11 CMO Conferences You Should Attend in 2026
As a Chief Marketing Officer, you live and breathe at the crossroads of innovation and execution. Striving to unearth ways to surpass competitors and stay on top of the latest industry trends, all while managing expansive teams and campaigns. It's a lot to juggle, as marketing demands continuous learning and adaptation.
Attending leading CMO conferences and global marketing summits can address these challenges with access to groundbreaking keynote speeches, cutting-edge industry insights, unparalleled networking opportunities, and even employment opportunities.
The top marketing conferences are perfect for connecting with peers, gaining new ideas and discovering refreshing insights. Read on for the 16 CMO-centric events that are worth attending this year.
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Best CMO Conferences in 2026 Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best CMO conferences I think are worth attending in 2026:
- 2026 ANA/AEF Future of Marketing Leadership Conference - New Haven, CT (February 11, 2026)
- Transformational CMO Assembly - Houston, TX (February 18-19, 2026)
- 18th CMO Summit 2026 - Sydney, Australia (February 25-26, 2026)
- CMO Summit by CMO Alliance - Multiple dates and locations
- Spryng 2026 - Austin, TX (March 24-25, 2026)
- CMO Inspired Summit UK - London, UK (March 25, 2026)
- DigiMarCon - Multiple dates and locations
- CONNECT CMO Leadership Summit Spring - Austin, TX (April 12-14, 2026)
- ONCON 2026 Spring Virtual Summit - Virtual (April 27-28, 2026)
- BrightonSEO - Multiple dates and locations
- MMA CMO & CEO Summit 2026 - Santa Barbara, CA (July 19-21, 2026)
11 Best CMO Conferences of 2026
1. 2026 ANA/AEF Future of Marketing Leadership Conference - New Haven, CT (February 11, 2026)
- Dates: February 11, 2026
- Location: Yale Center for Customer Insights
- Pricing: From $399 (Platinum Tier Members)- $999 (Non-Members)
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The ANA/AEF Future of Marketing Leadership Conference is a one-day event that connects marketing professionals, academics, and emerging leaders to discuss the future of the marketing industry. It includes strategic leadership and modern marketing curricula and fosters collaboration between industry and academia.
The keynote speakers for 2026 include Emily Ketchen, SVP and CMO of Intelligent Devices Group and International Markets at Lenovo; Bricklin Dwyer, Head of Consumer & Business Intelligence at JPMorganChase; and Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Mastercard.
Why attend? If you’re focused on advancing your marketing leadership skills or bridging academic insights with real-world practice, this in-person event gives you a concentrated day of thought leadership, industry trends, and networking with peers and leaders. You’ll gain exposure to forward-looking discussions on talent development, marketing strategy, budget accountability, and the skills essential to navigating changes in digital, data, and organizational leadership.
2. Transformational CMO Assembly - Houston, TX, USA (February 18-19, 2026)
- Dates: February 18-19, 2026
- Location: JW Marriott Houston by The Galleria
- Pricing: Invitation only
The Transformational CMO Assembly is a key event for senior marketing executives, organized by the Millennium Alliance. The conference focuses on data-driven marketing and digital personalization, making it ideal for those looking to tackle modern marketing challenges.
Why attend? Attending the Transformational CMO Assembly gives you the chance to engage with 76% of Fortune 100 companies in executive roundtable discussions. You'll have the opportunity to hear from top marketing minds, explore partnership opportunities, and dive into topics that are shaping the future of marketing. The event is carefully curated to ensure relevant and high-level discussions, making it a must-attend for those serious about advancing their marketing strategies.
3. 18th CMO Summit 2026 - Sydney, Australia (February 25-26, 2026)
- Dates: February 25-26, 2026
- Location: InterContinental Sydney Double Bay
- Pricing: Invitation only
- Social Media: LinkedIn
The 18th CMO Summit 2026 is an exclusive event organized by Marcus Evans, designed for senior marketing executives. This invitation-only summit began as a platform to address pressing global marketing challenges and share strategic insights. It attracts top industry leaders, with past speakers including prominent figures from global brands.
2026’s esteemed collaborators include Yoshiko Nadia Adelina, Brand Director of L'Oréal Paris ANZ, and Kelly Fisk, Chief Corporate Affairs & Marketing Officer at Iress. It will also host interactive sessions with Adam Ross, Senior Director of Creative Strategy at Coca-Cola, and Courtney Cusack, Head of Growth Marketing at FUJIFILM Business Innovation.
Why attend? You'll explore cutting-edge topics like AI-driven marketing and the evolving role of CMOs. The summit offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, learn the best practices among ANZ marketing leaders, and discuss digital transformation and marketing initiatives. It's more than just talks, it's about building connections with solution partners and learning from the best in the marketing industry.
