You’ve got a marketing budget to spend. You’ve got skills to sharpen. And you’ve got a network that could use some fresh faces.
Marketing conferences can deliver on all three, if you pick the right ones.
Here’s the problem: there are hundreds of marketing events out there, and most aren’t worth your time. I’ve been to enough mediocre conferences to know the difference between events that actually move the needle and those that are glorified sales pitches.
I’m Neal Schaffer, and I’ve spent over a decade speaking at, attending, and evaluating marketing conferences around the world. As a Fractional CMO working with companies across industries, author of six books including The Age of Influence, host of the Your Digital Marketing Coach podcast, and someone who teaches digital marketing at universities, I’ve developed a pretty good filter for what makes a conference worth your time and money. The events on this list? They’ve passed that filter.
Think about it: according to Bizzabo’s research, 41% of marketers say live events are their highest ROI lead generation channel. And 95% of event teams now say demonstrating event ROI is their top priority. That means conference organizers are working harder than ever to deliver real value.
But not every conference delivers equally. That’s why I’ve put together this curated guide to the 15 marketing conferences that will actually help you grow in 2026.
Key Takeaways
✅ Marketing conferences remain the top ROI channel for lead generation, with 41% of marketers ranking them highest
✅ The best 2026 events span social media, AI, SEO, content marketing, and B2B, so choose based on your specific goals
✅ Budget for $800 to $2,500 in registration fees, plus travel and accommodation
✅ Networking delivers more long-term value than sessions alone, so plan your connections in advance
✅ Virtual options are available for many events if travel isn’t feasible
What Are the Benefits of Attending a Marketing Conference?
Marketing conferences offer something you can’t get from podcasts, blog posts, or online courses: real human connection combined with concentrated learning. In a single weekend, you can absorb insights that would take months to gather on your own.
Here’s what the best conferences deliver:
Learn from practitioners, not theorists. The speakers at quality conferences aren’t just thought leaders with opinions. They’re people who’ve tested strategies with real budgets and real results. I’ve always found the most valuable sessions come from corporate marketers sharing what actually worked (and what flopped) for their brands.
Network with peers who get it. Your coworkers might not understand why you’re obsessing over algorithm changes or testing new AI marketing tools. Conference attendees do. Those hallway conversations often deliver more value than the keynotes.
Discover tools before your competitors do. Most major conferences have expo halls where you can demo new platforms, get hands-on with emerging tech, and talk directly with product teams. This is where I first encountered several tools that later became core to my social media marketing strategy.
Get a fresh perspective. Sometimes you’re too close to your own work to see what’s missing. Conferences force you to step back, see what others are doing, and return with ideas you wouldn’t have generated in your normal environment.
Stay current with trends. Social and digital marketing changes constantly. Generative AI alone has transformed content creation in ways we couldn’t have predicted two years ago. Conferences are where you learn what’s next, not just what’s now.
Which are the 15 Must-Attend Marketing Conferences in 2026?
Rather than listing every marketing event on the planet, I’ve curated this list based on conferences I’ve either presented at, attended, or heard consistent praise about from trusted colleagues. These are annual events with strong track records and clear value propositions.
Marketing conferences are listed in chronological order with dates, locations, and my honest take on who should attend.
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1. Creator Economy Live – West
Date: January 13-14, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Website: creatoreconomylive.com
Target Audience: Influencer marketers representing brands and agencies who want to level up their creator partnerships and campaign ROI.
Creator Economy Live is the only conference on this list dedicated entirely to helping brands master influencer marketing. With the creator economy projected to reach $480 billion by 2027, this event has become essential for marketers serious about creator partnerships.
Why attend: If you’re managing influencer budgets and want actionable strategies from brands like Fenty Beauty, Disney, and PepsiCo, this is your event. The sessions focus on real campaign results, not just theory.
Notable Past Speakers: Amanda Solomon (Playboy), Michael Ramirez (Disney Experiences), Yasmine Parrish (Fenty Beauty)
2. B2B Marketing Exchange
Date: March 9-11, 2026
Location: Carlsbad, California
Website: b2bmarketing.exchange
Target Audience: B2B digital marketing managers and professionals focused on revenue growth and lead generation.
