Top 10 Events for Event Professionals in Q1 2026

The first quarter of 2026 sets the foundation for your event strategy. As event professionals plan their year, choosing the right event industry conferences becomes critical for staying competitive, building valuable connections, and discovering solutions that actually work. 

This blog covers the must-attend Q1 conferences organized by month, helping you strategically plan which events deserve your time and travel budget. From leadership development to operational excellence, these conferences address the specific challenges facing today’s event professionals. 

What are the Top Conferences in January 2026?

1.  PCMA Convening Leaders 2026

‍When: January 11-14, 2026

‍Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, USA

Why Attend:

• Access C-level educational programming and intensive workshops
• Participate in focused sessions on critical topics like attendee acquisition and budget optimization
• Move beyond theory into actionable problem-solving with concrete implementation plans
• Network with business events leaders from across the industry

Best For: Senior event professionals, association executives, corporate meeting planners, agency leaders, and strategic event program developers.

2.  NACE Evolve Conferences 2026  

When: Jan 24-26, 2026

Where: The Doubletree Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Why attend:

• Tools, strategies, and connections to foster chapter growth, engagement and success
• Expert-led sessions for membership growth, programming excellence and brand building
• New Chapter Leader Orientation and Advanced Chapter Leader Workshops
• Networking at Music City-inspired events, including an exclusive foundation of NACE reception

Best for: NACE chapter leaders, catering professionals, event professionals, and anyone seeking to transform their chapter’s impact within the catering community

3. GuestX 2026 by IAVM

When: January 25-27, 2026
Where: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

Why Attend:

• Learn specialized techniques for creating exceptional guest experiences
• Understand how operational decisions impact guest satisfaction and venue ROI
• Participate in skills-based workshops with practical tools for elevating attendee experience
• Network with venue professionals facing similar challenges

Best For: Venue managers, stadium operators, arena professionals, conference center staff, and event professionals focused on attendee experience and safety.

Your best event conversations shouldn’t end when the session does. Use Rozie Synopsis to capture live discussions and transform them into insights that stay accessible, useful, and actionable long after the event. Book a demo to see how.

4. ESPA 2026 Annual Conference

When: Jan 25 - 27, 2026

Where: Loews Arlington Hotel, Arlington, Texas, USA

Why attend: 

• Join 350+ event service professionals from across North America
• 17 targeted breakouts and workshops designed specifically for service managers
• Topic roundtables and the Leaders Program for Associate Directors, Directors, and VPs
• 11.25 hours of continuing education credits 
• "On the Road Workshop" education outside traditional conference settings

Best For: Event service managers, hotel event coordinators, convention center service staff, CVB professionals, and anyone responsible for the operational delivery and execution of events at venues and facilities.

What are the Top Conferences in February 2026?

5. Independent Planner Education Conference (IPEC)

When: February 4-6, 2026
Where: Gila River Resort & Casino, Chandler,  AZ, USA

Why Attend:

• Connect exclusively with content designed for independent planners
• Meet face-to-face with top destinations, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and destination management companies. 
• Attend pre-scheduled supplier meetings tailored to your needs
• Balance education, networking, and business development in one place

Best For: Independent meeting planners, freelance event professionals, boutique event agencies, and consultants operating outside corporate or association structures.

6. International Confex Conference

When: February 25-26, 2026
Where: ExCeL London, London, England, UK

Why Attend:

• Access over 200 suppliers, venues, and technology platforms
• Learn from 60+ industry-leading speakers across multiple tracks
• Explore event technology, sustainability, marketing innovation, and future trends
• Gain a global perspective on emerging practices shaping international events

Best For: UK and European event professionals, international planners, technology seekers, and those interested in global event trends and European market innovations.

What are the Top Conferences in March 2026?