4. CMO Summit by CMO Alliance - Multiple locations and dates
- Dates: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Location: Multiple locations (see table below)
- Pricing: Invitation only
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
| Locations | Dates |
| New York, NY | March 11, 2026 |
| San Jose, CA | April 14, 2026 |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands | May 27, 2026 |
| Austin, TX | June 24, 2026 |
| Boston, MA | August 21, 2026 |
| San Francisco, CA | September 9, 2026 |
The CMO Summit by CMO Alliance is designed for marketing leaders seeking to expand their knowledge and network. It’s a global conference and networking series that empowers marketing executives with insights, strategic dialogue, and peer connections. These events take place in multiple major cities and include various formats tailored to experienced marketing leadership.
The events are expected to have over 100 CMO speakers, more than 500 attendees, with 95% in senior management, and participation from over 400 companies.
Why attend? Attending the CMO Summit lets you dive into industry-specific topics, gain insights from renowned speakers, and learn strategies and leadership insights from experienced CMOs. You'll engage in workshops and panels tailored to your needs as a marketing leader and explore the modern challenges in marketing, including AI, brand strategy, and leadership development.
5. Spryng 2026 - Austin, TX, USA (March 24-25, 2026)
- Dates: March 24-25, 2026
- Location: Central Machine Works
- Pricing: From $1,200
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Spryng 2026 is a B2B SaaS marketing unconference organized by Wynter, designed for senior and startup marketers. It offers an informal setting for peer-to-peer learning and networking, with discussions tailored to participants' roles and challenges. The event emphasizes meaningful conversations, real connections, and collaborative problem-solving among attendees.
Table moderators include Andrew Warden, CMO at Semrush; Olga Kazakova, Head of Global Campaigns at Miro; and Amber Halteman, Director of Marketing at Global Payments.
Why attend? At Spryng 2026, you'll connect with peers in a relaxed outdoor environment while enjoying all-you-can-eat-and-drink options. The unconference format focuses on real-world challenges and solutions, making it ideal for marketers eager to learn from each other.
Spryng centers on the human aspects of B2B marketing, such as brand storytelling and practical tactics that AI can’t replace. The setup leans toward casual, conversation-centric spaces and is more community-oriented than corporate.
6. CMO Inspired Summit UK - London, UK (March 25, 2026)
Attendees gathered for a keynote presentation at the CMO Inspired Summit UK
- Dates: March 25, 2026
- Location: Syon Park
- Pricing: TBA
The CMO Inspired Summit UK is a premier event for marketing leaders, CMOs, and senior marketing executives for a day of networking and knowledge sharing. The summit offers strategic marketing insights from thought leaders, advanced martech and digital approaches, and practical sessions with actionable takeaways.
Companies expected to attend the 2026 event include Mars Inc., Louis Vuitton, Shell, HSBC, Amazon, and Sainsbury's.
Why attend? The CMO Inspired Summit UK centers around the theme of “Marketing Transformations” to help marketing leaders navigate the shifting of the digital industry, drive growth through data-driven insights and brand marketing, and adopt innovative digital strategies. The event offers a platform to connect with peers and gain insights from top executives with keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and solution provider engagements.
7. DigiMarCon - Multiple locations and dates
- Dates: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Pricing: Varied (see table below)
- Location: Multiple locations (see table below)
| Locations | Dates | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | April 1-3, 2026 | US$931.98 |
| Toronto, Canada | April 15-16, 2026 | CA$619.19 |
| Vancouver, Canada | April 20-21, 2026 | CA$619.19 |
| Houston, TX | April 29-30. 2026 | US$672.10 |
| Boston, MA | May 12-13, 2026 | US$620.88 |
DigiMarCon is a leading global digital marketing conference series held across major cities worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. These events help marketing professionals stay ahead of the progressive digital change by combining strategy, execution, and technology insights.
The events focus on how brands can grow visibility, engagement, influencer and social marketing tracks and revenue in an increasingly competitive digital industry. Former attendee Sabrina Gilmore, a manager for strategic business development, shared:
“I chose DigiMarCon because it seemed to be an all-encompassing conference that covered all the topics I wanted to learn more about from strategies, seo, web experience, usability and social media. Personally I wanted to get the highlights and best practices from all sorts of marketing spheres and it seemed the best one stop shop of gaining great knowledge in the industry.” - Sabrina Gilmore, Manager, Strategic Business Development
Why attend? DigiMarCon’s diverse agenda includes keynote and expert sessions from industry leaders and technology experts delivering practical insights on marketing challenges and solutions. There will also be sessions emphasizing actionable learning, like frameworks, tools, and best practices.
The event will also host an exhibition and solution discovery where you can explore marketing automation platforms, analytics and data tools and advertising and media solutions.
8. CONNECT CMO Leadership Summit Spring - Austin, TX, USA (April 12-14, 2026)
- Dates: April 12-14, 2026
- Location: Fairmont Austin
- Pricing: Invitation only
CONNECT CMO Spring is an invite-only executive summit organized by Quartz Network, designed exclusively for Chief Marketing Officers and senior marketing executives. Unlike large-scale conferences, this event is intentionally curated to foster deep peer-to-peer connections, strategic dialogue, and trusted knowledge exchange among top marketing leaders.