B2BMX delivers what B2B marketers actually need: actionable frameworks you can implement the Monday after you return home. The event brings together revenue-focused marketers who understand that vanity metrics don’t pay the bills.
Why attend: The intimate resort setting encourages deeper conversations than you’d get at a massive convention center event. If you’re struggling to connect your marketing efforts to pipeline and revenue, this conference focuses specifically on that challenge.
Notable Speakers: Neil Patel (NP Digital), Morgan J. Ingram, Phyllis Davidson (Forrester)
3. Adobe Summit
Date: April 19-22, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada (The Venetian Convention Center)
Website: summit.adobe.com
Target Audience: Enterprise marketers, creative professionals, and digital experience leaders focused on marketing technology and AI applications.
Adobe Summit is the heavyweight of marketing technology conferences. With thousands of attendees and a massive expo floor, it’s where enterprise brands showcase how they’re using Adobe’s ecosystem (and competing tools) to drive customer experiences.
Why attend: If you’re working with enterprise-level marketing technology, the networking density alone makes this worthwhile. You’ll also get early access to Adobe’s product roadmap and AI innovations.
4. Social Media Marketing World
Date: April 28-30, 2026
Location: Anaheim, California (Anaheim Convention Center)
Website: socialmediaexaminer.com/smmworld
Target Audience: Marketers from brands and agencies who want to master the latest social media tactics from actual practitioners.
Social Media Marketing World is the event I recommend most often to marketers focused on social channels. Now in its 13th year, it brings together genuine subject matter experts who share real tactics, not just inspirational platitudes.
Having spoken at multiple Social Media Marketing Worlds, I can personally confirm: the speaker roster includes people who actually do this work, not just people who talk about it. The event has moved from San Diego to Anaheim for 2026, giving them more space for the growing community.
Why attend: The breadth of content covers everything from YouTube strategy to LinkedIn to emerging platforms. Whether you’re an in-house marketer, agency professional, or content creator, you’ll find relevant sessions.
New for 2026: AI Business World is a dedicated 2-day conference within Social Media Marketing World featuring tactical AI marketing sessions (April 29-30).
Notable Speakers: Mari Smith, Sean Cannell, Michael Stelzner, Matt Wolfe, Chris Penn
5. brightonSEO
Date: April 30-May 1, 2026
Location: Brighton, United Kingdom
Website: brightonseo.com
Target Audience: SEO professionals, search marketers, and anyone focused on organic search visibility.
brightonSEO has grown into the world’s largest search marketing conference, and for good reason. The event offers customizable learning paths, from conference sessions to intensive training workshops. If SEO is core to your strategy, this is the premier European event.
Why attend: The range of session depths means both beginners and advanced practitioners will find valuable content. Plus, Brighton in spring isn’t a bad place to spend a few days.
Notable Speakers: Emily Barrington (Barrington SEO), Greg Bortkiewicz (Magenta Associates)
Also Note: brightonSEO now runs events in San Diego (September 2026) for those who prefer a US location.
6. MozCon
Date: June 3-4, 2026 (Dates TBC)
Location: Seattle, Washington
Website: moz.com/mozcon
Target Audience: SEO professionals, digital marketers, and anyone focused on data-driven search marketing.
MozCon markets itself as “Not Your Typical Marketing Conference,” and that’s accurate. The event prioritizes community and connection over stuffy presentations. Of all the conferences on this list, MozCon has the most relaxed, camp-like atmosphere while still delivering serious tactical content.
Why attend: If you want deep SEO knowledge in an environment that doesn’t feel corporate, MozCon delivers. The speaker roster consistently includes practitioners who share real data and actual strategies.
Note: Moz is expanding to MozCon events in New York and London in 2026, so check their site for additional dates and locations.
7. VidCon Anaheim
Date: June 25-27, 2026
Location: Anaheim, California (Anaheim Convention Center)
Website: vidcon.com/anaheim
Target Audience: Digital creators, influencers, brand marketers, and fans of online video content.