7. Northstar Meetings Group's SMU International

When: March 9-11, 2026
Where: New York Marriott Marquis, New York, USA

Why Attend:

• Focus specifically on international program placement
• Participate in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments with premier international suppliers
• Experience unique networking events at New York landmarks
• Build invaluable business connections for global programs

Best For: International meeting planners, incentive travel buyers, corporate travel managers, and event professionals placing programs outside North America.

8. SISO CEO Summit 2026

When: March 9-11, 2026

Where: The Sanctuary, Kiawah Island Resort, South Carolina, USA

Why attend:

• Join CEOs, presidents, and senior executives in the trade show and exhibition industry
• Participate in high-impact discussions on "Innovation in Action”.
• Network with top-tier executives from the world's leading exhibition and event organizing companies
• Learn best practices from industry leaders

Best For: CEOs, company presidents, independent show organizers, trade show executives, exhibition industry leaders 

9. RevvedUP 2026

When: March 23-24, 2026

Where: The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

Why attend:

• Join 100+ CEOs and C-suite leaders from media, data, events, and experience economy companies
• Design next-generation growth models powered by AI, data, and platform innovation
• Growth Design Labs, peer-led CEO roundtables, and immersive "Tsunami Response" simulations
• Integrate AI Assessment and Growth Framework into your strategic planning

Best For: CEOs, CROs, CMOs, CPOs, and senior operators from media companies, event organizers, data businesses, and marketplace platforms focused on AI-driven revenue transformation.

10. Global Inclusion 2026

When: March 25-27, 2026
Where: New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Why Attend:

• Share innovations in creating equitable and inclusive events
• Build community with education professionals and industry stakeholders
• Learn frameworks for creating experiences that welcome diverse audiences
• Collaborate toward a more equitable future in events

Best For: Diversity and inclusion professionals, event planners focused on accessibility, education event organizers, and those committed to creating equitable event experiences.

Building Your 2026 Strategy

The Q1 2026 event calendar gives strategic opportunities for every type of event professional. Whether you’re seeking operational excellence at GuestX, networking at SMU International, or AI-driven revenue strategies at RevvedUP, these event industry conferences deliver practical value beyond typical industry gatherings. 

Pick the event industry conferences aligned with your specific challenges, prepare targeted questions in advance, and commit to implementing what you learn. And if you are organizing conferences this quarter, consider how AI can help you maximize the value of your event content. Many organizers use platforms like Rozie Synopsis to turn live session content into real-time multilingual insights and searchable knowledge hubs, ensuring learnings from Q1 events actively inform year-round engagement and planning. See how Rozie Synopsis captures live insights for smarter planning.

FAQs

Q1. What Q1 2026 conferences focus on leadership and executive strategy?

PCMA Convening Leaders in January and the SISO CEO Summit in March are key events for senior executives, focusing on high-level strategy, innovation and peer networking. 

Q2. Where can I learn about event technology and global trends in 2026?

International Confex in London is a premier showcase for event tech, sustainability and global innovation, featuring over 200 suppliers and 60+ speakers.

Q3. What conference addresses AI and future growth for event businesses?

RevvedUP 2026 in March focuses on designing AI-driven revenue models and next-generation growth strategies for media and event company leaders. 

Q4. Which conference is best for independent event planners in Q1 2026?

The Independent Planner Education Conference (IPEC) in February is specifically designed for independents, featuring curated supplier meetings and tailored educational content.

Q5. What are the must-attend event industry conferences in January 2026?

The top January conferences are PCMA Convening Leaders for strategic leadership, NACE Evolve for chapter growth, GuestX by IAVM for attendee experience, and the ESPA Annual Conference for operational service excellence.

Q6. How can organizers make sure attendees engage with the content shared during the event year-round?
Organizers can use platforms like Rozie Synopsis to capture, monetize, and amplify their event content. This platform captures session audio, transcribes it, translates it into multiple languages, and produces live insights in near real-time. It gives attendees an interactive mobile experience for higher engagement, and a post event knowledge hub, so attendees can revisit insights year-round.