NOTE: This list has been updated on 3/15/2021 to reflect changes due to COVID-19. Many events are offering virtual or hybrid events, while some conferences are planning in-person events later on in the year.
By now, 91 percent of B2B companies use some form of content marketing and a full 56 percent consider themselves “very committed,” according to the Content Marketing Institute. That explains why industry movers and shakers are offering an increasing number of content marketing conferences aimed at helping them make the most of its possibilities.
While the scope of such events has become difficult to track, here’s a list of some upcoming conferences that could help your organization with future strategies. (Note our omission of the formerly ubiquitous SXSW, which has become so diverse in attempting to cover the worlds of film, culture, music and technology that many marketers are seeking more targeted events.)
Digital marketing
Digital Summit Series
Date: 2021 conferences will be a mix of virtual, in-person and hybrid events
Location: 15+ cities across the U.S. including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago & more
Host: Digital Summit
Why attend: More than 20,000 people attend the Digital Summit series spanning several cities. 2018 featured more in-depth sessions and workshops on digital trends. NYC’s Summit in April, 2020, will feature Seth Godin, Ja Rule and experts from Reddit, NPR, CNN and more. View all Digital Summit event locations here.
True Influence Spring Summit
Date: April 14, 2021
Host: True Influence
Location: Virtual
Why attend: With Artificial Intelligence (AI) already revolutionizing aspects of our daily lives, there is no doubt that machine learning is redefining B2B marketing, sales and data. That’s why True Influence is bringing together some of the best minds in AI to share case studies and explore the future of AI in B2B. Experts from Google, Microsoft, SAP and Forrester will discuss the true learnings and insights that enable machine learning to turn B2B data, marketing and sales into a revenue machine. Former late night TV host Jay Leno will close out the summit with an entertaining keynote.
Adobe Summit
Date: April 27-29, 2021
Host: Adobe
Location: Virtual
Why attend: Get the latest insights and trends for brand and digital experiences, B2B marketing and more at this free (for users with an Adobe account) virtual conference. This year’s speakers include thought leaders from companies such as Adobe, Pfizer, Fedex and Peleton, as well as tennis champion Serena Williams.
Marketing Analytics Summit
Date: May 5-7; 10-12, 2021
Host: Rising Media
Location: Virtual
Why attend: This conference, which had its first event in 2002, is “where digital analysts and marketing professionals master marketing data.” Workshops include topics such as data literacy, artificial intelligence for marketing and masterclasses on Google Analytics.
Advanced Search Summit
Date: June 9-11, 2021
Location: Napa Valley
Why attend: This two-track conference is dedicated to sharing insights on the latest and most cutting edge marketing trends to over 250 attendees. The website states: “With the recent COVID-19 outbreak we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that your time with us is safe & enjoyable. For our 2021 show we’ll be making some serious upgrades including a new touchless registration system, personal sanitation kits for all attendees, and limiting available tickets for the event.”
MozCon
Date: July 12-14, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Moz
Why attend: One-track conference full of “forward-thinking, tactical sessions in SEO, growth marketing, the mobile landscape, analytics, content marketing and more” from the company that dominates in helping businesses boost their search rankings with innovative tools and thought leadership.
Strategic Marketing USA
Date: October 12-13, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Reuters Events
Why attend: This event is uniting the world’s most influential CMOs to showcase innovation, set benchmarks, and map the future of marketing – one where brands are purpose-driven, campaigns are intelligently data-backed, and innovation drives growth. 2021’s theme is “Move Beyond Marketing: The Future of Consumer-Brand Relationships.”
LeadsCon’s Connect to Convert
Date: October 21-22, 2021
Location: Las Vegas
Host: Access Intelligence
Why attend: “The world’s largest performance marketing conference and exposition” with over 30 sessions and over 1,000 attendees. 2021’s theme and speakers are TBD. Read LeadCon’s commitment to safety here.
DigiMarCon West
Date: July 11-12, 2022
Location: Los Angeles
Host: DigiMarCon
Why attend: Next year’s sessions will focus on thriving as a marketer in an evolving digital world. Past speakers include Robert Rose, Rand Fishkin and Kevin Jonas.
Digital Growth Unleashed
Date: TBD, 2021
Host: Rising Media Ltd. and SiteTuners
Location: TBD
Why attend: About 1,000 attendees discover how to attract the right audience, align business models with the user experience, optimize the lifetime value of client relationships and get up to speed on the latest marketing technology.
Programmatic Pioneers Summit
Date: TBD, 2021
Host: World Business Research
Location: Los Angeles
Why Attend: This two-day conference hosts over 200 heads of programmatic, media, marketing, digital and advertising professionals to network and discuss the future of programmatic advertising. Speakers include leaders from American Express, Google, Dell and Samsung.