VidCon is the largest gathering of online video creators in the world. While part of the event caters to fans meeting their favorite YouTubers, the industry track offers serious value for marketers looking to understand creator culture and build influencer partnerships.
Why attend: If you’re investing in YouTube marketing or TikTok strategy, VidCon gives you direct access to the creators who are driving platform trends. It’s also an ideal place to scout potential brand partners.
8. INBOUND
Date: September 16-18, 2026
Location: Boston, Masschusetts
Website: inbound.com
Target Audience: Marketers, sales professionals, and business leaders interested in growth marketing, sales, and AI applications.
After a brief move to San Francisco in 2025, INBOUND returns home to Boston for 2026. This is HubSpot’s flagship event, and it brings together an impressive mix of marketing and sales professionals focused on growth.
INBOUND has evolved beyond just inbound marketing. The agenda now covers AI, sales enablement, customer success, and business strategy. It’s become a general-purpose growth conference for companies that take their marketing and sales seriously.
Why attend: The speaker lineup typically includes major business names, and the sheer size of the event (tens of thousands of attendees) means networking opportunities are endless. If you’re using HubSpot’s tools, this is also where you’ll learn about new features first.
9. DMEXCO
Date: September 23-24, 2026
Location: Cologne, Germany (Koelnmesse)
Website: dmexco.com
Target Audience: Digital marketers, tech professionals, and e-commerce leaders focused on the intersection of marketing and technology.
DMEXCO (Digital Marketing Exposition & Conference) is Europe’s leading digital marketing event. The combination of expo and conference offers both masterclass-style learning and hands-on product demos. If you’re focused on e-commerce or marketing technology, DMEXCO delivers practical strategies you can apply immediately.
Why attend: The international audience brings diverse perspectives you won’t get at US-only events. It’s also where European digital trends often surface before hitting North America.
10. VidSummit
Date: September 29 – October 1, 2026
Location: Dallas, Texas
Website: vidsummit.com
Target Audience: YouTubers, TikTok creators, video marketers, and brands looking to improve their video content strategy.
If YouTube is your platform, VidSummit is your conference. “For creators by creators” isn’t just marketing speak. The event features popular YouTubers sharing exactly how they grew their channels, including specific tactics and data.
I’ve attended VidSummit in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and I’m consistently impressed by how open the speakers are with their strategies. This isn’t a conference where people hold back their secrets. The community is genuinely collaborative.
Why attend: For YouTubers, the insights are unmatched. For brand marketers, this event offers unprecedented access to influencers you might want to partner with, making it valuable for video marketing strategy and influencer program development.
Notable Past Speakers: MrBeast, top YouTube strategists and creators
11. Content Marketing World
Date: October 5-7, 2026
Location: Denver, Colorado (Colorado Convention Center)
Website: contentmarketingworld.com
Target Audience: Content marketers, content strategists, and anyone responsible for creating and distributing content at scale.
Content Marketing World has relocated from Cleveland to Denver for 2026, but the substance remains the same. This is the definitive event for content marketers, combining conference sessions, workshops, and forums specifically designed for content professionals.
I spoke at Content Marketing World in 2022, and I can confirm: the event is both content-rich and people-rich. You’ll leave smarter and with a bigger network of content-focused peers.
Why attend: If content marketing is central to your role, you’ll find sessions covering everything from strategy to distribution to measurement. The Content Marketing Institute, which produces this event, has been setting the standard for content marketing education for years.
12. MAICON (Marketing AI Conference)
Date: October 13-15, 2026
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Website: marketingaiinstitute.com/events/marketing-artificial-intelligence-conference
Target Audience: Marketers and business professionals who want to understand and apply AI in their marketing operations.
MAICON is the conference dedicated entirely to AI in marketing. Given how rapidly AI is transforming marketing, having a dedicated event focused exclusively on this topic is invaluable.
I interviewed MAICON founder Paul Roetzer on my podcast, and I can say with confidence: if you want to accelerate your understanding of AI in marketing, this is the single fastest way to do it. The event covers everything from AI strategy to responsible AI implementation to specific use cases.
