Conferences have been on my mind a lot lately—specifically, the ones that bring together the brightest marketers and creators in the industry.
After sharing the list with my Marketing team, one thought echoed across the board: “Our readers would probably love this, too”.
So, why are conferences on our radar in the first place? Well, being a remote team has some huge perks—working with people from around the globe, for starters. But there's something about meeting face-to-face that simply can’t be replicated through a Zoom call.
Plus, the right conference does two things at once: gives you access to top-tier education and opens doors to incredible networking opportunities.
If you’ve been toying with attending one this year (or just got the idea beamed into your head), you’re in luck. I’ve rounded up the top conferences on my radar, with dates, locations, and highlights. These events tick one or more of these boxes:
- Relevant topics: You’ll walk away with strategies that actually work and insights on trends shaping social media, marketing, and business today.
- Great speaker lineups: Think industry leaders and innovators across tech, branding, and the creator economy.
- Networking opportunities: Perfect for meeting collaborators, sponsors, and professionals who can help take your business or creator journey to the next level.
So, let’s dive into the events you’ll want on your calendar for 2025.
1. Creator Economy Live
Date: Feb 4-5, 2025
Location: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas
Price: $999-2,099
Best for: Creators looking to connect with decision-makers and influencer marketing pros
Creator Economy Live is a two-day deep dive into the creator economy, focusing on the strategies, relationships, and platforms that drive the industry forward. Whether you're a creator, agency rep, or marketing professional, you'll find valuable insights to help you grow.
What to Expect:
- Panels and fireside chats with experts sharing their success stories and strategies on building sustainable careers in the creator space.
- Networking lounges and interactive sessions provide opportunities to meet brand partners and other creators.
If making strategic connections and learning from top-tier experts is your goal, this one’s a must.
2. SXSW Austin
Dates: March 7–15, 2025
Location: Austin, Texas
Price: $895-2,195
Best for: Creators and marketers interested in digital innovation, culture, and technology trends
SXSW Austin blends film, music, technology, and interactive media, offering a dynamic space for creative and tech professionals. The conference track is a major draw, focusing on topics that matter to social media, content creation, and digital innovation.
What to expect:
- Panels and workshops on storytelling, audience engagement, and tech innovation.
- Networking mixers and live showcases to connect with potential collaborators in a high-energy, creative atmosphere.
3. Social Media Marketing World
Date: March 30–April 1, 2025
Location: San Diego Convention Center, California; Virtual
Price: $497-1,497
Best for: Marketing professionals, social media managers, and small business owners
Hosted by Social Media Examiner, Social Media Marketing World offers practical training to level up your social media strategies. You'll learn about platform algorithms and content marketing tactics directly from industry leaders.
What to expect:
- Sessions on content marketing, platform algorithms, and engagement strategies to drive conversions.
- Niche workshops on platform-specific tactics like TikTok growth, Instagram Reels, and LinkedIn personal branding.
4. Social Media Week by AdWeek
Date: May 12-14, 2025
Location: Metropolitan Pavilion, New York
Price: $935-1,359
Best for: CMOs, social media strategists, creators, and brand marketers
AdWeek’s Social Media Week is where top minds in social media, branding, and pop culture come to share insights. With high-profile speakers and data-driven sessions, this event helps marketers and creators stay sharp in a rapidly evolving industry.
What to expect:
- Deep dives into case studies from viral campaigns that broke the internet.
- Tactics for building stronger influencer partnerships.
- Strategies to stay ahead of changing audience trends and behaviors.
Panels often include experts from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, giving you an inside look at what’s next in the social landscape.
5. SocialDay
Date: May 20-22, 2025
Location: Phantom Peak, London, United Kingdom
Price: £350-3,500
Best for: Social media professionals, content creators, and digital strategists
SocialDay is one of the top social media marketing conferences in the UK, designed for professionals looking to stay ahead of trends, sharpen their skills, and connect with industry leaders.
What to expect:
- Keynotes and panels covering TikTok strategies, SEO, and social media trends.
- Expert insights on building community, brand storytelling, and content scaling.
- Interactive workshops on influencer marketing, agency growth, and AI in social media.
- Networking opportunities in an engaging, ‘unstuffy’ environment with industry peers.
6. SXSW London
Date: June 2-7, 2025
Location: Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom
Price: £520-1,040
Best for: Creators, tech entrepreneurs, and marketers
The first-ever SXSW London builds on the iconic Austin edition, creating a hub for creators, innovators, and technologists across Europe. With a spotlight on the intersection of creativity, technology, and culture, this event offers a front-row seat to the future of digital experiences.
What to expect:
- Sessions exploring creativity-driven tech innovations.
- Panels featuring industry leaders reshaping digital culture.
- Networking opportunities in one of London's most vibrant creative districts.
7. Cannes Lions Creator Track
Date: June 16-20, 2025
Location: Cannes, France
Price: €1,183 for Creator track
Best for: Creators, marketers, and agency professionals focused on creative innovation
The Cannes Lions festival is the ultimate celebration of creativity in communications, marketing, and media. The Creator Track zeroes in on influencer marketing, content production, and brand storytelling, making it a must for anyone pushing creative boundaries.
What to expect:
- Sessions led by world-renowned creatives on storytelling and brand innovation.
- Insights on building impactful influencer marketing strategies.
- Exclusive networking events in the stunning backdrop of Cannes.
8. VidCon Anaheim
Date: June 19-21, 2025
Location: Anaheim, California
Price: $125-1,230
Best for: Digital creators, influencers, and fans
VidCon is one of the largest gatherings for creators and their communities. It’s a hotspot for both established creators and newcomers, offering panels, keynotes, and interactive fan experiences.