Content marketing
Content Marketing Conference
Date: April 27-29, 2021
Location: Virtual
Why attend: They know that the world has changed, and online learning is best for some. They made the transition in 2020 with a digital experience that they rolled together in just a few weeks for 15,000 attendees. This event covers the six pillars of content marketing: planning, creation, optimization, distribution, performance and comedy.
Confab Central
Date: May 5-7, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Confab
Why attend: Confab draws more than 600 professionals from around the world who design, create and manage content. “From UX to storytelling, accessibility to structure, Confab brings together those who are committed to making content useful and usable.” Speakers this year include thought leaders from The New Yorker, LinkedIn, Dropbox and Netflix.
Content Marketing World
Date: September 28 – October 1, 2021
Location: Cleveland
Host: Content Marketing Institute
Why attend: Some 4,000 attendees are offered 120 sessions presented by experts from around the world, covering strategy, storytelling, ROI, demand generation, AI, etc. The 2019 event featured Henry Rollins, as well as Mindy Kaling in a keynote Q&A. Read Brandpoint’s recap of the 2019 CMWorld event here.
Inbound 2021
Date: October 12-14, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: HubSpot
Why attend: 24,000 participants from 100-some countries. “A community of people passionate about marketing, selling, and delighting customers in an inbound way. We bring together speakers who are passionate not just about improving the bottom line, but also about building a brighter, kinder and more inclusive future.” Past speakers include Bob Iger, Jesse Williams, Van Jones and John Legend.
LavaCon Content Strategy Conference
Date: October 24-27, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: LavaCon
Why attend: For content strategists, documentation managers and senior content professionals who want to stay ahead of rapidly changing technology and customer demographics while connecting with vendors who can help with content challenges. This year’s theme is “Mastering the Content Development Cycle.”
Content Jam
Date: TBD, 2022
Location: Chicago
Host: Orbit Media
Why Attend: With over 500 attendees, this convention shares insights on content strategy, promotion, conversion and analytics. Speakers include Mark Schaefer, Wil Reynolds and Britney Muller. While Content Jam is canceled for 2020, their website states that they are still in the process of planning a virtual event. See available webinars here, in the meantime.
Marketing
MarketingProfs B2B Marketing Forum
Dates: April 7-8, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: MarketingProfs
Why attend: The “place where leaders, innovators and people who make things happen gather to learn about the latest in B2B marketing and share the secrets to success as well as “belly laughs, creative networking, shenanigans and marketers’ off-the-clock antics.” 2021 speakers include thought leaders from companies like Twitter, Seer and Luminary Productions.
Brand ManageCamp
Date: May 18-20, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: ManageCamp
Why attend: Attendees learn about strategy, trends, storytelling, optimization, advertising, content, insights and more to help “take your brand to the next level.” The speakers are best-selling business authors, world-renowned experts, or up-and-coming mavericks, pushing the boundaries in their respective concentrations.
Mirren Live New York
Date: May 19-20, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Mirren
Why attend: Mirren Live New York bills itself as one of the most prominent conferences in the agency business. It sells out every year with 400 senior decision-makers taking in 60+ speakers in 30+ sessions over 2 jam-packed days. Focused on driving business growth, management team leads and CEOs join the conference from around the country. This year’s speakers include leaders from Gartner, Forbes, Adweek and AdAge.
CX North America
Date: June 7-9, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Forrester
Why attend: “Join 50 Forrester analysts and 1,500 CX industry leaders for three days of cutting-edge, interactive customer experience programming.” Topics included in this event range from AI to creative and modernization.
Affiliate Summit East
Date: July 19-20, 2021
Location: NYC
Host: Affiliate Summit
Why attend: The performance marketing industry’s premier global event featuring high-level decision makers including online publishers, bloggers, media owners, traffic sources, advertisers, global brands, networks, technology firms, agencies, and other solution providers. Typically more than 6,000 attendees, 70 sessions, 100 expert presenters and 300 exhibitors. Check out Affiliate Summit events in other locations around the globe.
FinCon 2021
Date: September 22-25, 2021
Location: Hybrid: Virtual + Austin, TX
Why attend: This conference states that “#FinCon21 is for anyone creating personal finance content on the internet — bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, coaches and advisors, social media influencers, authors, freelancers and more!” In 2019, this expo had 2300+ attendees, 200+ speakers and 100+ exhibitors.
Digital Sales & Marketing World
Date: October 5-7, 2021
Location: Hybrid: Virtual + Hartford, CT
Host: IMPACT Branding & Design
Why Attend: Formally known as IMPACT Live, this conference is “an immersive event for marketers, salespeople, and business leaders looking to drive significant revenue growth for their companies.” This event is directed towards marketers from all types of companies, including B2B, B2C and agencies.
