This list of advertising conferences highlights global events that help teams stay competitive, build stronger partnerships, and return with strategies that drive real growth.
Advertising Conferences: Key Findings
How Advertising Events Can Shape Your Strategy in 2026
Conferences offer direct access to emerging trends, practical sessions that sharpen execution, and conversations that can unlock partnerships you would never find through cold outreach.
You meet decision-makers who influence budgets, hear the thinking behind category-shaping campaigns, and position your brand as a player that shows up where progress happens.
This roundup highlights some of the most valuable advertising conferences to consider in the coming year to help you quickly figure out which events are worth your time.
1. South by Southwest (SXSW)
Best for marketers tracking cultural and creative trends.
- Date: 12-18 March 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Austin, Texas, United States
- Key speakers:
- Brian Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Lyft
- Allison Stransky, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung
- Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard
- Jack Conte, CEO and Co-Fouder, Patreon
- Price:
- Platinum Badge: $1,995 (walk-up rate: $2,095)
- Innovation Badge: $1,395 (walk-up rate: $1,495)
- Film & TV Badge: $1,170 (walk-up rate: $1,225)
- Music Badge: $820 (walk-up rate: $895)
- SXSW EDU Badge: $745 (walk-up rate: $795)
You get 850+ sessions, 600+ networking events, 4,400 musicians, 460 film and TV screenings, and hundreds of brand activations in one place.
For advertisers, SXSW offers a rare opportunity to see how culture, technology, and storytelling intersect before those trends reach the mainstream.
@amber.atx SXSW 2026 prep so you don’t spend the whole week in lines. Pick your home base. Use reservations. Build a tight route. Wear shoes you can commit to. Expect FOMO and let it happen. What’s your lane this year: music, film, innovation or all the free chaos? Tell me in the comments. And post your free events! #sxsw#southbysouthwest#austintexas#sxsw2026♬ original sound - Amber Haley
Brands use the festival to launch creative campaigns, test experiential ideas, and collaborate with creators, startups, and media leaders who are shaping the next wave of marketing.
It is where marketers, creators, and leaders connect, explore what is emerging, and shape what comes next.
Secure your SXSW badge and join the action.
2. ad:tech New Delhi
Best for senior marketers exploring AI, martech, and data-driven advertising.
- Date: 18-19 March 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Yashobhoomi, IICC, New Delhi, India
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price:
- VIP Pass: $677
- All Access Pass: $294
- Expo Plus Pass: $113
- Expo Pass: $85
ad:tech New Delhi brings together senior marketers, brands, agencies, and tech innovators to explore the shifts redefining advertising, from AI and martech to data-powered growth.
It’s meant for leaders who want new partnerships, sharper strategy, and a front-row view of real innovation.
As the President of Aqualite Industries put it, “a very thoughtful and well-organised event… full of real innovation.”
Reserve your pass for ad:tech New Delhi.
3. Advertising Week Europe
Best for marketing and communications leaders building global partnerships.
- Date: 24-26 March 2026
- Medium: In-person and virtual
- Location: 180 Studios, London, United Kingdom
- Key speakers:
- Andre Le Mansurier, global head of brand and creative at Skyscanner
- Shalom Ijeoma Lloyd MBE, founder of Naturally Tiwa Skincare
- Faten AlMukhtar creative strategist at Meta
- James Appleby, founder and managing director of Conquis
- Matt Carter, head of industry strategy for advertising at Amazon Web Services
- Price:
- Super Delegate: ~$1,067
- Delegate: ~$640
- Platinum Delegate: ~$1,922
- Digital Delegate: ~$105.8
Advertising Week Europe brings together senior marketing and communications leaders across brand, media, creative and tech.
With deep-dive sessions, bold thinking and networking built for influence, it’s your chance to shape strategy, connect with peers, and redefine marketing’s role in a changing world.
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If you’re looking to lead with purpose, elevate your brand, embrace disruption and forge meaningful partnerships, this is where you make it happen.
Register now to attend Advertising Week Europe.
4. B2B Summit North America by Forrester
Best for B2B marketing, sales, and product leaders aligning revenue strategy.