What to expect:
- Insights on platform updates, audience engagement, and monetization strategies from experts across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
- Opportunities to connect with fans, industry leaders, and other creators.
- Panels and keynotes featuring top influencers and social media pioneers.
9. Content Entrepreneur Expo
Date: August 24-26 2025
Location: Virtual
Price: $695-995
Best for: Content entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and digital business owners
The Content Entrepreneur Expo is designed to help content creators and entrepreneurs build sustainable, scalable businesses. This event dives deep into topics like launching digital products, growing subscription-based revenue, and building diverse income streams.
What to expect:
- Workshops on digital product launches and revenue generation.
- Networking through mastermind sessions, mentorship circles, and brand partnership meetups.
- Insights from successful content entrepreneurs sharing real-world growth strategies.
10. CreatorFest
Date: October 24, 2025
Location: London, United Kingdom
Price: TBA
Best for: Creators, marketers, and brand representatives focused on collaboration and growth
CreatorFest is a high-energy festival connecting creators with brands and industry leaders across Europe. It’s a must-attend event for those looking to explore new opportunities and trends shaping the creator economy.
What to expect:
- Interactive workshops on creator monetization and growth strategies.
- Brand showcases highlighting collaboration opportunities.
- Strategy sessions on cross-platform content trends.
11. Web Summit
Date: November 10-13, 2025
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Price: TBA
Best for: Tech-savvy creators, entrepreneurs, and startup founders
Web Summit is one of the world’s largest and most influential tech conferences, attracting leaders from technology, media, and venture capital. While innovation is the main focus, there’s plenty for creators and entrepreneurs, with sessions on digital content, creator platforms, and scaling startups.
What to expect:
- Key sessions on digital content strategies and platform innovation.
- Insights on startup growth and fundraising from top industry leaders.
- Networking opportunities with tech innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs.
12. Spotlight Conference
Date: October 29, 2025
Location: Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), Netherlands
Price: €99-849
Best for: Digital marketers, in-house teams, agency professionals, and entrepreneurs
Spotlight is a one-day marketing conference hosted by Semrush, designed for professionals who want actionable strategies, real-world insights, and meaningful networking opportunities. With a focus on solving real marketing challenges, Spotlight blends expert-led keynotes, small-group mastermind sessions, and interactive experiences to help attendees leave with a plan—not just inspiration.
What to expect:
- Main stage keynotes featuring industry leaders sharing data-driven strategies and campaign insights and mastermind sessions—roundtable discussions with experts to tackle specific marketing challenges.
- Expo area showcasing the latest marketing tools, trends, and solutions.
- Networking mixers before and after the event to build connections with peers and industry leaders.
- Semrush certification workshops offering hands-on training in the latest digital marketing strategies.
Conferences that are yet to be announced
Some key events have yet to confirm the details for 2025. However, they’re usually highly anticipated and worth keeping an eye on.
CreatorConf
Best for: Creators looking to build community and business infrastructure
CreatorConf is a virtual conference designed to help creators optimize and scale their operations. With a focus on productivity, team-building, and sustainable business models, it’s perfect for creators looking to grow their ventures efficiently.
What to expect:
- Workshops on productivity hacks and tools to streamline workflows.
- Sessions on scaling content teams and managing business infrastructure.
- Community-building opportunities with other creators worldwide.
VidSummit
Best for: Video creators, marketers, and entrepreneurs
VidSummit focuses on the business of content creation, with an emphasis on monetization, video marketing, and audience growth. It’s a creator-first event, offering direct access to expert insights on building successful video content careers.
What to expect:
- Sessions on growing and monetizing your YouTube and TikTok presence.
- Keynotes from top creators and video marketing experts.
- Practical strategies to maximize reach and engagement across platforms.
The Information’s Creator Economy Summit
Best for: Industry analysts, creator platform leaders, and marketers
The Creator Economy Summit, hosted by The Information, offers a deep dive into the business side of the creator economy. It’s known for bringing together executives, analysts, and creators to explore critical industry shifts and opportunities.
What to expect:
- In-depth discussions on platform policies and their impact on creators.
- Panels on emerging monetization opportunities and creator partnerships.
- Networking with top-level decision-makers shaping the creator economy.
How we handle conferences at Buffer
We've put some real thought into how we approach conferences at Buffer (and yes, I've had a front-row seat to these discussions!).
Here's what's interesting: we started out with a simple “$500 per person” approach back in 2017. Spoiler alert: It wasn't great. Some people needed more, others didn't use it at all. These days, we're much more strategic about it.
In 2025, we're focusing on key conferences that tick specific boxes:
- Events hosted by our integration partners (think Meta Conference and Threads API Summit) to stay in the loop on platform updates
- Opportunities for our team to share their expertise through speaking engagements
- Conferences that help us better understand and serve our customers
Fun fact: We spent around $7,000 on conferences in the last year alone, covering everything from tickets to travel. And you know what? It's been worth every penny. Some of our team's favorites have included SaaStr, WWDC, and the Meta Conference.
We plan to be at more this year — case in point, I’ll be attending SXSW in London, courtesy of Buffer! Reach out via LinkedIn if you’ll be there too.
What conferences will you be attending in 2025?
That’s our list! Of course, with so many conferences happening each year, it’s impossible to include them all. These are just some of the standout events we’re excited about.
Which ones are you planning to attend? Did we miss any must-attend conferences? Share your thoughts in the comments — we’d love to hear from you!