Why attend: Whether you’re AI-curious or already using AI tools, MAICON offers the depth that general marketing conferences can’t match. One of the lead panelists heads an organization dedicated to ethical AI practices, so you’ll learn not just what’s possible, but what’s appropriate.
13. ANA Masters of Marketing Conference
Date: October 20-23, 2026
Location: Orlando, Florida
Website: ana.net
Target Audience: Marketing leaders, CMOs, and senior marketing professionals from major brands.
The ANA (Association of National Advertisers) Masters of Marketing Conference brings together senior marketers from the biggest brands to discuss what’s actually working. This isn’t a tactical conference. It’s a strategic one, focused on high-level marketing challenges and solutions.
Why attend: If you’re in a leadership role and want to learn from CMOs at Fortune 500 companies, this is the event. The panels dissect successful campaigns and strategies, offering insights you can apply at scale.
14. MarketingProfs B2B Forum
Date: November 2-4, 2026
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Website: marketingprofs.com/events
Target Audience: B2B marketing professionals focused on improving their strategies, tools, and results.
MarketingProfs B2B Forum is the definitive event for B2B marketers. Unlike conferences that mix B2B and B2C content, this event focuses exclusively on business-to-business marketing challenges.
I did a joint presentation with Jason Miller when he worked at LinkedIn at this conference years ago, and I can confirm: it really is the premier B2B marketing event. The content goes deep on B2B-specific topics that other conferences barely touch.
Why attend: If you’re struggling with B2B lead generation, account-based marketing, or LinkedIn strategy, this conference addresses those challenges directly. The speaker roster includes VPs and directors from companies that have solved the problems you’re facing.
15. Semrush Spotlight
Date: Fall 2026 (Date TBC)
Location: TBD (Previously Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Website: spotlightconf.com
Target Audience: Digital marketers, SEO professionals, and marketing practitioners focused on practical, tactical learning.
Spotlight, hosted by Semrush, attracts digital marketers from around the world to learn practical strategies from industry experts. The event covers search, content, social, and analytics with a focus on actionable takeaways.
Why attend: Semrush produces solid research and data, so their conference tends to be data-driven and practical. It’s a good option for marketers who want tactical content without excessive sales pitches.
2026 Marketing Conferences at a Glance
| Conference | Date | Location | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creator Economy Live West | Jan 13-14 | Las Vegas, NV | Influencer marketing |
| B2B Marketing Exchange | Mar 9-11 | Carlsbad, CA | B2B lead generation |
| Adobe Summit | Apr 19-22 | Las Vegas, NV | Enterprise martech |
| Social Media Marketing World | Apr 28-30 | Anaheim, CA | Social media marketing |
| brightonSEO UK | Apr 30-May 1 | Brighton, UK | SEO professionals |
| MozCon | Jun 3-4 (TBC) | Seattle, WA | SEO and data-driven marketing |
| VidCon Anaheim | Jun 25-27 | Anaheim, CA | Creators and video marketing |
| INBOUND | Sep 16-18 | Boston, MA | Growth marketing and sales |
| DMEXCO | Sep 23-24 | Cologne, Germany | Digital marketing and tech |
| VidSummit | Sep 29-Oct 1 | Dallas, TX | YouTube and video creators |
| Content Marketing World | Oct 5-7 | Denver, CO | Content marketing |
| MAICON | Oct 13-15 | Cleveland, OH | AI in marketing |
| ANA Masters of Marketing | Oct 20-23 | Orlando, FL | Marketing leadership |
| MarketingProfs B2B Forum | Nov 2-4 | Boston, MA | B2B marketing |
| Semrush Spotlight | Fall TBC | TBD | Digital marketing tactics |
How Do You Choose the Right Marketing Conference?
Not every conference is right for every marketer. Before you book travel, ask yourself a few questions:
Assess Your Goals First
What specific knowledge or skills do you need? SEO content strategies? Influencer marketing ROI? AI tools? Each conference has a specialty. Match the event to your learning gaps.
Consider Your Budget Honestly
Registration fees range from around $240 (brightonSEO) to $2,500+ (Adobe Summit, ANA). Add travel, hotel, and meals. Can you justify the total investment? If budget is tight, look for virtual options or local events first.
