10 Payroll Conferences to Attend in 2026-2027
The right payroll conferences can sharpen your compliance knowledge, expand your network, and keep you ahead of regulatory changes.
Whether you're navigating multi-state payroll or tracking global legislation, these events connect you with practitioners who face the same challenges. I've pulled together the best options across regions so you can find the ones worth your time.
Best Payroll Conferences in 2026-2027 Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best payroll conferences I think are worth attending in 2026:
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- Illinois Statewide Payroll Conference - Schaumburg, IL (August 27–28, 2026)
- The Texas Payroll Conference - The Woodlands, TX (September 16–19, 2026)
- The Virginia Statewide Payroll Conference - Falls Church, VA (October 1–2, 2026)
- The CIPP's Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) - Newport, UK (October 7-8, 2026)
- California Payroll Conference 2026 - Palm Springs, CA (October 21-23, 2026)
- New England Payroll Conference (NEPC) - Portsmouth, NH (October 22-23, 2026)
- New Jersey Statewide Payroll Conference - Springfield, NJ (October 23, 2026)
- TAPS Payroll Conference - Sydney, Australia (October 2026)
- IPPA Spring Summit - Arlington, TX (March 9-11, 2027)
- 45th Annual Payroll Congress - San Antonio, TX (May 11-14, 2027)
Best Payroll Conferences in 2026-2027
Below are my summaries of the best payroll conferences that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a look at each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offering.
1. Illinois Statewide Payroll Conference - Schaumburg, IL (August 27–28, 2026)
- Dates: August 27–28, 2026
- Location: Chicago Marriott Schaumburg
- Pricing: From $450 (members) – $500 (non-members)
The Illinois Statewide Payroll Conference is the 32nd annual event, organized by the Chicago Payroll Chapter of PayrollOrg. It's built for payroll professionals seeking RCH credits, networking, and practical sessions.
Why attend? This one-and-a-half-day event pairs focused payroll education with a vendor fair and a Thursday happy hour. It's Illinois-specific, which makes it a great fit if you want locally relevant compliance and legislation content without the scale of a national conference.
2. Texas Payroll Conference - The Woodlands, TX (September 16–19, 2026)
- Dates: September 16–19, 2026
- Location: The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
- Pricing: From $1,435
- Social Media: LinkedIn
The Texas Payroll Conference is a non-profit annual event founded in 1989, organized by a volunteer board of Texas payroll professionals. It's grown from 50 to 500+ attendees and serves payroll pros across Texas and neighboring states.
Why attend? The 2026 theme — "Back to Payroll Basics: Where We're Going We Don't Miss Deadlines" — signals a practical, compliance-first focus. Sessions cover federal and state tax law, technology, and professional development, making this a strong fit if you want Texas-specific regulatory content alongside strong peer networking.
3. The Virginia Statewide Payroll Conference - Falls Church, VA (October 1–2, 2026)
- Dates: October 1–2, 2026
- Location: Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park
- Pricing: $600
- Social Media: Facebook
The Virginia Statewide Payroll Conference (VSPC) is a PayrollOrg-affiliated annual event established in 2000. Now in its 26th year, it serves payroll professionals across Virginia and neighboring states with education on legislation, technology, and compliance.
Why attend? VSPC travels to Virginia each year, making it a state-specific event with a rotating location. The 2026 theme, "The Payroll Labyrinth," shapes sessions on compliance, tips and overtime tax reporting, child support responsibilities, and data security — alongside an evening social and a Payroll Professional of the Year award.
4. The CIPP's Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) - Newport, UK (October 7-8, 2026)
- Dates: October 7-8, 2026
- Location: The Celtic Manor Resort
- Pricing: From £999 (members) - £1,099 (non-members)
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) organizes ACE, the UK's largest payroll conference and exhibition. The annual event draws 600+ delegates and serves payroll, pensions, and reward professionals across the UK.
Why attend? ACE combines education, networking, and celebration in one two-day residential experience at the Celtic Manor Resort. Your package includes accommodation, meals, evening entertainment, and attendance at the Annual Excellence Awards — making it more of a full-immersion event than a typical one-day conference.
