This guide breaks down the 10 best email marketing events of 2026, highlighting where leaders gather, what topics dominate agendas, and which conferences deliver real-world strategies.
Email Marketing Conferences: Key Findings
- MarTech Conference, MAICON, Braze Forge, and Advanced Email Conference show how AI, customer data, personalization, and automation are becoming central to email and lifecycle marketing strategy in 2026.
- Canadian Email Summit, London emailexpert Forum, and GURU 2026 highlight continued demand for practical guidance on deliverability, compliance, inbox performance, campaign execution, and peak-season planning.
- Email Insider Summit, Mautic World Conference, DMWF Europe, and Braze Forge reflect the growing overlap between email, CRM, customer engagement, and marketing technology, with more events treating email as part of a broader lifecycle and retention strategy.
Attending Email Marketing Conferences in 2026
Email keeps outperforming most digital channels and DesignRush's 2026 email marketing benchmark survey tracks where that performance is coming from now.
With AI accelerating change and privacy and deliverability rules growing more complex, these events share practical tactics, emerging tools, and honest vendor perspectives that aren’t shared in public reports.
For brands and agencies, that insider knowledge can translate into stronger email marketing performance, smarter decisions, and a lasting competitive advantage.
1. Canadian Email Summit
For Canadian email marketers and CRM leaders seeking practical strategies and regulatory insights
- Date: 24 September 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Toronto, Canada
- Key Speakers:
- Steven Harroun, Vice President of Compliance and Enforcement, CRTC
- Matthew Vernhout, Principal Email Advisor, Email Industries
- Scott Cohen, CEO, Inbox Army
- Price: $99 + taxes (early bird)
The Canadian Email Summit is an annual conference designed for email, CRM, and growth professionals across Canada. It brings together marketers and industry leaders to share practical strategies, case studies, and emerging trends.
Sessions cover deliverability, compliance, privacy, campaign design, and new technologies, with insights from experienced speakers at leading brands.
Attendees gain actionable takeaways, post-event resources, and valuable peer connections to strengthen long-term email program performance.
2. Advanced Email Conference
For experienced email and CRM professionals looking to improve personalization, automation, retention, and revenue
- Date: September 24, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Key Speakers:
- Ekaterina Sytova, CRM Lifecycle Marketing Manager, EMEA, Uber
- Patricia M. Bacigalupo, Fan Engagement & Loyalty Manager, LaLiga
- Suhib Mustafa, Senior Manager, CRM Development, Delivery Hero
- Price:
- From €604 + VAT for in-house/brand attendees
- From €1,192 + VAT for agencies, suppliers, and other attendees
Advanced Email Conference Europe focuses on helping email teams get more value from customer data without losing the human side of communication.
Its 2026 agenda will dig into AI-powered CRM, hyper-personalization, deliverability, behavioral data, automation, retention, measurement, and customer-first email strategy.
Sessions will also examine how marketers can use AI to accelerate content production and workflows while maintaining brand voice and compliance.
The program is especially relevant for teams working on mature email programs, with speakers set to share how brands such as Uber, LaLiga, Delivery Hero, and Flix approach lifecycle marketing and customer engagement.
3. Braze Forge
For lifecycle, CRM, and retention marketers looking to improve personalization, automation, and customer journeys
- Date: September 28-30, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Key Speakers:
- Astha Malik, Chief Business Officer
- Bill Magnuson, CEO and Co-founder
- Jon Hyman, Co-founder and CTO
- Price:
- Early Bird: $899
- Standard: $1,199
- Group Early Bird: $699 per person for 3+ attendees
- Group Standard: $899 per person for 3+ attendees
Braze Forge is the company’s flagship customer engagement conference, with a 2026 program centered on practical ways marketers can use AI, data, and automation to improve customer experiences.
Attendees can choose among leadership, innovation, creative, and hands-on tracks, with sessions looking at smarter workflows, personalization, campaign execution, and the technology behind modern engagement programs.
For email and lifecycle teams, the biggest draw is the chance to see how these ideas connect to real customer journeys.
4. MAICON
For email, CRM, and lifecycle leaders who need to move from AI experiments to governed, repeatable programs
- Date: October 13-15, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Key Speakers:
- Karen Hao, Award-Winning AI Journalist and Author, Empire of AI
- Kevin Roose, Technology Columnist, The New York Times
- Paul Roetzer, Founder, SmarterX and Marketing AI Institute
- Price:
- Main Conference: $1,999
- All-Access (conference + half-day workshop): $2,499
- All-Access + On-Demand: $2,899
- AI for CMOs Summit + Main Conference: $2,899
MAICON is the Marketing AI Institute's flagship conference, focused on practical AI implementation across marketing strategy, operations, content, analytics, and customer experience.
For email and lifecycle teams, sessions cover AI roadmaps, governance, use-case selection, tool evaluation, and ROI, including applications in segmentation, content, and journey orchestration.
The main conference runs October 14–15, with a workshop on October 13 and an optional AI for CMOs Summit.
