9 Best Event Planning Conferences to Attend in 2026
The best event planning conferences give you something no webinar can—real conversations, fresh ideas, and industry connections that actually move your career forward. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, scout new vendors, or stay ahead of shifting trends, the right conference pays off. Here's a roundup of the top events worth your time and travel budget.
Best Event Planning Conference in 2026 Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best event planning conferences I think are worth attending in 2026:
- NACE Experience Conference 2026 - New Orleans, LA (August 2-4, 2026)
- Canadian Meetings + Events Expo - Toronto, Canada (August 11-12, 2026)
- Event Organisers Summit - London, UK (October 12-13, 2026)
- IMEX America 2026 - Las Vegas, NV (October 13-15, 2026)
- TEAMS Conference & Expo - Birmingham, AL (October 26-29, 2026)
- The Event Planner Expo 2026 - New York City, NY (October 27-29, 2026)
- UFI Global Congress 2026 - Bahrain (November 2-5, 2026)
- Event Tech Live London - London, UK (November 11-12, 2026)
- IBTM World - Barcelona, Spain (November 17-19, 2026)
Best Event Planning Conferences Of 2026
Below are my summaries of the best event planning conferences on my shortlist. My reviews look at each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offerings.
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1. NACE Experience Conference 2026 - New Orleans, LA (August 2-4, 2026)
- Dates: August 2-4, 2026
- Location: New Orleans Marriott
- Pricing: From $1,599-$2,324
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The NACE Experience Conference is the annual gathering for catering and event professionals, organized by the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE). It features 30+ breakout sessions, two keynote presentations, and the NACE One Awards.
Why attend? The conference blends education with immersive networking in a way most industry events don't. You'll get curated sessions on leadership and food and beverage, hands-on connection with peers, and the NACE One Awards celebration—all set in New Orleans' French Quarter.
2. Canadian Meetings + Events Expo - Toronto, Canada (August 11-12, 2026)
- Dates: August 11-12, 2026
- Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
CMEE is Canada's leading tradeshow for meeting and event planners, now in its 35th year. It draws 3,000+ attendees and 500+ exhibitors to Toronto each August for education, networking, and supplier discovery.
Why attend? CMEE stands out for its appointments program, which sets up curated one-on-one connections with exhibitors. Add 7+ CE-accredited sessions on topics like technology, sustainability, and contracts, and you've got two very focused, high-value days.
3. Event Organisers Summit - London, UK (October 12-13, 2026)
- Dates: October 12-13, 2026
- Location: Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow
- Pricing: Free (for qualified event planners and corporate buyers)
- Social Media: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook
The Event Organisers Summit is a free, invite-only event for senior event professionals in the UK, organized by Forum Events. It connects buyers and suppliers through curated one-to-one meetings, keynotes, and seminars.
Why attend? The summit pairs you with suppliers matched to your specific needs—no cold booth-walking required. Speakers like Alison Edgar MBE and Phil Yeo from Google.org lead practical sessions on team performance, creative ideation, and next-gen event formats.
4. IMEX America 2026 - Las Vegas, NV (October 13-15, 2026)
- Dates: October 13-15, 2026
- Location: Mandalay Bay
- Pricing: Free (for qualified industry professionals)
- Social Media: Instagram, LinkedIn
IMEX America is the world's largest trade show for the MICE industry, organized by Regent Exhibitions. It launched in 2011 and draws 10,000+ meeting planners, buyers, and suppliers to Las Vegas each October.
Why attend? The 2026 theme is "Design Matters," exploring design as a business differentiator. Beyond the 3,700-exhibitor show floor, you get 300+ free education sessions across seven tracks, MPI keynotes, the Association Leadership Forum, and Rendezvous—IMEX's iconic industry night out.
5. TEAMS Conference & Expo - Birmingham, AL (October 26-29, 2026)
- Dates: October 26-29, 2026
- Location: Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook
TEAMS Conference & Expo is the world's leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry, presented by SportsTravel magazine and organized by Northstar Meetings Group. Launched in 1998, it draws 1,300+ sports-event professionals annually.
Why attend? TEAMS is built around appointment-based one-on-one meetings between sports-event organizers and host destinations, venues, and sponsors—making it far more targeted than a typical trade show. You'll also get access to the USOPC Olympic & Paralympic SportsLink program, sports-specific education sessions, and speakers like Olympic athlete Brian Boitano and NCAA VP Anthony Holman.
6. The Event Planner Expo 2026 - New York City, NY (October 27-29, 2026)
- Dates: October 27-29, 2026
- Location: Multiple Locations (see table below)
- Pricing: Starts at $71.21
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The Event Planner Expo: Locations & Dates
| Location | Date |
|---|---|
| Lavan Midtown | October 27, 2026 |
| Online | October 28, 2026 |
| Metropolitan Pavilion | October 29, 2026 |
The Event Planner Expo is NYC's premier annual expo for event professionals, corporate planners, and business leaders, drawing 2,000+ attendees. Past keynote speakers include Gary Vaynerchuk, Barbara Corcoran, and Mel Robbins.
Why attend? It's one of the few event industry expos built around both education and high-level networking, connecting you with decision-makers from companies like Google, JPMorgan, and NBC Universal. Expect keynote-style sessions from well-known business figures, plus strategies you can apply directly to growing your events business.
7. UFI Global Congress 2026 - Bahrain (November 2-5, 2026)
- Dates: November 2-5, 2026
- Location: Exhibition World Bahrain
- Pricing: €1,640
- Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook
The UFI Global Congress is the annual flagship event of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. Now in its 93rd edition, it gathers hundreds of exhibition industry leaders and decision-makers from around the world.
Why attend? This is the exhibition industry's top annual gathering—bringing together leaders from every continent for high-level networking and strategic dialogue. Sessions focus on the trends and innovations shaping the global exhibitions sector, making it especially valuable if you work in trade shows, expos, or large-scale events.
8. Event Tech Live London - London, UK (November 11-12, 2026)
- Dates: November 11-12, 2026
- Location: ExCeL London
- Pricing: Free
- Social Media: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
Event Tech Live is the world's leading conference and exhibition dedicated to event technology, now in its 13th year. It draws 3,000+ event professionals, buyers, and top event tech companies to ExCeL London.
Why attend? With four dedicated stages—covering AI, MarTech, and experiential tech—plus a Hosted Buyer Programme and the Event Technology Awards, ETL London is where buying decisions actually get made. It's the one annual event where you can benchmark your tech strategy, meet vetted suppliers, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of events.
9. IBTM World - Barcelona, Spain (November 17-19, 2026)
- Dates: November 17-19, 2026
- Location: Fira de Barcelona Gran Via
- Pricing: From €100-€199 + VAT
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
IBTM World is the global hub for meetings and events professionals, organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions). With 30+ years of history, it brings together 12,000+ event professionals and 2,500+ suppliers from 150+ countries in Barcelona each November.
Why attend? IBTM World sets itself apart with precision-powered matchmaking and a future-focused conference program. Hosted Buyers get pre-scheduled supplier meetings, complimentary flights, and accommodation. It's three days of learning, connecting, and doing real business with the entire global events industry under one roof.
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