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