Keynote speakers include VJ Bala, Vice President of Marketing Partnerships & Growth at Resmed; Jenny Haggard, Head of Global Thought Leadership at Spotify; and Abimanyu Kumar, Director of Fan Data & Analytics at the NFL.
Why attend? You'll engage with peers and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge marketing strategies and discuss modern CMO pressures, such as growth, brand trust, AI, data, CX, accountability, and customer experience. The summit will feature interactive sessions, panels, and networking opportunities, making it a prime event for anyone looking to elevate their marketing leadership skills.
The CONNECT CMO Spring is not a pitch-heavy or vendor-dominated event, but emphasizes peer-led and strategic discussions.
9. ONCON 2026 Spring Virtual Summit - Virtual (April 27-28, 2026)
- Dates: April 27-28, 2026
- Location: Virtual
- Pricing: $649
- Social Media: LinkedIn
The ONCON 2026 Spring Virtual Summit brings together C-suite executives, senior leaders, entrepreneurs and board-level decision-makers across industries for high-impact discussions, networking, and peer learning. It is best known for the ONCON Awards that recognize top executives and leadership teams worldwide.
2025 attendee, Christopher McCormick, shared:
“This year’s conference had really amazing session topics and session leaders. The session leaders brought their A-game with research, depth and their own experiences to boot. The groups were engaging. People shared great insights and best practices, I got a ton of value by engaging and being part of the conversation.”
Why attend? ONCON is designed to create a trusted, executive-only environment where senior leaders can share leadership challenges and solutions, exchange insights on scaling organizations and innovation, and build long-term peer relationships at the highest levels. The virtual format offers flexibility, allowing you to learn and network from anywhere. This summit is perfect for those looking to stay ahead in the marketing world without traveling.
10. BrightonSEO - Multiple dates and locations
- Dates: Multiple dates (see table below)
- Location: Multiple locations (see table below)
- Social Media: LinkedIn
| Locations | Dates | Pricing |
| London, UK | April 30-May 1, 2026 | From £300 |
| San Diego, CA | September 15-16, 2026 | From $1,090 |
BrightonSEO is a leading search marketing conference, designed for SEO professionals and enthusiasts. It attracts thousands of professionals from around the globe who work across SEO, content, PPC, digital PR, analytics and marketing strategy.
Emma-Jane Stogdon, Senior SEO Content Specialist at Wise, was a former attendee of BrightenSEO and shared:
“BrightenSEO is more than just great speakers, talks, and chips on the seafront, it’s the people who attend that make this my favorite conference. I feel lucky to be in an industry full of talented, supportive, and awesome people.”
Why attend? You'll delve into a wide range of SEO topics and case studies, from technical SEO to content marketing. The event will feature expert-led talks from in-house SEO leaders, agency practitioners, and independent consultants, sharing real test results and failures, not just success stories. It also has parallel stages, allowing you to choose sessions aligned with your experience level and interest.
11. MMA CMO & CEO Summit 2026 - Santa Barbara, CA (July 19-21, 2026)
- Dates: July 19-21, 2026
- Location: The Ritz-Carlton Bacara
- Pricing: Invitation only
The MMA CMO & CEO Summit 2026 is a flagship, invitation-led executive conference hosted by MMA Global (Mobile Marketing Association). It is designed specifically for Chief Marketing Officers and senior marketing leaders from leading global brands to discuss how marketing drives business growth, accountability, and transformation in an increasingly data- and technology-driven world.
Why attend? You'll gain insights into innovative marketing strategies from global leaders. The intimate setting fosters meaningful discussions and networking opportunities. It's a chance to explore how mobile technology is shaping the future of marketing and sustainability and to connect with fellow leaders in the industry.
How I Made My Selection For This List
There are a lot of factors I had to consider when putting together a list of CMO conferences to attend in 2026. A few questions I ask myself are:
- Is the conference and its topics relevant to current trends or challenges plaguing Chief Marketing Officers and their teams?
- Are the keynote speakers themselves Chief Marketing Officers, EVPs or SVPs of Marketing, Global Head of Marketing, or similar titles? How relevant are their insights to my audience?
- Do the organizers actively facilitate networking or partnership opportunities for attendees? This is especially important if you're looking for a job, with 85% of jobs filled through networking and 70% never posted publicly (Apollo Technical, 2023).
- And of course, budget. When you add up the costs of travel, accommodation, and other expenses, does it blow your conference budget out of the water or do you feel like a billionaire at a garage sale?
Can't make an in-person conference?
Don't worry. We know how hectic CMO schedules can be, so we've compiled a list of the best marketing webinars you can watch on-demand, anywhere, anytime.
Ready, Set, Register
That's some list, and we've got everything covered. If you're looking to improve your product marketing chops as a CMO, the Product Marketing Summit is a great pick. If you wanna talk brand, Gartner's Marketing Symposium or the BrandSmart conference are your go-to.
It's really all about identifying your biggest challenges for the year and which conferences have speakers who share the best insights on those topics. Now, go pick one (or more) and register.
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