15 Must-Attend PR and Communications Conferences in 2027

PR and comms shape reputation, trust, and growth, so leaders can’t afford to fall behind on the latest strategies, tools, and insights.

Here are standout conferences to learn from industry heavyweights, sharpen your team’s skills, and join the conversations defining the future.

Inside the PR Events Where 2027 Strategy Gets Decided

The pace of change in PR has accelerated, and the biggest strategic shifts are happening behind closed doors.

These conferences for communications professionals are where leaders pressure-test ideas and set priorities around AI, crisis readiness, trust, and measurement.

What’s discussed here shapes how PR strategies are built and executed in 2027. The PR conferences below are listed by date, starting in January.

1. 14th Annual Strategic Internal Communications West 2027

Best for Internal and Employee Communications Leaders

• Date: January 26-28, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: Grand Hyatt San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
• Key Speakers:
  • Krystele Chavez, Senior Manager, Internal Communications, First Citizens Bank
  • Sean Greenwood, Grand Poobah of Public Relations, Ben & Jerry's
  • Steven Kelly, Executive Communications Consultant, SPK Strategies
• Price: Starts at $1,499 (early bird)

Strategic Internal Communications West is an annual conference from the Advanced Learning Institute (ALI) for mid- to senior-level communicators who shape strategy for employee audiences. Its attendees also come from PR, public affairs, change management, and HR teams.

The 2027 agenda is built around practitioner case studies, with sessions on crisis and change communication, employee engagement, executive messaging, and AI-powered measurement. An optional pre-conference day offers small-group workshops, and the two general session days combine panels with interactive breakouts on communications roadmaps and two-way employee dialogue.

Attendees also get networking receptions and a certificate of completion.

Register for Strategic Internal Communications West 2027.

2. AI Horizons Conference 2027

Best for Communicators Scaling AI Across Teams

• Date: February 1-3, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Carlsbad, California, USA
• Key Speakers:
  • Camille Stewart Gloster, Inaugural Deputy National Cyber Director for Technology Security, The White House
  • Brian Solis, Futurist, 9x Best-Selling Author & Head of Global Innovation, ServiceNow
  • Klara Jelinkova, CIO, Harvard University
• Price: Starts at $3,195 (early bird, non-member)

AI Horizons is Ragan’s conference for communications and PR professionals who want to move past AI experimentation and rebuild team workflows around it. The program assumes no technical background, so you don’t need coding skills to attend.

The agenda includes more than 24 sessions and workshops covering GEO, agentic workflows, deepfake response, AI governance, and proving AI ROI to finance leaders. In the hands-on platform labs, attendees tune their own ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot setups using real comms tasks.

Advisors from Ragan’s Center for AI Strategy lead peer cohorts, and all attendees earn an AI Accelerator Badge.

Register for AI Horizons Conference 2027.

View all upcoming PR Daily events here.

3. Destinations International Marketing & Communications Summit 2027

Best for Destination and Tourism Communicators

• Date: February 23-25, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: Hilton Miami Downtown, Miami, Florida, USA
• Key Speakers: TBA
• Price: TBA

The Destinations International Marketing & Communications Summit is the annual gathering for marketing and PR professionals at destination organizations, including tourism boards and convention and visitors bureaus. Attendees range from entry-level managers to executives.

The 2027 program covers AI and emerging technology, shifting audience expectations, creative storytelling, and advocacy-driven communications. Two days of keynotes and breakouts include a Marketplace of Ideas on the closing day.

An optional pre-summit workshop at Miami’s Wynwood Walls pairs a VML-led trends session with hands-on mural painting, and attendees take home VML’s Future 100: 2027 report.

4. 2027 Corporate Communications & Brand Summit

Best for CCOs and Senior Brand Leaders

• Date: March 2-3, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, New York, USA
• Key Speakers:
  • Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Corporate Affairs & Communications Officer, PayPal
  • Vanessa Broadhurst, EVP, Global Corporate Affairs, Johnson & Johnson
  • Michael Gonda, EVP & Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, Nike
• Price: Starts at $1,795 (early bird)

The Corporate Communications & Brand Summit is The Conference Board’s annual gathering for senior leaders who run communications and brand functions at large organizations. The 2027 program argues that communications is becoming a strategic force as its boundary with marketing dissolves.

Sessions run across two tracks. They cover AI and narrative governance, the CEO-CCO relationship, brand’s role in enterprise strategy, and reputation management during permacrisis. The program starts with the external forces reshaping business and ends with the leadership qualities expected of future communications executives.

Standard registration is limited to in-house professionals, so consultants and vendors must contact the organizers to attend.

Register for the Corporate Communications & Brand Summit 2027.

