The best social media conferences to attend in 2026
Browse 35 must-attend social media conferences in 2026. Find dates, locations, and the best events for marketing agency social teams looking to stay ahead of trends.
The 2026 social media conference calendar is already shaping up to be a big one, and social media managers (like yourself) have more opportunities than ever to learn, connect, and level up.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your strategy, explore new tools, or build community with marketers who understand the pace of your work, there’s an event on this list for you.
This guide includes 35 of the best social media and marketing conferences in 2026, complete with who each event is best for, confirmed dates when available, and direct links to help you stay updated.
Bookmark this page. We’ll keep it updated as more 2026 conference details are announced.
Why marketing agencies should attend conferences in 2026
Conferences give social media managers and social media marketers a chance to:
- Learn what’s actually working across platforms (straight from the pros)
- Future-proof client strategies with early trend insights
- Connect with other agency leaders, creators, and brand partners
- Build community with people who understand the day-to-day pressure
- Bring back practical takeaways your whole team can use
Top 5 social media conferences for marketing agencies (2026)
Below are the marquee events with confirmed 2026 dates, followed by additional global and regional options.
1. Social Media Week by Adweek
Dates: April 14-15, 2026
Location: New York, New York
Cost: $1,299 USD
Best for: Agencies exploring creator collaborations, emerging formats, social storytelling
Adweek’s Social Media Week digs into the future of creativity, platform shifts, and how brand/agency teams can partner with content creators to boost engagement and build community.
2. Social Media Marketing World
Dates: April 28-30, 2026
Location: Anaheim, California
Cost: TBA
Best for: Agencies that want deep tactical training and platform-specific insights
Social Media Marketing World brings together thousands of marketers each year for hands-on sessions, strategy workshops, and practical talks on organic social, paid campaigns, content, and creator partnerships.
3. SocialWest (Canada)
Dates: May 27-29, 2026
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Cost: $999 CAD
Best for: Agencies wanting high-value, practical training in social strategy
SocialWest is one of Canada’s most beloved marketing conferences, and a favourite for marketing agencies and social media managers looking for actionable workshops and networking.
4. HeyOrca Community Led Marketing Summit St. John's
Date: July 2026 (TBA)
Location: St. John’s, NL
Price: TBA
Best for: Social media managers, social media marketers, and agency teams who want actionable learning and peer community
5. Content Marketing World
Dates: October 5-7, 2026
Location: Denver, Colorado
Cost: TBA
Best for: Marketing agencies, social media marketers, and social media managers who build content programs, content ops, or thought-leadership for clients
Content Marketing World returns with three days of content strategy, storytelling, analytics, and operations – plus community events that bring SMM marketers together from across industries.
How to pick the right conference for your marketing agency
Use this checklist to pick the best fit:
- Does the agenda match your clients’ needs?
- Will you and your team walk away with actionable next steps?
- Is networking a priority this year?
- Will your agency get a strong return on time and travel?
- Are sessions geared toward team leads, strategists, or creators?
35 social media conferences to attend in 2026
Virtual Conference: The Year Ahead in Marketing
Date: January 20-21, 2026
Location: Virtual
Price: TBA
Best for: Industry leaders and trend-watchers who want to stay on top of what’s next in marketing
SocialNext Ottawa
Date: January 29, 2026
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Price: $699 CAD
Best for: Marketing agencies and social media managers working with nonprofits and public-sector clients
Agency New Business Virtual Conference
Date: February 23-27, 2026 (TBA)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $499 USD
Best for: Agencies focused on prospecting, sales, and client acquisition
Social Media Strategies Summit
Date: February 25-26, 2026
Location: Virtual
Price: $749 USD
Best for: SMMs and agencies needing frameworks, audits, and actionable strategy
Ragan’s Social Media Conference
Date: March 9-11, 2026
Location: Orlando, Florida
Price: $3,895 USD
Best for: Marketing agencies supporting corporate comms and brand reputation
Multifamily Social Media Summit
Date: March 18-20, 2026
Location: Napa, California
Price: $995 USD
Best for: Social media creators, social media managers, and agencies working with real estate and property management
Content India
Date: March 16–18, 2026
Location: Mumbai, India
Price: £999 GBP
Best for: Global content marketers and production teams
IAB NewFronts & CreatorFronts
Dates: March 23-26, 2026
Location: New York, New York
Cost: Free
Best for: Social media agencies and their teams who manage video, creator partnerships, or paid media across streaming platforms
University of Illinois Web Con
Date: April 9-10, 2026
Location: Virtual
Price: $250 USD
Best for: Higher-ed digital teams and agencies serving universities
SocialNext Toronto
Date: April 9, 2026
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Price: $599
Best for: Marketing agencies and SMMs wanting practical, community-driven digital strategies
Social Media Week by Adweek
Dates: April 14-15, 2026
Location: New York, New York
Cost: $1,299 USD
Best for: Social media marketers at agencies who are exploring creator collaborations, emerging formats, and social storytelling
PDMI East
Date: April 13-15, 2026
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Price: $795 USD
Best for: Performance-driven agencies and direct-response marketers
Social Media for First Responders
Date: April 21-23, 2026
Location: Virtual
Price: $749 USD
Best for: Social media managers and teams in the government and public-safety communications sector
POSSIBLE 2026
Date: April 27-29, 2026
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Price: $2,850 USD
Best for: Marketing agency leaders, executives, and content managers
Social Media Marketing World 2026
Dates: April 28-30, 2026
Location: Anaheim, California
Cost: TBA