Research the Speakers and Agenda
Before committing, review who’s speaking. Are they practitioners with real experience, or motivational speakers with generic advice? The agenda should tell you exactly what you’ll learn, not just promise “inspiration.”
Check for Virtual Options
Several conferences offer virtual passes at reduced rates. If you can’t travel, a virtual ticket still gives you access to sessions and recordings, even if you miss the networking.
Prioritize Networking Potential
Ask yourself: who else will be there? If the attendee list matches your target clients, partners, or peers, the networking value alone might justify the cost.
My 5 Tips for Getting Maximum Value from Marketing Conferences
Showing up isn’t enough. Here’s how to actually extract value:
1. Plan your sessions in advance. Review the agenda before you arrive and identify must-attend sessions. Build in buffer time between sessions for unexpected conversations. Don’t try to attend everything.
2. Set networking goals. Identify 3-5 specific people you want to meet. Use the event app, LinkedIn, or Twitter/X to connect before the conference. “Hey, I see you’re attending [conference], would love to chat about [topic]” works surprisingly well.
3. Take notes strategically. Don’t transcribe sessions. Instead, capture 2-3 actionable takeaways per session and note one thing you’ll implement when you return. That’s more valuable than pages of notes you’ll never read.
4. Document on social media. Sharing insights in real-time on LinkedIn or Twitter/X accomplishes two things: it builds your professional profile and helps you process what you’re learning. Use the event hashtag.
5. Follow up within 48 hours. The connections you make are worthless if you don’t follow up. Send personalized LinkedIn connection requests while names and faces are still fresh. Reference something specific from your conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Conferences
Plan for $800-$2,500 in registration fees for major conferences, plus $150-300/night for hotels, $500-800 for flights, and $50-100/day for meals. Total cost typically ranges from $2,000-$5,000 for a 3-day US conference including travel.
Virtual passes offer good value for content consumption, typically at 30-50% of in-person prices. However, you’ll miss the networking, which many attendees find more valuable than sessions. Consider virtual for learning, in-person for relationship building.
Social Media Marketing World offers excellent content across skill levels and a welcoming community. brightonSEO is ideal for those new to search marketing. Both events provide structured learning paths for different experience levels.
Build a business case that includes: specific sessions relevant to current projects, networking opportunities with potential partners or clients, and a commitment to share learnings with your team. Estimate the ROI in terms of skills gained or problems solved.
It depends. If the conference consistently delivers new insights and your network there is valuable, annual attendance makes sense. But if sessions start feeling repetitive, rotate to new events. I typically recommend attending your core conference annually and trying one new event each year.
Ready to Level Up Your Marketing in 2026?
These 15 conferences represent the best opportunities to learn, network, and grow as a marketer in 2026. Each one delivers something different, so choose based on your specific goals, budget, and career stage.
Will I meet you at one of these events in 2026? If you see me at Social Media Marketing World, MAICON, VidSummit, or any other conference, come say hello. I’m always happy to connect with readers.
And if you’re looking for more ways to improve your digital marketing between conferences, check out my other resources:
- Social Media Marketing Strategy Guide
- AI Marketing Strategy Framework
- Influencer Marketing Strategy Guide
- Content Marketing Statistics for 2026
Now go book that conference and start planning your sessions.
Great list!
Thanks John!
Hi Neal, any chance we could get a shout out for State of Social in Australia? It’s 23 & 24 August 2022 in Perth.
Thanks in advance!
Will consider for my big 2022 update. Thanks!
Hi Neal,
Love this list of conferences you have here! I was wondering if you might consider adding the Social Media Strategies Summit (Est. 2009)? https://socialmediastrategiessummit.com/ We hold a number of social media marketing conferences every year, each catering to a different niche in the marketing world – ranging from enterprise to small business. Our next corporate event is happening this June 8-11, 2021 – we have speakers representing companies including Intel, AT&T, E*Trade, OceanSpray, and Google!
Hi Lainey, I have spoken at one of your summits and had you included but when I checked on your info when I wrote the blog post I couldn’t find any events. Sounds like you just recently added this or changed the date?