5. 30th International Public Relations Research Conference

Best for PR Researchers and Evidence-Driven Practitioners

• Date: March 4-6, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: TBA
• Key Speakers: TBA
• Price: TBA

The International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC) is an annual gathering where PR scholars and practitioners share research that has direct applications for the profession. The 2027 edition is the conference’s 30th, and its theme is “Impact, legacy, and future: the coming 30 years.”

Presenters are chosen through a competitive review of one-page abstracts, and every author has to explain the practical implications of their findings. Accepted authors can also compete for research awards.

Sessions favor short executive summaries and handouts over slide decks, which keeps the focus on discussion between researchers and practitioners.

6. The 12th World Conference on Media and Mass Communication (MEDCOM 2027)

Best for Media and Communication Researchers

• Date: April 5-6, 2027
• Medium: Hybrid
• Location: Ambassador Hotel Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
• Key Speakers:
  • Prof. Spencer Striker, Professor of Digital Media Design, Northwestern University, Qatar
  • Prof. Edson C Tandoc Jr, Wee Kim Wee Endowed Professor in Communication Studies, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
  • Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya, Regional Advisor Asia, International Media Support, Denmark / Team Member, Oxford Media and AI Policy Summer Institute, University of Oxford
• Price: Starts at $135 (virtual early bird)

MEDCOM is an annual academic conference run by The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM) that brings media scholars together with journalists and industry practitioners. The 2027 theme looks at how public trust and freedom of expression hold up in an AI-driven media world.

The conference has eight research tracks, and the ones most relevant to PR professionals cover strategic communication and crisis communication. Besides keynotes and paper sessions, attendees can join bilateral academic forums and sessions that walk researchers through journal submission.

Accepted papers can appear in the conference proceedings or in partner journals, so MEDCOM suits researchers more than agency practitioners.

Register for MEDCOM 2027.

7. PRSA Counselors Academy 2027 Spring Conference

Best for PR Agency Owners and Executives

• Date: April 5-7, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: The Royal Sonesta San Juan, Carolina, Puerto Rico
• Key Speakers: TBA
• Price: Starts at $795 (single day, non-member, early bird)

The Counselors Academy Spring Conference is the Public Relations Society of America’s annual event for PR agency owners and executives. Programming focuses on the business side of agency leadership, with sessions on business development, talent management, succession planning, and AI strategy.

An optional pre-conference masterclass brings in experts on HR, legal, finance, and business strategy. The main program pairs keynotes and concurrent breakouts with roundtable lunches and optional dine-arounds.

The conference closes with a coach-facilitated Practice Lab that helps attendees turn session takeaways into next steps for their agencies. APR holders also earn continuing education units for attending.

Register for the PRSA Counselors Academy 2027 Spring Conference.

8. 24th International PRO PR Conference

Best for International Communication Leaders and Networking

• Date: April 7-9, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Key Speakers:
  • Robert Wester, Director of Communications and City Branding, Municipality of The Hague
  • Anthony Pickles, Director of Communications, The British Museum
  • Nina Narat Meden, Head of Rector’s Cabinet; President of PRSS, University of Ljubljana / Public Relations Society of Slovenia
• Price: Starts at €225 (single day, early bird)

The International PRO PR Conference is an annual gathering of communication professionals. It’s organized by Apriori World and endorsed by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management. The 2027 edition focuses on leadership in public relations and strategic communication.

Confirmed speakers include communications heads from cultural institutions and city governments, along with leaders of PR associations such as CIPR and the PRCA. Crisis communication and reputation management feature prominently in the lineup.

On the second evening, the PRO PR Globe People Achievement Awards ceremony and gala dinner honor individual contributions to the profession.

Register for the 24th International PRO PR Conference.

9. 2027 IPR Bridge Conference

Best for Research-Driven Communication Leaders

• Date: April 8-9, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: SUNY Global Center, New York City, USA
• Key Speakers:
  • Yanique Griffin-Woodall, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Verizon
  • Jenn Francis, Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Engagement Strategy, Accenture
  • Terrie Ard, President and COO, Moore
• Price: Starts at $699 (non members, early bird)

The IPR Bridge Conference is the Institute for Public Relations’ annual event connecting communication leaders with leading PR scholars. Founded in 1956, IPR is a nonprofit foundation that promotes research-based practice in public relations and corporate communication.

The two-day program is intentionally small. Practitioners get direct access to new research, and academics get a platform to share their findings with the people who apply them. Sessions are chosen through an open call for presentations.

Members of IPR ELEVATE and IPR NEXT, the institute’s membership programs for senior and early-career professionals, can attend at a discounted rate.