Advertising Week
Dates: TBD, 2021
Location: Virtual
Why attend: With over 98,000 attendees, this conference is a must attend for PR professionals, social media strategists and CMOs. Past speakers include Al Gore, Sheryl Sandberg and Arianna Huffington. Speakers at the 2020 virtual event include Bozoma Saint John of Netflix, Jewel and Bobby Berk of Queer Eye.
Forbes CMO Summit: Virtual Series
Dates: TBD, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Forbes
Why attend: 2020’s event was a multi-part virtual series: “In Episode 1, CMOs will discuss how they tell unique stories, diversify their teams, and continuously reinvent and create healthier cultures both inside and outside their brands.” Past speakers at live events include CMOs from Wells Fargo, the NHL, Facebook and Target.
Retail Innovation Conference
Date: TBD, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: RetailX
Why attend: As the event’s website states, “During this time of retail reinvention, we need to refocus our perspective, rethink our strategies, and accelerate our technology and business plans to meet the needs of a very different consumer base. The now 100% virtual 2020 Retail Innovation Conference is set to deliver timely content, strategic insights and tactical best practices that will help brands and retailers secure a strong future.”
PRNews Media Relations Conference
Dates: TBD, 2021
Location: Arlington, VA
Host: PRNews
Why attend: This conference is “for communications professionals who need to hear forward-thinking insights on media pitching, measurement, the impact of AI/machine learning on media relations and journalism, influencer relations, social media marketing, and the best media relations tools from leading brands like USA Today, NPR, Accenture, Aflac and D.C. Public Charter School Board.”
B2B Marketing Exchange
Date: TBD, 2022
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Host: Demand Gen Report
Why attend: More than 1,000 participants in 2018, with more than 85 workshops and case study sessions. Speakers include the industry’s top marketing professionals including analysts, authors and B2B practitioners from companies like Facebook, BuzzFeed and LinkedIn.
[FREE CHECKLIST: How to Market Your Business While Attending an Event or Tradeshow]
Social media
VidCon
Date: Ongoing in 2021, Free
Location: Virtual
Host: VidCon
Why attend: Learn about VidCon Now, the new “digitally-delivered experience.” These sessions are free for registrants and will take place over a number of months.
AMPlify
Date: Wednesdays starting May 5 through May 26, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: GaggleAMP
Why attend: Bills itself as “the only marketing event addressing the unique challenges associated with leveraging employees and stakeholders in your digital marketing strategies.” Learn more about employee advocacy in this virtual webinar series.
Social Media Week
Date: May 4-7, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Social Media Week
Why attend: #SMWNYC will be virtual this year, hosting an event that “serves as the central meeting point for the entire social media marketing industry.” Hear from speakers from Snapchat, Google, Vice, LEGO, Facebook and TikTok. Gain access to 300+ speakers across 150 sessions and extensive digital networking.
Social Media Strategies Summit
Date: June 8-11, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: GSMI
Why attend: The event features best practices in social media marketing from successful brands. 2020 featured speakers from companies such as Vitamix and CERN. This virtual event in July will include leaders from AT&T, Nasdaq and Instacart. Past speakers have been from Intel, Ben & Jerry’s and GE Healthcare.
Social Media Marketing World
Date: March 14-16, 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Host: Social Media Examiner
Why attend: With some 7,000 participants, bills itself as the industry’s largest social media marketing conference. Sponsor is considered the world’s leading online social media magazine for businesses, with more than 1.5 million monthly visitors. While the 2021 event was postponed, you can still view webinars on their site.
Technology
MarTech
Date: March 16-17, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Chief Marketing Technologist
Why attend: This spring’s virtual event is free. The MarTech experience is all choreographed. You’ll unlock presentations that deliver actionable tactics to solve confounding marketing challenges. You’ll meet senior-level marketers like you who are redefining how their organizations deploy martech to achieve business results. And you’ll discover time-saving solutions that deliver ROI.
ContentTECH Summit
Date: June 8-10, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Content Marketing Institute
Why attend: Formerly the Intelligent Content Conference, the refresh of this event will help senior marketing executives learn how to enable technology to improve processes to better execute their content strategy. The 2018 event drew 400 participants who learned from leaders representing Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Mayo Clinic, Cisco, Salesforce and others.
MAICON
Date: September 15-16, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institution
Why attend: AI in marketing is a trend that only is getting larger, but it’s a tactic that many professionals are still struggling to implement. This event is for manager-level and above marketers, and is catered to non-technical audiences. Meaning: if you need to learn about AI, this conference is for you.
Editor’s note: Would you like your marketing event added to this list? Please only send annual, U.S. events. Send us an email for consideration. This post is regularly updated.
