Interactive keynote speakers turn a keynote into something audiences can participate in, remember, and apply. The speakers featured here use live illusion, music, storytelling, communication exercises, mindset frameworks, negotiation tools, and audience-driven experiences to keep attendees engaged in the room and connected to the message after the event.
That kind of engagement matters across the full event experience. A 2025 ScienceDirect review on technology-facilitated event engagement found that event technology can shape attendee engagement across cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions before, during, and after an event. For event planners, the takeaway is clear: interaction helps audiences pay attention, connect with the content, and participate more actively in the experience.
Top 17 Interactive Keynote Speakers of 2026
The speakers on this list were selected based on current speaker research, recent event activity, and the Mollie Plotkin Group’s 20+ years of experience booking keynote talent for organizations across industries. Each speaker brings a distinct interactive approach to the stage, from live mentalism and rhythm-based team building to connection science, change leadership, communication strategy, innovation, and purpose-driven audience exercises, making this roster especially relevant for planners looking to create more participatory and memorable 2026 events.
David Kwong
David Kwong helps audiences understand attention, persuasion, and creativity through live illusion. His keynote “Mentalist vs. The Machine” uses iPhones, Wikipedia, Alexa, and ChatGPT to explore what makes human wonder and imagination valuable in an AI-powered world. His book Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion to Captivate Audiences and Unlock the Secrets of Success connects the science of illusion to influence, command, and audience engagement. His 2026 keynote listing with the Auto Care Association reinforces how well his interactive approach fits business audiences looking for curiosity, creativity, and memorable engagement.
Book David Kwong
Amy Blankson
Amy Blankson helps leaders build sustainable wellbeing in a workplace shaped by constant digital change. Her “Super Thinkers” keynote gives audiences a practical way to use AI as a force multiplier for creativity, problem-solving, and human leadership instead of treating technology as a source of overwhelm. Her “Fearless Positivity” work helps teams shift mindset in the middle of uncertainty, making her a timely interactive keynote speaker for organizations focused on digital wellness, resilience, and culture. Her featured speaker appearance at CUPA-HR Annual Conference shows how directly her message connects with leaders responsible for people, culture, and organizational health.
Book Amy Blankson
Doug Manuel
Doug Manuel turns disconnected audiences into active communities through rhythm, story, and shared participation. His keynotes and workshops are built to improve listening, communication, empathy, and team performance, using music and rhythm to make connection feel immediate instead of abstract. His BEATS methodology gives planners a highly experiential format for culture, engagement, and wellbeing events. His 2026 Medtronic engagement in Morges, Switzerland points to the global relevance of his work for teams trying to reconnect people across roles, regions, and change.
Book Doug Manuel
Rachel DeAlto
Rachel DeAlto helps audiences improve collaboration, trust, and performance by making relatability practical. Her keynote “The Relatable Leader: Create a Culture of Connection” uses research, storytelling, and interactive exercises to help leaders build stronger bonds across generations and teams. For conferences that want networking, workshops, and breakout sessions to feel more productive, her work gives attendees clear tools for connection before they leave the room. Her Women in Tech Global Conference 2026 appearance highlights the demand for her message among audiences focused on leadership, communication, and belonging.
Book Rachel DeAlto
Peter Katz
Peter Katz helps organizations raise engagement by turning employee and member stories into a shared keynote experience. His Custom-Built Keynote Concert combines personalized storytelling, live music, and actionable takeaways so audiences feel recognized, reconnected, and ready to contribute. That format is especially useful for groups trying to improve belonging, purpose, and event attendance when people are feeling disconnected from work or community. His HPCO Annual Conference program appearance aligns with his work for audiences looking for purpose, connection, and renewed energy.
Book Peter Katz
Vanessa Van Edwards
Vanessa Van Edwards helps audiences make communication more useful, efficient, and human. Her keynote “The Surprising Secrets of High Performers” gives attendees a framework for becoming more productive communicators, while “The Three Levels of Connection” helps teams build stronger workplace relationships using the science of people. Her books Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication have made her research accessible to leaders and teams that need practical behavior change. Her Summit 2026 appearance with Global Leadership Network reinforces her relevance for audiences focused on leadership, influence, and connection.
Book Vanessa Van Edwards
Josh Linkner
Josh Linkner helps teams turn uncertainty into repeatable innovation. His “Find A Way™” keynote gives audiences a five-step framework for solving problems, accelerating opportunities, and sustaining growth, while “Big Little Breakthroughs™” focuses on small everyday innovations that drive oversized results. As a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, and author of Disciplined Dreaming, he connects creativity to measurable business performance. His scheduled appearance at the AmplifyX Growth Summit makes his work especially timely for organizations focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, capital, and scalable growth.
Book Josh Linkner
Cassandra Worthy
Cassandra Worthy helps audiences turn change resistance into useful energy. Her “Master the Chemistry of Change” keynote introduces her Change Enthusiasm® strategy, giving people a way to self-assess their emotions and redirect anxiety, frustration, and fear into action. Her C.H.A.N.G.E. Traits® work also helps leaders build practical behaviors for guiding teams through disruption, mergers, restructuring, digital transformation, and new ways of working. Her keynote speaker listing with AASPA Conference connects that message to leaders focused on workforce resilience, engagement, and change readiness.