- Date: 26-29 April 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Key speakers:
- Maria Chien, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester
- Tricia Atchison, Vice President of Global Partner & Americas Marketing, Equinix
- Shimona Chadha, Vice President & Head Americas Vertical Marketing, HCLTech
- Avery Clinton, Partner Marketing Specialist, Equinix
- Leslie Vitrano, VP, Global IT Channel Ecosystem, Schneider Electric
- Price:
- Early bird:
- Client: $2,795
- Non-client: $2,995
- Team:
- 5 client tickets: $11,180
- 5 non-client tickets: $11,980
- Early bird:
B2B Summit North America is where strategy turns into execution.
Marketing, sales, product, and customer leaders come together to align, remove friction, and leave with plans they can act on immediately.
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Powered by Forrester’s research and hands-on guidance, the summit gives teams the frameworks, clarity, and momentum they need to accelerate revenue and outperform competitors.
Claim your spot at the B2B Summit.
5. Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS)
Best for marketers creating experiential and live brand activations.
- Date: May 18–20, 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price:
- Brand (one-day pass): $1,200
- Brand (two-day pass): $1700
- Brand (three-day pass): $1995
The Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS) is one of the premier events dedicated to brand experiences and live marketing activations.
The conference gathers brand marketers, experiential agencies, and event producers to explore how immersive experiences can strengthen customer relationships and drive brand loyalty.
Sessions cover topics such as event strategy, experiential technology, measurement frameworks, and hybrid activations.
With workshops, case studies, and hands-on discussions, EMS helps teams learn how to create memorable brand moments that work for both in-person and online audiences.
Get your pass for the Experiential Marketing Summit.
6. Demand & Expand
Best for B2B marketing teams scaling demand generation and revenue growth.
- Date: 19-20 May 2026
- Medium: In-person and virtual
- Location: San Francisco, United States
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price:
- 2-day pass: $499
- 1-day pass: $349
- 2-day vendor pass: $1,199
- Conference recordings only: $99
B2B Marketing Exchange gives teams two days of tactical content, five focused tracks, and access to 600+ B2B leaders who are shaping modern GTM.
It is where marketers solve bottlenecks across the full funnel, from lead gen to lifecycle and expansion.
Senior leaders can also qualify for the invite-only CMO Executive Summit on May 18, featuring exclusive roundtables on AI marketing transformation and running marketing in the AI era.
Save your seat at Demand & Expand.
7. Social West
Best for social media and digital marketing leaders driving engagement.
- Date: 27-29 May 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, Alberta, Canada
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price:
- Early access: $649
- Ultimate ticket: $849
Designed for senior marketing leaders, Social West delivers 40+ expert-led sessions on content strategy, social-media advertising, customer engagement and advanced analytics.
With three dedicated evenings of networking, this event is ideal if you’re looking to expand your professional circle, benchmark against peers, and walk away with actionable ideas that move beyond theory.
If your role involves owning the social or digital marketing agenda, elevating your brand’s presence, and driving measurable impact across team, this is a conference where you align strategy and execution.
Grab your ticket for Social West.
8. Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Best for creative leaders and agencies seeking campaign inspiration.
- Date: June 22–26, 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Cannes, France
- Key speakers:
- TBD
- Price:
- Classic pass: ~$5,178
- CMO Accelerator Program: ~$8,395
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the world’s most prestigious gathering for the global advertising and creative communications industry.
Each June, agencies, brands, media companies, and technology leaders descend on the French Riviera for five days of learning, networking, and celebrating the best work in advertising.
The festival features hundreds of sessions, workshops, and brand activations alongside the iconic Cannes Lions Awards.
If you want to see where the industry is heading, connect with top creative leaders, and gain inspiration from award-winning campaigns, this is one event every advertising professional should experience at least once.
Apply for your Cannes Lions pass.
9. MAD//Fest London
Best for brand and media leaders exploring marketing innovation.
- Date: July 7–9, 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Truman Brewery, London, United Kingdom
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price:
- Standard Festival Pass: ~$1,596
- Premium Festival Pass: ~$3,999
MAD//Fest London is one of Europe’s fastest-growing festivals for brand and advertising innovation.