5. MarTech
For senior marketers responsible for how email connects to customer data, AI, and wider marketing operations.
- Date: November 4, 2026
- Medium: Virtual
- Location: Online
- Key Speakers: TBA
- Price: Free
MarTech Conference takes a broader view than email-specific events, focusing on AI, customer data, marketing technology, and the wider customer journey.
For email teams, sessions address issues such as customer data, data architecture, silos, and changing buyer behaviour. The November agenda and speakers will be announced closer to the event.
6. Mautic World Conference
For email marketers, CRM professionals, and automation specialists
- Date: November 4-5, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: Sea Containers, London, UK
- Key Speakers: TBA
- Price:
- Regular Ticket: £179
- Community Supporter Ticket: £229
- Community Sprint on November 5: Free
Mautic World Conference puts marketing automation, email marketing, and data sovereignty at the center of its 2026 program, so it’s relevant to teams seeking greater control over their marketing technology.
The main conference will take place on November 4, with sessions and keynotes exploring automation strategy, email, customer data, and the open-source tools behind modern campaigns. Lunch, refreshments, and an evening social event are included with conference admission.
November 5 marks the start of a free Community Sprint, where participants can contribute to the Mautic project and work directly with its wider community.
7. GURU 2026
For marketers looking for fast, practical tactics to improve deliverability, design, and campaign performance
- Date: 12-13 November 2026
- Medium: Virtual
- Key Speakers:
- Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs
- Frank Vella, Chief Executive Officer, Constant Contact
- Paige Gast, Senior Marketing Campaigns Specialist, Crowdstrike
- Price: Free; registration required
GURU 2026 is a two-day virtual email marketing conference designed to deliver same-day, actionable strategies powered by real-time data and the latest industry insights.
Built for marketers across B2B, B2C, DTC, and eCommerce, it covers deliverability, data, metrics, copy, design, emerging tools, and AI innovations.
With focused tracks, expert-led sessions, and practical tips, attendees gain immediately deployable tactics to improve performance, avoid common pitfalls, and elevate their email programs.
8. London Forum
For email marketers, CRM leaders, deliverability specialists, and technical teams who want a fuller view of how the channel works
- Date: November 16-17, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: St. Mary’s Marylebone, London, UK
- Key Speakers:
- Marcel Becker, Senior Director of Product Management, Yahoo
- Sidsel Jensen, Architect of Deliverability & Abuse, Open-Xchange
- David Finger, Director of Email.cz and Mapy.cz, Seznam
- Price:
- Early Bird: £575 + VAT
- General Admission: £725 + VAT
- Gala Dinner: £119.50 + VAT
The London emailexpert Forum puts the commercial and technical sides of email in the same room, with marketers, CRM teams, engineers, providers, and deliverability specialists all represented.
The agenda runs on two tracks. The Message looks at CRM, lifecycle strategy, audience development, newsletter operations, and email marketing. The Machine covers infrastructure, deliverability, security, sending operations, standards, and abuse prevention.
Attendees can move freely between the two tracks, helping them understand how strategic campaign choices affect deliverability, infrastructure, and inbox performance.
The format also leaves more room for discussion and peer exchange than a typical presentation-heavy conference.
9. DMWF Europe
For CRM, lifecycle, and marketing operations leaders who want to see where email fits into the wider digital mix.
- Date: November 24-25, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Key Speakers:
- Céline Devarieux, Head of CRM & Lifecycle Marketing, Foot Locker Europe
- Joey Lai, Global Loyalty Specialist Lead, IKEA
- Winnie Luk, Head of Data & AI, Stokke
- Price:
- 2-Day All-Access Pass: from €699 (Gold Advanced), €999 on the day
- Day 1 or Day 2 Pass: from €549 (Gold Advanced), €849 on the day
DMWF Europe brings together 2,500+ attendees, 150+ speakers, and 80+ exhibitors, with more than half of attendees at director level or above.
For email teams, the most relevant tracks cover AI-powered lifecycle marketing, CRM and customer data, omnichannel marketing, CX and loyalty, and hyper-personalisation.
Brand-side speakers from companies including Unilever, Adidas, BMW Group, PepsiCo, and Heineken bring the focus back to practical applications.
10. Email Insider Summit
For senior email, CRM, and retention leaders looking to rethink how they manage customer relationships
- Date: December 6-9, 2026
- Medium: In person
- Location: Stein Eriksen Lodge, Deer Valley, Utah
- Key Speakers: TBA
- Price:
- In person: $5,495
- Virtual ticket: $495
Email Insider Summit takes a more intimate route than a typical large-scale conference, limiting attendance to around 100 people and pairing morning content with afternoon activities and evening dinners.
The winter edition will center on what MediaPost calls Inbox Intelligence, with a closer look at the decisions behind lifecycle marketing rather than send volume alone.
