HRko Celebrates 10 Years This Year, It Wants to Show What the Future of Work Will Look Like

Ten years, more than a thousand visitors, hundreds of inspiring speakers and one strong ambition: to show that HR is no longer just about recruitment and benefits, but an integral part of strategic business management. The jubilee 10th edition of the People & Culture Show – HRko 2026 returns to Ostrava’s Gong on 14 and 15  October 2026, once again aiming to push the boundaries of what a world-class HR event can look like.

Conference With the Vibe of a Music Festival

More than 1,100 HR directors, business partners, CEOs, managers and leaders from Czechia and Slovakia can look forward to two days packed with real case studies, technologies, workshops and networking. Across four stages, more than 100 speakers will present a hundred specific case studies from the corporate world. The programme will also include 10 workshop rooms running throughout the day.

But HRko is not built on content alone. It is built on atmosphere. The organisers have long said that they do not want to create just another “stuffy conference”. The aim is to create an experience that captures the energy of a music festival. That is why the event also includes all-inclusive catering, informal networking and a special HR train that will bring participants from Prague directly to Ostrava.

“We want people to leave HRko not only with inspiration, but also with energy and the desire to change things in their companies. That is why we combine business content, emotion, technology, networking and show elements into one powerful experience,” says Petr Juříček, co-founder of HRko.

AI, Leadership and People Engagement in One Show

This year’s entire edition is built around one key theme: how to make work more efficient in the age of AI without people losing their joy, sense of purpose or engagement. How to use technology as a tool, not as a blocker of performance. And how to shift the mindset of companies and leaders for a new era of work.

“We do not want to listen to theories from people who have never tried anything themselves. That is why, at HRko, you will hear real stories from companies, specific experiences with AI and leadership, and, above all, practical things you can apply immediately in your own company,” says Jiří Kratochvíl, co-founder of HRko and programme director of the event.

Headliners Who Resonate Beyond the World of HR

One of the strongest moments of this year’s edition will be the appearance of Lukáš Krpálek. The most successful Czech judoka and world champion will be one of the headliners. Well-known faces such as Jan Smetana, Oliver Salus and Miroslav Lenc will take on hosting duties. What skills do Czechs need to acquire in order to succeed in the global race? That is a question for Radek Špicar, as well as panellists Marcela Kalousová from AERO Vodochody, Kateřina Lukášová from Allwyn and Tomáš Ervín Dombrovský from Alma Career. A new addition to the Vema Main Stage this year is also a MasterClass on the topic CEO & HR: A Partnership of Reason?

On the main stage, the organisers are also promising a special show with global parameters, the content of which remains a secret for now.

The Evening Summit Will Open Up the Question of the Future of Work

Ahead of the main programme, the Evening Summit will offer an evening programme with DJ Roxtar, a dance show, workshops combining Lego and AI, as well as a practical demonstration of video production for Gen Z and training for top management.