When: November 16-17, 2026 | Where: Detroit, MI

Against the backdrop of America’s 250 anniversary, Fortune is convening leaders from Fortune 500 companies alongside innovative startup founders and thought leaders pushing the boundaries of ingenuity and innovation.
The mission: a candid conversation about the role of capitalism and competition in America—from advancing technology and creating jobs to revitalizing communities and moving markets.

As recent economic shocks have accelerated the pace of creative destruction, American companies face unprecedented competition from China and other emerging economies—often finding themselves outpaced on cost, scale, and innovation. To meet this moment, Fortune 500 companies are rebuilding their capacity to withstand disruption and charting a path toward a new era of industrialization powered by technological ingenuity.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum: America Leads will harness the strength of Fortune’s journalism to spotlight the institutions that have shaped the American economy, reinvented themselves through eras of disruption, and continue to define the future of capitalism.