5. California Payroll Conference 2026 - Palm Springs, CA (October 21-23, 2026)
- Dates: October 21-23, 2026
- Location: The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
- Pricing: $750
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The 2026 California Payroll Conference is a professional development event for payroll practitioners, HR professionals, and compliance leaders across California. It features educational sessions on payroll regulations, taxation, technology, and workforce trends.
Why attend? Attendees gain practical insights into the latest payroll laws, compliance updates, and operational best practices. The conference combines expert-led learning with networking opportunities that help professionals solve real-world payroll challenges. It's a valuable way to stay current in the progressive payroll industry.
6. New England Payroll Conference (NEPC) - Portsmouth, NH (October 22-23, 2026)
- Dates: October 22-23, 2026
- Location: Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel
- Pricing: $475
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The New England Payroll Conference (NEPC) has run since 1993, making 2026 its 33rd annual event. Organized in partnership with PayrollOrg, it serves payroll professionals in the New England region seeking compliance education and CPP/FPC recertification credits.
Why attend? NEPC blends education, networking, and wellness in a two-day coastal setting. Sessions cover federal, state, and local compliance, emerging tech, accounting, HR, and leadership. Attendees earn 12 RCHs toward their CPP or FPC credentials — plus there are social activities and a refreshed wellness track.
7. New Jersey Statewide Payroll Conference - Springfield, NJ (October 23, 2026)
- Dates: October 23, 2026
- Location: Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Springfield
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The New Jersey Statewide Payroll Conference is a one-day event organized by three NJ-area PayrollOrg chapters. The 2026 theme, "Payroll in Motion," focuses on compliance, multi-state issues, audits, and emerging tech for payroll and HR professionals.
Why attend? The conference is built for on-the-ground practitioners who need actionable, same-day takeaways. Sessions focus on real-world compliance strategies and process optimization — not high-level theory. It's a practical, focused alternative to larger multi-day events, with direct peer access in a regional setting.
8. TAPS Payroll Conference - Sydney, Australia (October 2026)
- Dates: October 2026 (exact dates TBA)
- Location: Hilton Sydney
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The TAPS Payroll Conference is Australia's longest-running payroll conference, organized by TAPS (The Association for Payroll Specialists). It draws 600+ delegates annually and is the premier national event for Australian payroll professionals.
Why attend? The conference runs two concurrent session streams across two days, covering a wide range of payroll topics. The exhibition floor is built into the agenda to maximize face time with vendors. It's one of the few events that brings the entire Australian payroll community together in person at scale.
9. IPPA Spring Summit - Arlington, TX (March 9-11, 2027)
- Dates: March 9-11, 2027
- Location: Arlington, TX
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: LinkedIn
The IPPA Spring Summit is an annual conference organized by the Independent Payroll Providers Association (IPPA) for independent payroll firm owners. It focuses on business growth, leadership, and industry networking — not compliance-heavy content.
Why attend? The Summit blends hands-on workshops, keynote speakers, and peer networking tailored specifically to payroll business owners. Past speakers include Josh Linkner. Sessions cover sales, AI, operations, and leadership — making it one of the few payroll events built around running a payroll business, not just processing payroll.
10. 45th Annual Payroll Congress - San Antonio, TX (May 11-14, 2027)
- Dates: May 11-14, 2027
- Location: Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
- Pricing: From $2,365 (members) - $2,675 (non-members)
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram
The 44th Payroll Congress Convention & Expo, organized by PayrollOrg (formerly the American Payroll Association), is the world's largest annual payroll event. It brings together payroll professionals globally for education, networking, and the industry's biggest expo.
Why attend? With hundreds of educational sessions, workshops, and keynote speakers, this is the most expansive payroll conference in the world. The expo floor alone sets it apart. You'll also get free access to Virtual Congress and a complimentary one-year PayrollOrg membership — making it a strong value for non-members.
Have Fun Learning And Connecting
Conferences are great for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge, network, and contribute significantly to their organization's success in payroll, accounting, finance, or HR roles.
Each offers unique insights and opportunities tailored to the needs of professionals in these fields. You'll make connections who can help you refine your payroll processes and find the best trainings on payroll software, ensuring you make the most your payroll toolkit.
Beyond payroll, we have some shortlists for other HR conferences including HR tech conferences, recruiting conferences, and CHRO conferences.
If time and resources are a factor, then perhaps one of these virtual HR conferences will interest you.
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