NOTE: This list has been updated on 9/4/2020 to reflect changes due to COVID-19. Please check if the conference you’re interested in is rescheduled or has moved to a virtual event.
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: Events are turning virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19, date is determined base on original location
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.
Open Mobile & Digital Experience Summit
Date: October 20-21, 2020
Host: Incite
Location: West Coast, USA
Why attend: The Open Mobile & Digital Experience Summit brings together 400+ Chief Digital, Product and Marketing officers from America’s most powerful and innovative brands to shape how we can create personalized digital and mobile experiences that impact and add value to customers beyond a transaction.
LeadsCon’s Connect to Convert
Date: October 27-29, 2020
Location: Virtual
Host: Access Intelligence
Why attend: “The world’s largest performance marketing conference and exposition” with over 30 sessions and over 1,000 attendees. 2020’s theme is “Road Mapping the Modern Marketing Landscape.”
Strategic Marketing USA
Date: November 5-6, 2020
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.
Advanced Search Summit
Date: April 7-9, 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 2021 event is still planned to take place in person, and 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.”
Adobe Summit
Date: April 13-15, 2021
Host: Adobe
Location: Virtual
Why attend: Get the latest insights and trends for brand and digital experiences, B2B marketing and more. This year’s speakers include thought leaders from companies such as Adobe, Amazon, Charles Schwab, Hootsuite and Activision.
DigiMarCon West
Date: June 16-17, 2021
Location: Los Angeles
Host: DigiMarCon
Why attend: This year’s sessions will focus on building traffic, expanding brand awareness, improving customer service and gaining insight into today’s latest digital tools.
Digital Growth Unleashed
Date: TBD, 2021
Host: Rising Media Ltd. and SiteTuners
Location: Las Vegas
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.
Marketing Evolution Experience
Date: TBD, 2021
Location: Las Vegas
Host: Rising Media
Why attend: “Multiply your skills with the latest thinking, newest developments, and most current examples of data enriched marketing. Whether you are an analyst or one who relies on analytics to excel in marketing, MEE is here to help YOU evolve as a professional. Peers and experts clarify how digital analytics, customer insight, and artificial intelligence are at work in marketing.” 2019 featured speakers include Rand Fishkin of Spark Toro and Andy Crestodina of Orbit Media, among others.
MozCon
Date: TBD, 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.
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
Inbound 2020
Date: September 22-23, 2020
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.” This year’s virtual event features John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.
Content Marketing World
Date: October 13-16, 2020
Location: Virtual
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. Don’t miss the fact that the event is no longer in September!
LavaCon Content Strategy Conference
Date: October 25-28, 2020
Location: Virtual (with a “New Orleans flair”)
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.
Content Marketing Conference
Date: April 27-29, 2021
Location: Virtual and live in Boston, MA
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. They are staying the course with a virtual AND live experience for CMC 2021, so everyone can attend!
Confab Central
Date: May 2-6, 2021
Location: Minneapolis, MN
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.” (And there’s never a shortage of cake!).
Content Jam
Date: Canceled
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.
Marketing
Advertising Week
Dates: September 29 – October 8, 2020
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: October 8 & 22, November 17, 2020
Location: Virtual
Host: Forbes
Why attend: This year’s event is a 3-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: October 13-14, 2020
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.”
Brand ManageCamp
Date: October 27-29, 2020
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.
MarketingProfs B2B Marketing Forum
Dates: November 4-5, 2020
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.” 2020 keynote speakers included Ann Handley, David Meerman Scott and Tyrona (Ty) Heath.
Digital Sales & Marketing World
Date: November 30 – December 2, 2020
Location: 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.
PRNews Media Relations Conference
Dates: Dec 10-11, 2020
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: February 22-24, 2021
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.
FinCon 2021
Date: September 22-25, 2021
Location: Austin, TX
Why attend: Read information the 2020 event cancellation here. This conference states that “our mission is to help financial influencers and brands create better content, reach their audience and make more money.” In 2019, this expo had 2300+ attendees, 200+ speakers and 100+ exhibitors.
Mirren Live New York
Date: TBD, 2021
Location: New York City
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 NFL, Mastercard, AdWeek and Groupon.
CX North America
Date: TBD, 2021
Location: NYC
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.
Klaviyo:BOS
Dates: TBD, 2021
Location: Boston
Why attend: This conference hosts over 600 attendees and is aimed at helping email marketers, entrepreneurs and business leaders grow their brand, create actionable strategies and take their ecommerce marketing to the next level.
Affiliate Summit East
Date: Postponed
Location: NYC
Host: Affiliate Summit
Why attend: Read the postponement announcement here. 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.
Pubcon Florida
Date: Postponed
Location: Miami, Florida
Why attend: Pubcon is a full stack marketing conference that “will cover everything a marketer needs to know from in-house team building to online marketing strategies to tracking conversions.” Session tracks include influencer marketing, organic SEO, paid ads and “alternative advertising.”
[FREE CHECKLIST: How to Market Your Business While Attending an Event or Tradeshow]
Social media
VidCon
Date: Ongoing in 2020, 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: October 21, 2020
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.”
Social Media Strategies Summit
Date: October 28-29, 2020
Location: Virtual
Host: GSMI
Why attend: The event features best practices in social media marketing from successful brands. So far, 2020 has featured speakers from companies such as Vitamix and CERN. This virtual event in October will feature leaders from Reebok, Savage X Fenty and 3Q Digital. Past speakers have been from Intel, Ben & Jerry’s and GE Healthcare.
Social Media Marketing World
Date: February 28 – March 2, 2021
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.
Social Media Week
Date: TBD, 2021
Location: Virtual
Host: Social Media Week
Why attend: #SMWLA & #SMWNYC will merge to become #SMWONE, a first-of-its-kind virtual conference series in 2021. Gain access to 300+ speakers across 150 sessions and extensive digital networking.
Technology
Reach
Date: September 15, 2020
Location: Virtual
Host: G2
Why attend: The 2020 virtual event is completely free to registrants. This conference is focused on tech sales and digital marketing. Past speakers include Neil Patel, Meghan Keaney Anderson of Hubspot and Meredith Kopit Levien of New York Times, as well as leaders from Drift, Whole30 and SalesLoft.
MarTech
Date: October 6-8, 2020
Location: Virtual
Host: Chief Marketing Technologist
Why attend: 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.
MAICON
Date: July 13-15, 2021
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Host: Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institution
Why attend: MAICON 2020 has been canceled. 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.
ContentTECH Summit
Date: TBD, 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.
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.