Hi,
what about adding SEO4Life – it is a beneficial live stream SEO conference. It will be online at 02 April 2020, from 14:00 – 18:00 UTC
Hi Tomas – thanks for the comment. There are TONS of virtual livestream summits, which is a natural byproduct of the current pandemic. However this post is only focused on conferences that are primarily in-person events. Thanks for your understanding!
Obviously the USA is the only country in the world that holds social media conferences…..
Which is why I included non-USA conferences ;-) Thanks for your constructive feedback.
Thank you Neal! For Listing the Upcoming Social Media Summit.
My pleasure! Good luck!
Thanks Neal for the info. You are a true leader who always keep his followers up to date about the happenings around this delicate topic of social media platforms. I take my hat off for you. Keep it up. You are the best.
Thank you so much – I do try my best so I sincerely appreciate your comment!
Neal you might want to consider the Midwest Digital Marketing Conference on April 16-18 in St. Louis Missouri. It was listed as a “not to miss conference” by Forbes on 2018 and is very moderately priced for such a venue. http://www.bestmarketingconference.com. Best.
Thanks Perry! I’ll make sure to include it in my next revision!
Thanks for always including Content Marketing World, Neal! Our dates for 2019 have been set! We will be back in Cleveland, September 3-6. Would love to see you there!
Always a pleasure Monina! I always miss the application deadline for speakers – hopefully this year I will submit on time ;-)
Hii
Again neal i am impress with your article thank you for sharing this use full article on “The 20+ Best Social Media Conferences to Attend in 2018 and 2019” this topic
Thank you! Hope you find it useful!
Hi Neal,
This is a great list of conferences lined up from 2018 ~ 2019. As it is, I’m looking at the “Digital Innovation Summit in UK from October 3 ~ 4. That ‘s the one that fits my schedule.
Thanks for sharing.
You based in London my friend?
wow…vwery nice post…thanks sir..
Really appreciate you putting this list together! There’s one more integrated online marketing conference that’s worth a mention. It’s called ResponseCon, and it’s taking place in
October in 4 different cities. [link edited by admin]
Thank you – your event has been added to the list.
Great list Neal. Thanks for including the Spredfast Smart Social Summit. The event is taking place October 16-18, 2017 but the list has the date as October 2-4, 2017.
Appreciate any update, thank you!
Thanks – it seems that you changed the date as it was based on information from your website. Either way info has been updated.
where can i find out more about this event?
Thanks for the info!
I attended Social Media Marketing World’s conference two years in a row while employed at my previous job which paid for all accommodations. The conference is the reason I was able to leave that job and go on my own as a marketing consultant. It’s also one of the main reasons I moved to California from NY a month ago. This conference has magic in it. ;) (And it’s hands-down the best conference I’ve attended around marketing.)
Thanks for sharing your experience Cassaundra! See you at #smmw17 ? ;-)
I just attended and spoke at the Pubcon Summit in Florida. Turning in my speaker’s pitch for Pubcon in Las Vegas. Looking forward to it!
Good luck Heather!
Both SMSS and SMMW are invaluable…. always say I’m going to go back and watch all the videos/sessions I missed and never get to, but even the portion that I do consume is worth every penny.
Totally agree Rita! There is SO MUCH good content between the two of them!
Here’s another good Digital Marketing event that is happening in 15 different cities around the country.
I’ll be attending the Atlanta one in May. http://digitalsummit.com
Thanks for the add Monica!
I havent had the privilege of attending a conference yet but there are always so many on my one-day list! Someone needs to plan one in the center of the country -ya know, around Nashville area… I would help coordinate!
We might take you up on that offer Katie!!!
Would love to win a free pass, my friend went to this last year and said it was really informative!
It’s a great conference Tricia! Good luck with it!
Hey Neal!
Great list of conferences! I wanted to know if you could add one more. Spredfast Summit, happens in Austin, TX every October, here, 500+ social media leaders joined us from 200+ global brands, media, and agencies. Brands include American Airlines, ESPN, Target, Airbnb, etc.
We would love to be featured on your list for 2017. Please let me know how this is possible.
Thank you Ary. What is the date of your event in 2017?
