YOUNG LEADER
Between running your tech startup, finishing your MBA and changing the world, this year is all about competing , getting ahead and playing harder than your rivals— or friends
ALASKA IDITAROD TRAIL INVITATIONAL
One of the most challenging experiences on the planet, this 30-day trek requires participants to brave extreme physical, environmental and mental challenges as they progress along the historic Iditarod Trail on bicycle, foot, or ski. Set in the inhospitable Alaskan wilderness, the race is a test of willpower and determination as much as fitness. 24 February iditarodtrailinvitational.com
US SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
Whether you’re the next Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, or Lady Gaga, South by Southwest is the place to be. This annual conference in Austin, Texas features hundreds of talks, forums, and events that allow attendees to discover what’s next in the worlds of technology, music, film, and broader pop culture. Kevin Systrom, co-founder and CEO of Instagram, will no doubt touch on many of those topics in his keynote address. 8-17 March sxsw.com
US BURNING MAN
About 70,000 dreamers and radicals migrate to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, selfexpression, and self-reliance. Leave the wallet at home as the gathering (it’s not a “festival” as such, as there are no scheduled events) is famously cashless and encourages participants to embrace the spirit of “gifting.” 25 August to 2 September burningman.org
JAPAN RUGBY WORLD CUP
Held in Asia for the first time, the pinnacle of men’s rugby union, contested every four years, will play out across 12 cities in Japan, beginning in Tokyo. The tournament will see 400,000 visitors descend on the Land of the Rising Sun to watch 19 national teams fight it out for the Webb Ellis Cup. 20 September to 2 November rugbyworldcup.com
PORTUGAL WEB SUMMIT
Often hailed as the best technology conference in the world, Web Summit brings together people from across the tech community, ranging from CEOs of Fortune 500 companies to hopeful entrepreneurs who are just getting their startup off the ground. But it’s not all business—the conference’s Night Summit events introduce attendees to the best of Lisbon’s music, art, food, and drink. 14-19 November websummit.com
US SUMMIT LA
Los Angeles is sometimes described as the city of dreams—and it doesn’t get much dreamier than Summit LA. Branded as the world’s “preeminent ideas festival,” Summit LA attracts leaders from all industries and inspires them to think big through events ranging from serious forums about the future of tech to “goat yoga” classes (yes, that’s yoga with real-life goats). 8-11 November la19.summit.co