Best for: Marketing agencies and their content teams that want deep tactical training and platform-specific insights
Midwest Digital Marketing Conference
Date: April 29-30, 2026
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Price: TBA
Best for: Marketing agencies needing multi-disciplinary digital training
Government Social Media Conference
Date: May 5-7, 2026
Location: New Orleans, LA
Price: $819 USD
Best for: Social media marketers who manage government agencies and public-sector clients
SocialWest
Dates: May 27-29, 2026
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Cost: $999 CAD
Best for: Social media managers, marketing agencies, and social media marketers who want high-value, practical training in social strategy
Digital Marketing for Financial Services Canada
Date: June 10-11, 2026
Location: Toronto + Virtual
Price: $1,695 CAD
Best for: Marketing agencies serving financial clients
SocialNext Montreal
Date: June 2026
Location: Montreal, QC
Price: TBA
Best for: Social media managers and agency teams who want hands-on, practical training they can apply directly to their social strategy
Growth Marketing Summit
Date: June 16, 2026
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Price: $899 EUR
Best for: Performance-focused and CRO-driven marketing agencies
eduWeb Summit
Date: July 14-16, 2026
Location: Orlando, Florida
Price: $2,750 USD
Best for: Higher-ed marketing teams
HeyOrca Community Led Marketing Summit St. John's
Date: July 2026 (TBA)
Location: St. John’s, NL
Price: TBA
Best for: Social media managers, social media marketers, and agency teams who want actionable learning and peer community
State of Social
Date: August 25-26, 2026
Location: Perth, Australia
Price: TBA
Best for: Creative agencies, brand strategists, and SMMs
INBOUND 2026
Date: September 16-18, 2026
Location: San Francisco, CA
Price: $1,599 USD
Best for: Marketing agencies and their content teams who scale inbound, content, and CRM services
Button: The Content Design Conference
Date: September 24-25, 2026
Location: Virtual
Price: TBA
Best for: Content design and UX content teams
Spotlight Conference
Dates: Fall 2026
Location: TBA
Cost: TBA
Best for: SMMs, in-house marketers, agency teams, freelancers, and growth-minded entrepreneurs
Content Marketing World 2026
Dates: October 5-7, 2026
Location: Denver, Colorado
Cost: TBA
Best for: Marketing agencies building content programs, content ops, or thought-leadership for clients
Digital Collegium
Date: October 18-20, 2026
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania + Virtual
Price: TBA
Best for: Web and social teams in higher education
ANA Masters of Marketing
Date: October 20-23, 2026
Location: Orlando, FL
Price: TBA
Best for: Enterprise and brand-focused marketing agencies
LavaCon
Date: October 25-28, 2026
Location: Charlotte, NC
Price: $2,450 USD
Best for: UX writers, content designers, and content ops teams
SocialEast
Date: October 29-30, 2026
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Price: TBA
Best for: Agency social teams and marketers who need actionable, real-world training to strengthen their social media strategy
SocialPacific Vancouver
Date: October 30, 2026
Location: Vancouver, BC
Price: TBA
Best for: Marketing agencies and social media managers seeking practical, high-impact strategy training
HeyOrca Community Led Marketing Toronto Summit
Date: October 2026 (TBA)
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Price: TBA
Best for: Agency teams that want actionable learning and peer community
Ahrefs Evolve
Date: October-November, 2026
Location: United States
Price: TBA
Best for: SEO-focused and analytics-driven marketing agencies
FAQs
Do these conferences offer agency passes?
Many do. Look for group rates or team bundles.
Should marketing agencies prioritize in-person or virtual events?
If your goal is networking and community-building, in-person wins. For foundational training, virtual works well.
Which conference is best for new agency social media managers?
HeyOrca’s Community Summit, SocialNext, SocialWest, and Social Media Strategies Summit are great beginner-friendly options.
Which social media events offer the best networking opportunities for digital marketers?
Events like Social Media Marketing World, INBOUND, Content Marketing World, and POSSIBLE offer excellent networking with marketers, creators, and agency leaders.
Best social media marketing summits with expert speakers and workshops
If you want deep training and hands-on workshops, strong picks include Social Media Marketing World, Content Marketing World, POSSIBLE, and the Social Media Strategies Summit. Canadian marketers will find practical, tactical sessions at SocialWest and the HeyOrca Community Summit.
What is the best marketing conference to attend in Canada?
The best Canadian marketing conferences include the HeyOrca Community Summit, SocialWest, SocialNext, and SocialEast. These events are known for practical, real-world sessions made for social media managers, agencies, and brand teams.
What is the best community marketing conference to attend?
If your focus is community-building, the HeyOrca Community Summit is built specifically for social teams looking for actionable frameworks and examples.
How do I prove to my manager that marketing conferences are important to growth?
Show how conferences help you bring back new workflows, templates, platform insights, and best practices that directly support your team’s goals. Managers respond well to a simple plan outlining the sessions you’ll attend and the value you’ll share afterward.
How do I prove the ROI of conferences?
ROI can be shown through improved processes, stronger client results, new tools discovered, or new partnerships formed.
How to register for leading social media conferences near Toronto
You can register directly through each event’s official website. Top Toronto-area events include SocialNext Toronto, the HeyOrca Community Summit, and the Digital Marketing for Financial Services Summit. Most open early-bird registration between late winter and early spring.
Which social media conferences provide hands-on training for content creators?
Events with strong creator-focused training include Social Media Marketing World, Content Marketing World, SocialWest, and the SMSS workshops. The HeyOrca Community Summit also offers sessions centred on real-world workflows, content planning, and creator or community collaboration.
Want your event listed?
Email me at iliyana@heyorca.com with your event details.
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