Topics will include AI adoption, first-party data, identity resolution, personalization, cross-team collaboration, and reducing reliance on constant promotions. The format also leaves plenty of room for peer discussion, with agendas led by in-house brand and agency marketers and networking integrated into the three-day experience.
How To Choose the Right Email Marketing Conference
Choosing an email marketing conference gets easier once you know which part of your strategy you want to improve.
- Start with your biggest priority: Decide whether you need help with deliverability, lifecycle strategy, automation, personalization, compliance, AI, or campaign execution.
- Match the event to your role: CRM leaders may get more value from lifecycle and customer data sessions, whereas technical email teams should focus on deliverability, infrastructure, and security.
- Check the level of the content: MAICON and Email Insider Summit target senior teams with budget and decision-making authority, while GURU and MarTech Conference focus on practical, free tactics.
- Consider the event format: Virtual conferences cut travel costs, smaller events create more room for conversation, and larger in-person programs usually provide a wider selection of sessions and networking opportunities.
- Compare the full cost: Ticket price is only part of the budget. Factor in travel, accommodation, VAT or taxes, workshops, and optional networking events.
- Read the agenda before booking: A conference may cover email marketing broadly but still devote significant time to CRM, AI, customer data, or marketing technology. Make sure the sessions match the problems your team is actually trying to solve.
Another useful way to narrow the list is by specialty. Here’s where the 2026 conferences fit based on their current programs.
Email Marketing Conferences by Category
AI, Data & Customer Engagement
- MarTech Conference
- MAICON
- Braze Forge
Deliverability, Compliance & Email Infrastructure
- Canadian Email Summit
- London emailexpert Forum
CRM, Lifecycle & Personalization
- Advanced Email Conference
- DMWF Europe
- Email Insider Summit
Marketing Automation & Open-Source Technology
- Mautic World Conference
Practical Email Marketing Tactics
- GURU 2026
Compare dates, formats, locations, specialties, and starting prices in the table below.
| Conference | Date | Location | Best For | Starting Price |
| Canadian Email Summit | Sep 24 | Toronto, Canada | Deliverability & compliance | $99 + taxes |
| Advanced Email Conference | Sep 24 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Personalization & CRM performance | €604 + VAT |
| Braze Forge | Sep 28-30 | Las Vegas, USA | AI-powered customer engagement | $899 |
| MAICON | Oct 13-15 | Cleveland, USA | Scaling AI across marketing operations | $1,999 |
| MarTech Conference | Nov 4 | Virtual | AI-driven marketing strategy | Free |
| Mautic World Conference | Nov 4-5 | London, UK | Open-source marketing automation | £179 |
| GURU 2026 | Nov 12-13 | Virtual | Hands-on email strategies | Free |
| London emailexpert Forum | Nov 16-17 | London, UK | Email strategy & deliverability | £575 + VAT |
| DMWF Europe | Nov 24-25 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Lifecycle, data & omnichannel | €549 |
| Email Insider Summit | Dec 6-9 | Deer Valley, USA | CRM & lifecycle strategy | $495 |
These email events focus on different topics like deliverability and infrastructure, while others center on strategy, automation, audience growth, or newsletter monetization.
The best email marketing conference for your team is where the conversations, expertise, and peers align with the challenges your strategy is trying to overcome.
What To Expect From Upcoming Email Marketing Conferences in Early 2027
Plan ahead for Q1 2027. Early registration means lower prices, better hotel options, and time to build a proper agenda:
1. Advanced Email Conference Manchester
- Date: January 27, 2027
- Location: The Lowry Arts Centre, Manchester, UK
- Note: The 4th annual UK edition and the only independent conference built for brand-side email marketers.
2. Litmus Live
- Date: February 2027 (to be confirmed)
- Location: Virtual
- Note: Free, two days, and not a user conference, so sessions stay platform-agnostic. Litmus has said a 2027 announcement is coming, so watch for dates.
3. eTail Palm Springs
- Date: February 22-25, 2027
- Location: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, California
- Note: 1,200+ retail decision-makers and 180+ speakers under the theme "Power Your Growth," with acquisition, conversion, and retention tracks. Retailer-only summits open the event.
4. Shoptalk Spring
- Date: March 22-24, 2027
- Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
- Note: 10,000+ retail and brand leaders, 200+ speakers, and a curated Meetup program that generated 50,000+ meetings in 2026. Registration is waitlist-only for now.
5. Adobe Summit
- Date: March 22-25, 2027
- Location: The Venetian Convention & Expo Center, Las Vegas, plus online
- Note: 200+ sessions and labs across 12 tracks covering AI-driven personalization, journey orchestration, and analytics. Adobe is offering $600 off for early registration when it opens in fall 2026, and a free online option has been available in past years.
Our team ranks agencies worldwide to help you find the right fit. Visit our Agency Directory for the top email marketing agencies, as well as:
- Top AI Email Marketing Agencies
- Top B2B Email Marketing Agencies
- Top eCommerce Email Marketing Agencies
- Top UI/UX Design Agencies
- Top Email Marketing Companies In Houston
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