espnW’s 2026 Summit will take place next weekend, inspiring female leaders to make changes in women’s sports.
According to ESPN Press Room, the summit will take place on May 7 at the Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The event will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend the in-person event.
Founded in 2010, espnW.com focuses on women’s sports, play-by-plays, trends and heated competitions, but the summit takes a dedication to women’s sports a step further. Attendees will hear unique stories from women’s sports leaders, including Meghan Turner, general manager of the Seattle Torrent, Breezy Johnson, Olympic downhill ski gold medalist, Avi Greene, senior associate and architect at Populous, and more.
Related: Game Changers: USTA’s 2026 Women in Coaching Cohort Seeks Systematic Change for Female Coaches
Said organizers, “The one-day event will once again bring together influential leaders across sports, business, and entertainment for a day of inspiring discussions focused on fostering change and creating new opportunities for women in sports.”
“Over the past 16 years, the ESPNW Summit has created a community and experience that has been a true catalyst of progress and change for women in sports,” Rachel Epstein, vice president of live sports and audience expansion at ESPN, told Forbes. “It’s no longer about creating momentum and laying the groundwork, it’s about harnessing and building upon the unmatched growth we’re experiencing.”
Epstein’s perspective rings true in the programming planned for the 2026 summit. No longer are speakers focused on access or advocacy, but the uncharted territory of driving growth in women’s sports, reshaping the sports industry market.
Sessions include “Women at the Helm: The New Class of Team Executives,” “Highlighting Women’s Sports Sundays,” and “Purpose-Built: Facilities for Female Athletes.”
“Women’s sports today are both part of culture and in many ways shaping culture,” Epstein said. “When we bring together leaders from entertainment, fashion, and business, we’re simply reflecting that growing intersection.”