Book Cassandra Worthy
Alex Banayan
Alex Banayan helps audiences build persistence, bold thinking, and growth under uncertainty. His “Exponential Growth Through The Third Door” keynote turns the lessons from his bestselling book The Third Door into a practical framework for clearing obstacles, strengthening resilience, and achieving ambitious goals. The session is highly story-driven, with lessons drawn from his research and interviews with innovative leaders, then translated into tools teams can use immediately. His speaker listing for ChannelCon GTIA reinforces the relevance of his message for business audiences navigating change, growth, and opportunity.
Book Alex Banayan
Henna Pryor
Henna Pryor helps teams build the mental and social skills needed to adapt, influence, and take smart risks. Her keynote “Dominating Disruption and Pushing Limits” gives audiences tools such as neutral thinking and repeatable micro-risks so they can stay clear-headed, creative, and personally accountable during change. Her bestselling book Good Awkward supports the same message, showing why discomfort can become a practical path to growth and performance. Her appearances with NIGP Forum 2026 and WMC education sessions point to the broad demand for her work across leadership, procurement, and industry audiences.
Book Henna Pryor
Scott Tillema
Scott Tillema helps audiences communicate clearly when stakes, emotions, and pressure are high. In “Communication and Connection: Insights from a Hostage Negotiator,” the FBI-trained hostage negotiator translates real field experience into repeatable strategies for building trust, defusing tension, and leading difficult conversations. His “Four Pillars of Negotiation” framework gives sales, procurement, executive, and cross-functional teams a practical roadmap for influence and agreement. His No More Bad Events appearance, “A Hostage Negotiator Takes the Stage,” reinforces the interactive value of his message for event professionals who need sessions that are both engaging and immediately useful.
Book Scott Tillema
Alisha De Lorenzo
Alisha De Lorenzo helps organizations increase engagement, productivity, and attachment by uncovering the solutions already inside their people. Her “Unleashing a Culture of Aliveness” keynote gives audiences a framework for human connection, authenticity, agency, and collective efficacy, then turns those ideas into actionable steps for overwhelmed teams. Her “Unlocking The Power of Positive Disruption” work helps leaders find hidden solutions through the lens of Positive Deviance. Her NJASA/NJSBA Women’s Leadership Breakfast appearance in April 2026 points to the relevance of her message for leaders focused on culture, innovation, and wellbeing.
Book Alisha De Lorenzo
Matthew Emerzian
Matthew Emerzian helps audiences build stronger culture by making mattering measurable in daily behavior. His experiential keynote “Make It Matter” gives attendees a roadmap for collective growth, purpose, and impact, grounded in the Mattering Mindset™ framework behind Every Monday Matters. His work has reached organizations including Zoom, Google, Outreach, HP, Jack in the Box, Chili’s, Genentech, and Amgen, making him a useful option for teams that need connection and meaning to translate into action. His cityCURRENT Virtual Signature Speaker Series appearance in January 2026 reflects the demand for practical culture work rooted in purpose and human connection.
Book Matthew Emerzian
Steve Farber
Steve Farber helps leaders turn culture into a practical business advantage. His keynote “Love is Just Damn Good Business” shows audiences how to operationalize love as a discipline that improves employee loyalty, creativity, customer experience, and repeat business. His leadership books include Love Is Just Damn Good Business, Greater Than Yourself, The Radical Edge, and The Radical Leap, which was named one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. His appearance at CLF connects that message to leaders looking for a more human and useful way to drive performance.
Book Steve Farber
Ken Schmidt
Ken Schmidt helps audiences make brands more memorable, preferred, and talked about. Drawing from his role in Harley-Davidson’s turnaround, his keynote “Make Some Noise” shows leaders how to move from a product-first mindset to a people-first approach that shapes loyalty, advocacy, and marketplace preference. His “Rev Up Your Reputation” work gives teams a clearer way to define what they want customers to say and remember. His MCAA26 closing keynote listing, Closing MCAA26 with Impact, highlights the relevance of his message for business audiences focused on change, reputation, and customer loyalty.
Book Ken Schmidt
AK Ikwuakor
AK Ikwuakor helps audiences move from uncertainty to clear next steps. His keynote and workshop “The Next Right Move,” based on his Amazon bestseller The Next Right Move, gives attendees tools to develop a growth mindset, identify strengths, manage distractions, and create a roadmap for progress. His “Unbranded” experience adds a reflective, interactive layer for groups that want deeper connection with themselves and one another. His NSN Professional Conference and Career Fair speaker listing connects his message to professionals focused on motivation, leadership, performance, and career growth.
Book AK Ikwuakor
To book an interactive keynote speaker through The Mollie Plotkin Group, contact booking@mollieplotkingroup.com or call 215-995-0905 to connect with an agent.