The event brings together thousands of marketers, agencies, media owners, and technology platforms for three days of content across multiple themed stages. Sessions explore the future of brand building, creativity, media, data, and emerging technology.
With a strong emphasis on networking and collaboration, MAD//Fest offers a lively environment where brand leaders and creative professionals can exchange ideas, discover new tools, and build partnerships that drive better campaigns.
Book your place at MAD//Fest London.
10. Brandweek
Best for brand strategists focused on storytelling and customer experience.
- Date: September 15-17, 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Southern Exchange, Atlanta, United States
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price:
- Brand & Agency: $2,100
- Tech & Vendor: $4,750
Brandweek is a flagship conference organized by Adweek that focuses on the future of brand storytelling and advertising innovation.
The event brings together brand leaders, creative agencies, and marketing strategists for several days of sessions exploring culture, creativity, media, and customer experience.
Speakers share insights on building meaningful brand connections, developing impactful campaigns, and adapting to a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Through panels, workshops, and curated networking events, Brandweek offers a collaborative environment where advertising professionals can gain fresh perspectives and practical ideas to elevate their brand strategies.
11. Advertising Week New York
Best for advertising and media professionals tracking industry trends.
- Date: October 5–8, 2026
- Medium: In-person and virtual
- Location: 100 W. 33rd Street, New York, United States
- Key speakers: TBD
- Price: TBD
Advertising Week New York is an influential gathering for professionals across the global advertising, media, and marketing ecosystem.
It features hundreds of sessions led by leaders from major brands, agencies, media companies, and technology platforms. Attendees explore emerging trends shaping the industry, from AI and creator partnerships to retail media and streaming advertising.
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A packed agenda of panels, networking opportunities, and brand activations across the city makes Advertising Week New York a great platform for learning, collaboration, and industry connections.
Get your pass for Advertising Week New York.
12. MarketingProfs B2B Forum
Best for B2B marketers focused on strategy and ROI.
- Date: 4-6 November 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Key speakers:
- Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs
- Phoenix Harvey, VP of Marketing Strategy, Macmillan Learning
- Tamsen Webster, Founder, The Message Design Institute
- Sabina Iyengar, CEO & Founder, Integrated Growth Marketing Services
- Harry Morton, CEO & Founder, Lower Street
- Price:
- All Access Pass: $2,495
- Main Conference Pass: $1,895
- Workshop-Only Pass: $950
MarketingProfs B2B Forum is where B2B marketers level up with growth frameworks, brand-building strategies, and ROI-focused insights from some of the industry’s most respected voices.
With nearly two decades of community behind it, the event creates a space where you can interact closely with speakers, trade ideas with peers, and take home resources that keep delivering long after the sessions end.
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As one attendee noted, the combination of expert-led sessions and real networking makes it one of the most valuable B2B marketing experiences available.
Sign up for the MarketingProfs B2B Forum.
13. Web Summit Lisbon
Best for CMOs and innovators exploring emerging marketing technology.
- Date: 9-12 November 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- Key speakers: TBA
- Price: TBA
Web Summit brings together the global tech and marketing community in Lisbon, uniting startups, enterprise leaders, investors, and innovators who want to understand what is shaping the next wave of digital business.
It is where CMOs spot emerging technology, strengthen brand strategy, and build high-value connections that accelerate growth.
As SAP CMO Alicia Tillman noted, “Web Summit is a perfect illustration of the power of community. People rely on communities to educate and to help plan for change.”
Secure your Web Summit ticket.
14. Product Marketing Summit Toronto
Best for product marketers improving positioning and GTM strategy.
- Date: 12-13 November 2026
- Medium: In-person and virtual
- Location: Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Key speakers:
- Chirag Madhrani, Director of Product Marketing, Zafin
- Ajdin Agic, CEO, Clarity AI
- Jessica Shields, Director of Product Marketing, Mastercard
- Emily Raine, Head of Content Marketing for Games, Unity
- Ryan Steeves, Senior Product Marketing Lead, Microsoft
- Price:
- Individual pass: $1,272
- Pro+ membership: $1,918
- Livestream & OnDemand: $284
- Teams of 3 or more: $990
The Product Marketing Summit brings together the PMM community’s sharpest operators for two days of strategy, competitive intelligence, positioning, OKRs, and AI-driven product marketing.
