15 Global Events Every Event Marketer Shouldn’t Miss in 2026
Upgrade your 2026 strategy with our curated list of the world's best event marketing shows. From Dubai to Lisbon, discover where to find the next big trend.
If your 2026 calendar currently looks like a blank canvas, it’s time to start grabbing the "Save the Date" stickers.
As event marketers, we spend 90% of our time building stages for others to stand on. But even the best architects need to see what other builders are doing. Stepping out of your own production bubble and into someone else’s event is the best way to find inspiration, test-drive new tech, and remember why we fell in love with this industry.
We’ve organized all 15 events into a customizable Google Sheet for you. It’s pre-filled with dates and venues, ready for you to copy, customize, and share with your team.
The Strategy & Networking Staples
1. PCMA Convening Leaders (Jan 11–14 | Philadelphia, USA)
The year starts here. If you want to know what the "big picture" looks like—think economic trends and high-level strategy—this is your home. Incase you missed this one, gear up for PCMA APAC Convening 2026 in April 12-14, 2026, at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore and also the Convening EMEA 2026 on September 13-15, 2026, in Lisbon, Portugal.
💡 Pro Tip: Don't just attend the sessions; observe the "Braindate" networking hubs. It’s a masterclass in how to facilitate peer-to-peer learning at scale.
2. International Confex (Feb 25–26 | ExCeL London, UK)
The UK’s flagship show is the place to start your tech and venue scouting for the year.
💡 Pro Tip: Spend time at the "Future Vision" stage. The speakers here usually preview trends that won't hit the mainstream for another 12–18 months.
3. IMEX Frankfurt (May 19–21 | Frankfurt, Germany)
This isn’t just a trade show; it’s a global phenomenon. Walking the floor gives you a literal map of the world’s meeting possibilities.
💡 Pro Tip: Head straight to the Inspiration Hub. It’s the heart of the show's education, but the real value is in the "Campfire" sessions where you can debate future trends like experiential design and AI ethics in an intimate, low-pressure setting.
4. CEMA Summit (Aug 9–11 | Toronto, Canada)
The premier event for corporate event marketers. It’s an intimate environment where you can actually talk shop with leaders from brands like Google and Oracle.
💡 Pro Tip: Pay close attention to how they handle "Internal" marketing. CEMA excels at showing how events can drive employee engagement, not just external sales.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 10 Realistic Resolutions for Event Marketers
The Experiential & Creative Powerhouses
5. SXSW (March 12–18 | Austin, USA)
The gold standard for "experiential." It proves that an event can take over an entire city.
💡 Pro Tip: Ignore the main stages for a day and just wander the "brand houses." Study how companies like Spotify use sensory details (scent, sound, tactile walls) to create "instagrammable" moments.
6. Cannes Lions (June 22–26 | Cannes, France)
Where the world’s most creative event activations are crowned.
💡 Pro Tip: Study the winners of the "Brand Experience & Activation" Lions. It will give you a library of ideas on how to merge digital campaigns with physical presence.
7. Inbound by HubSpot (Sept 16–18 | Boston, USA)
Inbound is a masterclass in community building. They don't just host a conference; they host a movement.
💡 Pro Tip: Watch their "stage-to-screen" transition. HubSpot is the best at making a live keynote feel like a high-end Netflix production for the people watching at home.
The Middle East Explosion
8. Middle East Event Show (MEES) (June 9–10 | Dubai, UAE)
Dubai is the capital of "bigger and better."
💡 Pro Tip: Attend the MEES Awards. Even if you aren't nominated, it’s the best way to see a "highlight reel" of the most opulent production designs in the world.
Check this out: An event gallery that generates additional sponsor revenue | Middle East Event Show
9. Qatar Event Show (Sept 1–3 | Doha, Qatar)
A fascinating look at how to merge high-tech delivery with world-class hospitality.
💡 Pro Tip: Focus on the "VIP Journey." Qatar events excel at high-end logistics—study how they move people from the airport to the venue without a single point of friction.
10. Saudi Event Show (SES) (Sept 9–10 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
With "Vision 2030" in full swing, this is the fastest-growing event market on earth.
💡 Pro Tip: Use this show for "Supply Chain Scouting." The vendors exhibiting here are currently building the most futuristic infrastructure on the planet.
The Tech & Data Frontiers
11. Cvent CONNECT (July 13–16 | Nashville, USA)
The mothership for data-driven marketers.
💡 Pro Tip: Visit the "Product Evolution" theater. It’s the best way to see how the world’s largest tech providers are actually using AI to solve "check-in" headaches.
12. Web Summit (Nov 9–12 | Lisbon, Portugal)
A beast of a show with 70,000+ attendees.
💡 Pro Tip: Go to Web Summit not for the stages, but to study their networking app algorithm. It is the most sophisticated "matchmaking" tech in the industry.
13. Event Tech Live (ETL) (Nov 11–12 | ExCeL London, UK)
Our personal favorite show. It’s 100% focused on the tools that make our lives easier.
💡 Pro Tip: Come with a specific "Pain Point" in mind. Use the demo sessions to ask vendors, "How specifically does this save me 5 hours next week?"
You may also like: A Lookback at Event Tech Live 2025
14. IBTM World (Nov 17–19 | Barcelona, Spain)
Where the global industry comes together to sign deals for the following year.
💡 Pro Tip: Pay attention to the "Knowledge Program." It’s usually curated with a heavy focus on future-proofing your career as a marketer.
15. SaaStr Annual (May 12-14 | San Francisco Bay Area, USA)
The ultimate playbook for using events to drive B2B revenue.
💡 Pro Tip: Study their "Braindate" and "SaaStr University" setups. They are masters at turning a conference into a high-value educational community.
Don't just attend these events, deconstruct them. Take photos of the signage, screenshot the app notifications, and talk to the staff. Every event on this list is a classroom.
📥 Don't forget: Download the 2026 Event Calendar here to stay ahead of the game!
Which of these events is already on your 2026 roadmap?