When will this be updated for 2017? It’s almost here!
Coming soon, Lucas, coming soon! Any type of conference that you are particularly interested in?
Hi Neal,
We just wrapped up Spredfast Summit last week, where 500+ social media leaders from global brands joined us. Our dates for next year will be Oct. 2-4, 2017. [promotional link edited by admin] We would love it if you consider us for your list in 2017!
Thank you for your comment. Since your event is a social tools vendor event (as opposed to a true social media conference), it will be considered for that section next year. Thanks for your understanding.
Hi Neal,
Please consider putting our conference on for 2017 for New Zealand. We have just finished for 2016. I will get the dates to you for the next one which will be the forth one. We had delegates from South America, UK and Australia.
Here is the link for you to see what we did this year. Ps feedback was excellent.
socialmediaconference .co .nz [link edited by admin]
Thank you for the heads up! Please do come back when you have a firm date for 2017!
It’s hard to add a conference without a track record without knowing more about. Please explain in more detail here. Thanks!
Hi Neal – is there a conference you would recommend for B2B? I’m guessing a lot of the content at the events above will be heavily driven around consumer marketing, but I’m in need of best practices on social marketing to the enterprise.
Thanks for the comment! A lot of the conferences actually cover both B2B and B2C, but for B2B specific I would look at either B2B Marketing Profs, which is coming up in Boston in October, or my own Social Tools Summit, which is focused on the enterprise and will be in San Jose in October as well. Hope this helps!
Hi Neal,
I work for a State Govt in NIGERIA.We have a department that handles web and social media issues.
I would need your advise on which of the conferences will be,of immense benefit to the work we do.
Thank you
Hi Tayo, unfortunately the best social media conference for governments, the Government Social Media Conference, just finished in Reno, Nevada ;-( I would contact them so you can attend it in 2017!
Not just for pet owners, or bloggers (but since pets WILL be in attendance, and lots of them), you should probably at least LIKE them.☺ The BlogPaws Social Media and Pet Bloggers conference is June 22-25, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ (Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass). Learning sessions covering every aspect of social media marketing are offered, and this year, there’s a writing track too. Day passes will be available closer to the event. http://blogpaws.com/events/2016-conference/ P.S. The food rocks!
Thanks for letting me know!
it is going to be unfair to not list Social Media Summit 2016 in Dubai. The biggest social media summit in the Middle East http://www.socialmediamiddleeast.com/
Thanks – we’ll look into adding it!
Hi Neal, thanks for the great list. I am looking to attend at least one good conference this year. From the list above which do you think best lends to TV on social media? I work for a TV group and am looking to take TV on digital to the next level. Let me know, thanks.
Hey Justin, thanks for the comment! Unfortunately I do not know of any specifically for social TV, but there is a great one put on by my co-founder of the Social Tools Summit that you should check out called the Over the Top Video Executive Summit. Hope the info helps!
Don’t forget about “The Employee Advocacy Conference” May 11th – 12th in the Greater Boston Area! :) #amplifysocial
Thanks Daniel – it has been added to the new bottom section ;-)
Thank you! This one was not on my radar but now it is! Will be adding to the list.
Hi – I was wondering if you could recommend a conference (western portion of the US) that might have focus on non-profits (animals particularly) ?
Thanks for your article – very informative!
Do you have an opinion about the Social Media Strategy Summit?
It’s a great event – I had the honor of speaking the closing keynote there in Las Vegas earlier this year. Highly recommended! Does this answer your question?
Is there a good conference for learning about the best ways to document social media contacts? For example, something to learn more about Facebook analytics and the best ways to keep track of data when it comes to social media? Thanks!
Hi Christina, unfortunately there isn’t – but I will soon be launching a community that will have live events that will answer questions like that. Please sign up to my email list to be informed when we launch!
Christina, Neal, hi! What about engage2016.com social media summit, which is organised by Socialbakers, the biggest social analytics company? They have speakers from the likes of NASA, Universal and L’Oreal, and it’s a very big event. I’ve been there last year and it was over 1000 social media marketers there. I think it’s worth adding to your list.