Register for the 2027 IPR Bridge Conference.

10. PRCA South Africa Conference 2027

Best for PR Professionals in African Markets

• Date: April 14, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: The Venue, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Key Speakers: TBA
• Price: TBA

The PRCA South Africa Conference is the Public Relations and Communications Association’s annual gathering for PR and communications professionals across Africa. It brings senior in-house leaders and agency experts together to discuss the trends and challenges facing the industry.

Alongside the main program, a half-day NextGen track serves early-career professionals and people preparing to enter the field.

The conference also hosts the PRovoke African SABRE Awards, which recognize outstanding PR and communications work across Africa. For 2027, the ceremony moves to a new venue near the conference, and agencies can invite clients to join the celebration.

11. PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference 2027

Best for Crisis and Issues Management Teams

• Date: April 15, 2027
• Medium: In person
• Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C., USA
• Key Speakers: TBA
• Price: $899

The PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference is a one-day event dedicated to crisis communications, now in its fifth year. It’s organized by PRWeek, Haymarket Media’s PR trade publication.

The program centers on case studies from communicators who have handled high-profile crises firsthand. Sessions also cover prevention, including how to keep a looming issue from ever reaching the public. AI is another recurring theme, since new technology creates risks that older crisis playbooks were never built to handle.

The single-day format suits communicators who want focused crisis training without a multi-day commitment.

View other PRWeek events here.

Public Relations Events Already Confirmed for Mid-2027

Several of the biggest PR events on the calendar have also locked in dates for May and June.

The following are confirmed, with speaker lineups and full programs expected over the coming months.

1. Women in PR Workwell Conference

• Date: May 6, 2027
• Location: St. Lawrence Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Women in PR North America’s one-day conference for women in public relations and adjacent fields, focused on avoiding burnout and building sustainable careers. Registration is open, with in-person passes at $347 and a virtual option at $97.

2. Digital PR Summit

• Date: May 13, 2027
• Location: Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK

Digitaloft’s full-day event on digital PR strategy and trends, bringing together practitioners from agencies and in-house teams. Tickets and the speaker lineup have not been released yet.

3. PR 360

• Date: May 25-26, 2027
• Location: The Grand, Brighton, UK

PRWeek UK’s flagship two-day conference for more than 300 agency chiefs and in-house comms directors, including Chatham House roundtables on AI ethics and geopolitical volatility. First release passes are open at £899 + VAT.

4. AI for PR Conference

• Date: June 17, 2027
• Location: Park Plaza London Riverbank, London, UK

Communicate magazine’s one-day conference on AI in public relations and corporate communications, returning after an inaugural edition that drew almost 400 attendees. Early access tickets are available; 2027 speakers have not been announced.

How To Choose the Right PR Conference

With PR and communications conferences filling the 2027 calendar, the right fit depends on your role and what you want to take back to your team.

Do the following to make the best choice:

• Define your focus: Some conferences center on agency and executive leadership, while others go deep on AI adoption, crisis communications, internal comms, or PR research.
• Match the event to your role: Agency owners, CCOs, internal communicators, researchers, and destination marketers will each find agendas built around very different challenges.
• Consider networking value: Larger events offer a wider pool of contacts, while smaller PR networking events and specialized conferences make it easier to build close peer connections.
• Compare formats and travel requirements: Hybrid events offer more flexibility, and single-day conferences suit teams that can’t spare several days away from work.
• Review the agenda: Prioritize events with case studies and workshops tied to the challenges your team is facing right now.
• Factor in total cost: Ticket prices vary widely once you add flights and hotels, and several events charge separately for pre-conference workshops.
• Check what’s still TBA: Several 2027 events haven’t released speakers or pricing yet, so bookmark their registration pages and check back before early bird deadlines pass.

PR & Communications Conferences by Category

Corporate Communications Conferences: Crisis and Reputation

• 2027 Corporate Communications & Brand Summit
• PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference 2027

Agency Leadership

• PRSA Counselors Academy 2027 Spring Conference

Internal Communications

• 14th Annual Strategic Internal Communications West 2027

AI and Emerging Technology

• AI Horizons Conference 2027

Research-Driven Communications

• 30th International Public Relations Research Conference
• MEDCOM 2027
• 2027 IPR Bridge Conference

International Public Relations Conferences

• 24th International PRO PR Conference
• PRCA South Africa Conference 2027

Sector-Specific Communications

• Destinations International Marketing & Communications Summit 2027

2027 PR Conferences at a Glance

These 2027 events give communicators direct access to industry leaders and practical strategies they can put to work right away.

Pick the PR events that match where your team needs to grow, and lock in early bird pricing while it lasts.

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