mostly country singers performed at the show, including Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Pitbull, and Kid Rock. Banda Los Recoditos and Los Huracanes Del Norte set a concert attendance record for the event, when 75,508 people saw the band perform on March 13. Next: March 7-26, 2017

Washington
#6 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
The festival—which celebrates the anniversary of Tokyo giving cherry blossom trees to the city of Washington, D.C., in 1912—had more than 40 organizations and more than 1 million people participating in the festival’s signature activities this year, which took place at various locations in the city. Those activities included the Pink Tie Party fund-raiser, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, the Blossom Kite Festival, the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival, the Sakura  Matsuri—Japanese Street Festival, Cherry Blast, and the second annual Anacostia River Festival. During the fifth annual City in Bloom campaign, buildings and transportation hubs were lit in pink to celebrate the festival. Next: March 20-April 16, 2017

Boston
#7 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performs for a national audience during the city’s Independence Day fireworks display. In 2016, the show also included performances from Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, and Little Big Town. Entertainment Tonight anchor Nancy O'Dell co-hosted the show, which was telecast by CBS. About 500,000 people attend the event every year along the banks of Charles River, and the television audience reached 4.65 million viewers. Next: July 4, 2017

San Francisco
#8 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event
The best-known L.G.B.T. event in the U.S. had particular poignancy this year, since it took place less than two weeks after the deadly shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. A visually striking moment occurred when several parade attendees paid tribute to those slain in the massacre by holding up signs with photos of the murder victims. This year’s theme for the parade was “For Racial and Economic Equality,” although activist organization Black Lives Matter, which had been scheduled to participate, withdrew from the event due to increased police presence. The parade, held on Market Street, had more than 200 contingents. The two-day celebration—attended by an estimated 1.6 million people—also included panel discussions and live entertainment, headlined by Peaches. Next: June 24-25, 2017

New Orleans
#9 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event (up from #10)
An estimated 450,000 people attended the event in 2016, a decrease from nearly 500,000 in the previous year. Essence Festivals and the Solomon Group produce the event, whose main hubs are the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Mercedez-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. This year, the event added a Beauty & Style Expo that included a presentation from Tyra Banks. It also launched the World Music Superlounge, featuring artists from across the globe including performers Wizkid, Zakes Bantwini, and Skye Wanda. As for the performances at the Superdome, headlining artists included Mariah Carey, Maxwell, and Kendrick Lamar. The festival also offers empowerment seminars, which this year featured speakers such as Oprah Winfrey, Al Sharpton, and Misty Copeland. Next: June 30-July 3, 2017

Boston
#10 Festival, Parade & Holiday Event (new to the list)
The bicycle race, presented by the Boston Red Sox Foundation and New Balance, is the nation's original fund-raising bike-a-thon and one of the biggest athletic-based charities in the U.S., based on money raised. The race, which has cyclists traveling to various locations in Massachusetts, raised $46 million in 2016 and benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Next: August 2017

Sun Valley, Idaho
#1 Business & Financial Industry Event
The semi-secretive, invitation-only event is for an elite group of business titans who gather to discuss issues that affect their respective industries. Hosted by Allen & Company, the conference does not allow media access and does not issue press releases, but CNBC reported that 303 people were on this year’s attendee list. The participants included Microsoft’s Bill Gates, billionaire investor Warren Buffet, power couple Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg, Disney’s Bob Iger, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Activision Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick, Snapchat’s Evan Spiegel, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg. Next: July 2017

Washington
#2 Business & Financial Industry Event
The summit brings together leading experts and policymakers to discuss fiscal and economic policies for the next president of the United States. Speakers in 2016 included members of congress such as Nancy Pelosi, Mike Enzi, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, and Joe Manchin. Also in attendance were Keith Hall, director of the U.S. Congressional Budget Office; Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action; and Heather Boushey, executive director and chief economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. Next: May 2017

New York
#3 Business & Financial Industry Event
The 21st edition of the conference was a gathering of numerous V.I.P.s to discuss business investments. This speaker-driven event—attended by about 3,000 people at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in New York—included New York Giants football star Eli Manning in the mix of business heavyweights David Einhorn, Larry Robbins, Jim Chanos, and Jeffrey Gundlach. The conference honored Manning for his Tackle Kids Cancer Charity with the launch of the Sohn-Manning Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Program at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. The event raised $4 million for the Sohn Conference Foundation, a benefit for pediatric cancer. Next: May 2017

Los Angeles
#4 Business & Financial Industry Event
Every year, the conference attracts movers and shakers in various industries. Al Gore, Tom Hanks, Brian Grazer, Goldie Hawn, Eric Schmidt, Wayne Gretzky, and Tony Blair were among the estimated 3,000 attendees in 2016. Topics included education, finance, government, media/technology, and philanthropy. Next: April 30-May 4, 2017

Las Vegas
#5 Business & Financial Industry Event
SkyBridge Capital’s eighth annual conference drew about 1,800 thought leaders and influences to the Bellagio. Speakers from the worlds of finance, alternative investments, politics, science, and pop culture covered topics and included a debate on the presidential election. Among the notables who attended were Michael Bloomberg, John Boehner, Kobe Bryant, Felipe Calderón, Kenneth C. Griffin, Ron Howard, Lara Logan, T. Boone Pickens, Robert E. Rubin, Will Smith, Admiral James Stavridis, Lawrence H. Summers, Nassim Taleb, and Sam Zell. Next: May 2017

San Francisco
#6 Business & Financial Industry Event (new to the list)
Now in its third year, the conference has quickly become an influential gathering of V.I.P.s from several industries. The invitation-only event, limited to about 700 people, takes place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Many of the attendees are on Vanity Fair's annual New Establishment list, which ranks people who have been making powerful impacts in their industries in recent years. In 2016, the speakers include Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Barry Diller, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, Disney’s Robert Iger, CBS Corporation’s Leslie Moonves, talk-show host Conan O’Brien, and General Electric’s Beth Comstock. Next: October 18-20, 2016