In This Article
- A curated list of meaningful corporate events and business-focused conferences taking place in 2026
- What makes each event valuable for planners managing complex, large-scale, or recurring programs
- The themes and trends shaping modern event planning, from technology to attendee experience
The Top Event Planning Conferences in 2026
2026 is off to the races, with professional event planners pushing the envelope on innovation and building on momentum from last year. With attendee expectations always rising, event industry-focused conferences play an essential role in helping planners stay informed, sharpen their skills, and look ahead to what’s next.
The benefits of event planning conferences go beyond inspiration. These events are places to learn directly from peers and industry leaders, explore how teams are adapting their tools and workflows, and dig into the trends influencing how events are planned and delivered. When event professionals exchange insights, discuss challenges, and build relationships, the value lasts long after the event ends.
With so many event planning conferences on the calendar, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve narrowed down a list of the top corporate and industry-focused conferences taking place in 2026 for you! Let’s dive into the top event planning conferences coming up this year, and why they made our list:
IMEX America 2026
When: October 13–15, 2026
Where: Las Vegas, NV
IMEX America continues to be one of the most influential global gatherings for professionals working across meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. In 2025, the event saw more than 6,000 buyers, 17,000 attendees, and over 90,000 meetings (no small feat!). What sets IMEX apart is its focus on real-world business outcomes, from sourcing destinations and suppliers to exploring how events are adapting to new attendee expectations.
Education sessions at IMEX often touch on sustainability, experience design, and the operational realities of delivering large, multi-day events. For corporate planners, it’s also a valuable opportunity to see how peers are approaching event registration, on-site logistics, and attendee flow at scale. These areas that can make or break the event experience.
IMEX is particularly useful for planners who want exposure to a broad cross-section of the industry in one place, while still leaving with practical ideas they can apply back home.
MPI World Education Congress (WEC) 2026
When: June 2–4, 2026
Where: San Antonio, TX
MPI’s World Education Congress is known for its emphasis on applied learning. Rather than focusing solely on trends, WEC sessions are designed to help planners improve how events are planned and executed day-to-day, from budgeting and negotiation to experience design and stakeholder communication. In 2025, WEC marked a successful hybrid event showing with over 1,900 in-person attendees and 300 virtual, 165+ speakers, and up to 13 continuing education hours.
Corporate planners often find WEC valuable for its peer-driven discussions and its focus on professional development. Many sessions explore how teams are adapting processes, workflows, and tools to support more efficient planning and stronger outcomes.
For planners looking to refine their approach to event operations and strategy, WEC offers grounded, practical insight.
Business Events Industry Week (BEIW) 2026
When: May 5–7, 2026
Where: Washington, DC
Hosted by PCMA, Business Events Industry Week is not just about execution details, but also where the industry is headed. BEIW brings together leaders from across the business events ecosystem to discuss workforce trends, economic impact, and the evolving role of events within organizations.
For corporate event leaders involved in long-term planning or program strategy, BEIW offers a chance to step back and think more broadly about how events support business goals. Conversations often center on sustainability, technology adoption, and how attendee expectations are changing, particularly in a post-pandemic landscape.
It’s a thoughtful addition to the calendar for planners who want to stay connected to the bigger picture.
ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition 2026
When: August 15–18, 2026
Where: Indianapolis, IN
Although ASAE’s Annual Meeting is rooted in the association space, its content translates well to corporate environments, especially for planners managing repeatable, large-scale programs. With over 5,000 attendees in 2025, the event sold out the Los Angeles Convention Center and saw a major focus on membership engagement, AI event tools, and data.
Sessions often focus on organizational strategy, digital transformation, and operational consistency, offering lessons that apply across many event types. Corporate planners attending ASAE can gain insight into how other organizations manage complex calendars, standardize workflows, and improve attendee experience across multiple events.
It’s particularly relevant for teams thinking about long-term planning and operational alignment rather than one-off events.
Expo! Expo! 2026
When: November 16–18, 2026
Where: Milwaukee, WI
Hosted by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Expo! Expo! is a strong fit for planners involved in trade shows, expos, and exhibitor-driven events. The conference dives into the operational side of events, with sessions covering topics like floor management, exhibitor engagement, and attendee movement. The 2025 event in Houston showcased over 230 exhibitors to more than 1,800 industry professionals, covering topics like immersive experiences, tech integration, and sustainability.
Corporate planners often find value in discussions around on-site logistics, staffing, and efficiency, especially for events where volume and complexity are high. Expo! Expo! also offers insight into how data captured during events can inform post-event reporting and future planning.
For planners focused on improving execution and consistency, this event delivers practical takeaways.
Experiential Marketing Summit 2026
When: May 18 – 20, 2026
Where: Las Vegas, NV
As corporate events increasingly play a role in brands delivering their message and customer engagement, the Experiential Marketing Summit has become more and more relevant for event teams. This conference focuses on how live experiences connect to storytelling, audience engagement, and measurable outcomes.
Sessions often feature case studies from brands and agencies, offering perspective on how experiences are designed, delivered, and evaluated. For corporate planners who collaborate closely with marketing teams, Summit provides useful context for aligning event execution with broader brand goals.
It’s a strong complement to more operations-focused conferences, especially for planners working on customer-facing or brand-driven events.
Why These Conferences Matter in 2026
Across all of these events, several common themes continue to emerge:
✅ A growing emphasis on operational efficiency and scalability
✅ Increased focus on attendee experience and engagement
✅ More thoughtful conversations around technology, data, and measurement
✅ A shift toward events as a strategic business function, not just a line item
For event planners, these conferences offer more than networking, they provide perspective, shared learning, and practical insights into how the industry is evolving.
For teams interested in exploring how others approach event operations and technology at scale, additional resources like this overview of event technology trends can help round out that picture.