Thanks for the input Kate! In all honesty, this is one that I hadn’t heard of but looks great! I added it to the list … do let me know if you’re still looking for speakers ;-)
Awesome, Neal! I think the speakers list is still open (engage2016.com/get-involved). If your May schedule allows, definitely drop a line to engage@socialbakers.com.
Thanks Kate! Unfortunately I don’t have a travel budget to fly to Prague … ;-(
Sorry to hear that, Neal! Maybe see you in New York, then? ;) P.S. I noticed that you wrote that Engage started in 2015. It’s actually been around every year starting with New York in 2012. http://www.socialbakers.com/events/engage/2012. In 2015 it was Prague followed by London-Dubai-SaoPaulo-MexicoCity-New York tour. So it’s not Europe-targeted, but global event. :)
Thanks for letting me know Kate! I will revise accordingly ;-)
Hi Neal,
I would like to know if these conference focus on the US market only?
If so is there any conference in Australia you could recommend?
Hey Melissa, nope, I try to find information on the larger conferences … unfortunately none from Australia have popped up on my radar yet, although I do believe Content Marketing World does an event in Australia. Hope that helps!
Also PR News’ Big 4 Social Media Conference in San Francisco! http://www.big4conference.com/
Thanks for the heads up Jessica!
Hey Neal! I am a college student trying to look into media conferences that I could attend that would help broaden my horizons. Are there any conferences that a college student could attend?
Skyler, I have seen college students at conferences like Social Media Marketing World. Don’t be shy – come on out to ones on this list that make sense! To further answer your question, unfortunately I have not seen an event specifically for college students vis a vis social media…
You might consider adding Marketing Festival to this list. It takes place on 26th – 28th November 2015 in Brno, Czech Republic.
We provide no-bullshit content, world-class speakers, focused workshops, innovational case studies and to top it all of, a proper festival atmosphere with countless parties, solid networking and live gigs.
Check out our website @ http://www.marketingfestival.cz/en
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Thanks for letting us know Jan! Love the no-bullshit content approach ;-)
Thanks for the input Carolyn!
Social Shakeup recently announced London dates for this year! http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-business/2015-03-24/social-shake-coming-london
Thanks for keeping us in the loop Heather!
I see lots of conferences for marketers and entrepreneurs; are there any you can recommend that are specific to “how to” — like using WordPress, HootSuite, etc — for posting blogs……
Hi Wanda, some of these conferences actually do have workshops that go through how to use tools. But rather than a social media conference, you might want to Google for local workshops or even use online classes from Lynda, Udemy, etc.
Thanks for the list. We’ll be attending Victoria’s Social Media Camp as well as #CIMC2015 in Squamish, BC.
Thanks for letting us know – we’ll see you in Victoria!
Neal – Thanks so much for recommending Social Media Marketing World!
Of course Michael – the premier event of the year! I am honored to be a part of it!
Hi Neal, Thanks for the great list. I would love to attend one of these conferences. I will have to look into them and choose the best for me.
Thanks Tony! Hope to see you at at least one of them!
Great list here, Neal. I don’t know if this would go along with social media, but the second annual Podcast Movement that is scheduled to be held in Ft. Worth, Texas from July 31st-August 2.
I am thinking about attending one of the conferences you mentioned here as well.
Thanks for letting me know Cheval!
You are welcome, Neal.
Thanks Neal ! Was wondering if there is any in Asia, specifically India.
Thanks Rahul! I’m sure there are .. hopefully others will chime in in these comments!
Thanks Neal. I have registered for Social Media Marketing World in March. I hope to meet you there.
Thanks Denny! Hope to meet you there!!!
Be sure to also check out the Canadian Internet Marketing Conference, Canada’s largest Internet Marketing conference. http://www.digitalbuzz.ca has all the details. The who’s who of digital strategy will be there.
Thanks for letting me know Darian! As you know this is a list of social media conferences – how much social media will be covered at this Internet Marketing conference?
Thanks for the shout out. However the correct dates for Social Media Camp in Victoria BC are May 21-23, 2015.
We hope to see you there.
Sorry about that! I’ll revise it right away! Thanks!