More than 550 participants from 24 countries, over 130 companies and organisations, two international events and two award ceremonies in a single day. On 29 May 2026, Prague became the meeting point for European leaders committed to workplace inclusion. Pride Business Forum Conference and the EPBN WISE Awards Ceremony brought together business, policymakers and experts to discuss how organisations can protect LGBTQ+ inclusion in an increasingly fragmented Europe.

Two events, one day.

The programme at Hilton Prague Atrium combined the annual Pride Business Forum Conference with the European Pride Business Network (EPBN) WISE Conference, creating one of the largest workplace inclusion gatherings ever held in Central Europe. Hundreds of business leaders, diversity professionals, employee advocates and policymakers gathered at Hilton Prague Atrium for a day dedicated to the future of workplace inclusion in Europe.

By the numbers.

The annual Pride Business Forum conference & the European Pride Business Network (EPBN) WISE Conference prides on the impressive statistics

  • 550+ participants
  • 24 European countries represented
  • 130+ companies and organisations
  • 40+ speakers and panellists
  • 14 Inclusive firms recognised at the EPBN WISE Awards
  • 5 categories of Czech LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer Awards

Inspiring speakers, engaging discussions.

The conference opened with contributions from representatives of European institutions, business and civil society. Participants were welcomed by Pride Business Forum Executive Director Tereza Kadlecová, followed by remarks from Irena Moozová of the European Commission, who addressed the European perspective on equality, implementation and the role of employers in advancing inclusion. Throughout the day, speakers explored the relationship between policy, business leadership and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ employees across Europe.

Among the keynote speakers were Blanka Maderová, who focused on the experiences of LGBTQ+ migrants navigating identity, safety and work across borders and labour law expert Professor Kristina Koldinská examined the historical development of workplace protections and the continuing disparities across European countries. Martine Roy, one of Canada’s leading equality advocates, shared personal insights into leadership, visibility and the courage required to drive change when systems fail to provide adequate protection.

The afternoon programme shifted towards practical solutions and business leadership. Representatives from REDI Spain, Iniciatíva Inakosť Slovakia and MSD discussed how organisations adapt inclusion efforts across different cultural, political and legal environments. Senior executives from ABB, Vodafone, Société Générale and Sandoz explored how inclusion influences talent attraction, employee trust and organisational resilience in an increasingly complex European landscape.

Alongside the plenary programme, participants joined practical workshops on inclusive communication and managing anti-LGBTQ+ bias in the workplace, while invited stakeholders participated in a closed-door discussion on the civic, social and economic value of inclusion.

Groundbreaking research, numbers worth addressing

A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of groundbreaking research by Dr. Silvia Spinelli, analyzing a sample of 3,100 respondents across 5 EU countries (including the Czech Republic).

The research reveals a key finding – 63% (nearly 3 out of 5) of LGBTIQ+ workers feel their workplace is not inclusive due to microaggressions they routinely experience implying that
orporate policies alone are no longer enough. True inclusion requires a continuous focus on daily workplace language, psychological safety, and rigorous impact monitoring.

Recognising organisations driving change

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the Czech LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer Awards, Pride Business Forum’s annual benchmark recognising employers that actively create inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ+ employees.

· GOLD Category
Vodafone Czech Republic – Overall market leader (97.5 points) recognized for top-tier policies and systematic support for transgender employees.
SAP Group (93 points) – Excelled particularly in impact monitoring and assessing the actual efficacy of diversity measures.
Škoda Auto (92 points) – The standout winner of the year. Reached Gold after 5 years of systematic effort, serving as a key inspiration for the manufacturing sector.
MSD (90 points) – Secured the Gold award for the third consecutive year.

· SILVER Category:
Novartis (84.5 pts), IKEA (84 pts), Generali Česká pojišťovna (80 pts – a major improvement of +15 points year-on-year).
· BRONZE Category: Accenture, Thermo Fisher Scientific, ČSOB (praised for its long-standing support of the sbarvouven.cz counseling service), PwC, Deloitte, Honeywell, Emplifi, Tesco.

· Special Awards:
Employee-Driven Initiative (ERG of the Year): Škoda Auto for their employee resource group’s outstanding work and growth (+80 new members this year).
Big Step Forward: E.ON for the most significant year-on-year score improvement (+19.5 points).

The ceremony also marked the welcoming of Futurelife as a new member of Pride Business Forum, further strengthening the network of employers committed to equality and inclusion.

Celebrating European collaboration

The day concluded with the EPBN WISE Awards Ceremony, attended by representatives from across Europe and dedicated to celebrating organisations and individuals advancing workplace inclusion.
The WISE project, funded through the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, is delivered by a consortium of partners including the European Pride Business Network (EPBN), Pride Business Forum (Czech Republic), Workplace Pride (Netherlands), REDI (Spain), EDGE Certification Foundation (Switzerland) and other European inclusion organisations. Through mentoring, training and knowledge-sharing, the initiative supports employers in strengthening LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion across the continent.

The WISE Awards recognised 14 Inclusive Firms, 25 mentees and 28 European Role Models whose work has contributed to building safer and more inclusive workplaces across Europe.

The conference highlighted both the progress that has been made and the challenges that remain. As legal frameworks and social attitudes continue to differ across Europe, organisations are increasingly looking to one another for practical solutions, shared learning and opportunities for collaboration. Bringing together business leaders, policymakers and employee advocates from across the continent, Prague provided a platform for exactly that.