It is built for product marketers who want practical frameworks, advanced GTM insights, and real connections with peers and mentors who understand the craft.
As PMM leader Bozhena Sheremeta noted, “the ROI grows exponentially… it was THE event of the year for me.”
Register for Product Marketing Summit Toronto.
15. Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit
Best for programmatic and media buying specialists.
- Date: 1-3 December 2026
- Medium: In-person
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Key speakers:
- Monica Capelan, SVG, Programmatic, Horizon Media
- Ashmita Chatterjee, VP, Client Partner, RISE, A Quad Agency
- Molly Farrell, SVG, Programmatic, CMI Media Group
- Christopher Francia, Director of Product Development, Attention Arc
- Reshma Karnik, Chief Media Officer, Barkleyokrp
- Price:
- Connect Pass: $3,995
- Premium Pass: $5,795
Digiday’s Programmatic Marketing Summit brings together the specialists redefining how AI, automation, and cross-channel buying shape tomorrow’s media performance.
Attendees dive into the newest approaches to attribution, supply-path optimization, CTV and retail media convergence, and the evolving programmatic tech stack.
It is the place to sharpen strategy, understand the real impact of emerging tools, and trade insights with the experts driving programmatic’s next chapter.
Apply to attend the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit.
Choosing an Advertising Conference to Attend in 2026
| Conference | Best For | Virtual Option | B2B Focus | Starting Price |
| South by Southwest (SXSW) | Culture and trend-focused marketers | ❌ | ❌ | $745 |
| ad:tech New Delhi | AI and martech marketers | ❌ | ❌ | $85 |
| Advertising Week Europe | Marketing and communications leaders | ✅ | ❌ | ~$105 |
| B2B Summit North America by Forrester | B2B revenue leaders | ❌ | ✅ | $2,795 |
| Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS) | Experiential marketers | ❌ | ❌ | $1,200 |
| Demand & Expand | B2B demand marketers | ✅ | ✅ | $349 |
| Social West | Social media marketers | ❌ | ❌ | $649 |
| Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity | Creative leaders and agencies | ❌ | ❌ | ~$5,178 |
| MAD//Fest London | Brand and media marketers | ❌ | ❌ | ~$1,596 |
| Brandweek | Brand strategists | ❌ | ❌ | $2,100 |
| Advertising Week New York | Advertising professionals | ✅ | ❌ | TBD |
| MarketingProfs B2B Forum | B2B marketers | ❌ | ✅ | $950 |
| Web Summit Lisbon | CMOs and tech leaders | ❌ | ❌ | TBD |
| Product Marketing Summit Toronto | Product marketers | ✅ | ✅ | $1,272 |
| Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit | Programmatic specialists | ❌ | ✅ | $3,995 |
The right advertising conference can deliver far more value than the cost of a ticket. By choosing events that align with your role, industry vertical, and strategic priorities, you can gain practical insights, build valuable partnerships, and stay ahead of emerging trends.
Focus on the conferences most relevant to your strategy to get the strongest return on your time and budget.
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Top Advertising Conferences FAQs
1. How far in advance should you plan to attend advertising conferences?
Most major advertising conferences open ticket sales 6–12 months in advance, so planning early helps secure early-bird pricing and better travel options.
2. Are advertising conferences worth the cost for smaller marketing teams?
They can be worthwhile if you attend with clear goals—such as learning specific skills, evaluating tools, or building partnerships that support your marketing strategy.
3. What should you prepare before attending a marketing or advertising conference?
Review the agenda, shortlist relevant sessions, schedule meetings in advance, and define a few key outcomes you want to achieve during the event.
4. How can you maximize networking opportunities at advertising events?
Engaging in smaller workshops, attending evening networking sessions, and connecting with speakers or attendees on LinkedIn beforehand can significantly increase meaningful interactions.
5. Are virtual or hybrid marketing conferences still valuable?
Virtual and hybrid formats can still deliver useful insights and access to global speakers, especially when recordings and on-demand sessions are included.
