Advertising isn’t a solo effort; the most effective methods to develop in your profession is by studying out of your friends. Staying updated on ever-changing social traits and understanding what works for others in your community can present the insights you must create much more profitable campaigns sooner or later.
Social media advertising conferences provide the proper alternative for entrepreneurs searching for to advance their careers. These occasions allow you to meet with like-minded professionals, and be taught from proficient audio system in your discipline.
The UK hosts a few of the largest social media advertising conferences on the planet. We’ve listed 10 occasions occurring this yr so you can begin filling what you are promoting calendar.
Social media conferences in the UK
Right here’s a listing of digital advertising and social media conferences occurring in 2025. We’ve listed these occasions in chronological order.
1. SocialDay
This yr’s 3-day SocialDay occasion in London occurred in Could, however there’s already a waitlist in place for subsequent yr’s occasion in Could 2026. SocialDay is designed for social media advertising professionals, and annually a few of the largest manufacturers on the planet are concerned with talks, lightning classes, networking chats and extra.
Sprout Social is certainly one of SocialDay’s sponsors, and this yr Rachael Goulet, Director of Social Media at Sprout, spoke about how social entrepreneurs can measure ROI throughout campaigns, creators and colleagues.
2. SXSW London
The South by Southwest convention, which takes place each March in Austin, Texas, has expanded its annual occasions plan outdoors of the US in recent times. This yr’s SXSW London occurred in 28 venues throughout the UK’s capital from 2-7 June 2025.
Although this yr’s occasion has simply completed, as one of many premier tech and creativity occasions of the yr, SXSW is effectively value attending sooner or later if you happen to work in both {industry}.
SXSW can be world-renowned for its method to advertising. Learn the way they’ve maximised the convention’s advertising efforts on this episode of Sprout’s Social Creatures podcast.
3. Digital Advertising World Discussion board (DMWF) World
For the previous 14 years, DMWF World has hosted annual conferences that unite digital advertising professionals in varied places around the globe. This yr’s London occasion takes place on 24–25 June 2025 on the Olympia London exhibition centre.
DMWF’s occasion places a selected concentrate on advertising know-how, with this yr’s UK occasion boasting over 150 audio system throughout two days. Sprout can be a worldwide sponsor of DMWF’s occasions.
4. MAD Fest
MAD Fest 2025, which stands for Advertising / Promoting / Disruption, is occurring on the 1-3 July at The Truman Brewery area in London. This yr’s occasion is headlined by comic and novelist Richard Ayoade and likewise options audio system from Lego, Disney, IKEA and different international manufacturers.
MAD Fest additionally hosts different advertising occasions throughout the nation if you happen to’re primarily based outdoors of the capital. Regulate MAD//Up North, the place the occasion heads additional up the nation annually.
5. DigiMarCon UK
DigiMarCon is the biggest collection of digital advertising conferences on the planet and hosts a number of occasions worldwide annually. This yr, they’ll be internet hosting DigiMarCon UK in London from August 28–29.
The occasion is held within the Sofitel London Heathrow Lodge close to Heathrow Airport, which implies it’s additionally simply accessible for anybody primarily based in Europe. On the occasion, you’ll be taught extra about UK social media traits, with a selected concentrate on Web, Cell, AdTech, MarTech and SaaS options.
6. Digital Journey Advertising
Should you work within the journey {industry}, the UK’s Digital Journey Advertising convention is a can’t-miss occasion. This yr’s convention is occurring on October 1st on the Cavendish Convention Centre in London.
It’ll host audio system from a few of the largest journey firms on the planet, together with Skyscanner, Uber, Reserving.com and TUI. You’ll get industry-specific insights into the way to market journey on-line by means of methods like journey influencers and journey advertising instruments.
7. Competition of Advertising
This yr’s Competition of Advertising is occurring in London on October 2nd, with a concentrate on the traits and techniques you must know to remain forward of the curve.
The UK’s Competition of Advertising typically options movie star audio system, in addition to interactive classes the place you may be taught first-hand the way to market extra successfully. The occasion additionally hosts 4 totally different networking lounges the place you may join together with your friends.
8. PI Reside
On October 21-22, London hosts PI Reside Europe, a advertising convention that focuses on efficiency advertising methods. Their audio system and displays concentrate on internet affiliate marketing, in addition to influencer partnerships.
PI Reside is a comfortably sized occasion with round 2,500+ attendees. It’s designed for 3 several types of professionals; these working with manufacturers, individuals who work in massive companies or with advertising tech options, and creators themselves, which additionally makes it a good selection if you happen to’re a UK influencer.
9. CreatorFest
One other influencer-focused occasion, CreatorFest Europe is deliberate for the twenty third October in London. Their convention goals to attach manufacturers, creators, companies and tech leaders collectively from throughout the continent.
CreatorFest is ideal for influencers trying to construct new partnerships. It’s additionally supreme for expertise administration companies, manufacturers that make investments closely in influencer advertising, and influencer advertising tech suppliers.
10. BrightonSEO
As you would possibly’ve seen, lots of the UK’s digital advertising conferences are located in London. BrightonSEO is a notable exception; it’s the world’s largest convention devoted to web optimization and search advertising professionals, and this yr’s occasion is occurring on 23–24 October at The Brighton Centre.
BrightonSEO hosts two UK occasions annually, and also will be occurring on 30 April to 1 Could 2026. It’s effectively value attending in case your work entails utilizing web optimization in your social advertising or wider digital methods.
11. B2B Advertising Reside
Should you’re a B2B marketer, cross November 19–20 off your calendar as that’s when this yr’s B2B Advertising Reside occasion takes place. B2B Advertising Reside will likely be in London this yr on the Excel London convention centre.
Over 120 audio system are inclined to current on the occasion, alongside over 100 exhibitors. It’s designed for advertising executives, inventive administrators, content material entrepreneurs and primarily anybody who works on B2B advertising methods.
Noteworthy international social media conferences
Whereas there’s no have to catch a flight to attend a significant social advertising convention, it may be value eager about abroad occasions, significantly if you happen to work for a worldwide model. These are a handful of vital international social media conferences that must also be in your calendar.
If you’re planning to attend a global convention, take into consideration how one can market your occasion attendance on socials. This makes the journey much more worthwhile, as you may additional promote your model alongside studying and networking.
1. CannesLion
Even if you happen to’re a bit late to attend this yr’s CannesLion (16–20 June), it occurs round this time yearly and is effectively value remembering if you happen to work throughout the inventive industries. Sprout’s management workforce is attending this yr’s occasion, becoming a member of ADWEEK Home to share their experience.
CannesLion instantly follows the Cannes Movie Competition and is famend for being certainly one of, if not essentially the most prestigious, inventive advertising conferences on the planet. It all the time attracts main audio system, with this yr’s occasion that includes talks by Serena Williams, Amelia Dimoldenberg and Apple’s Tor Myhren amongst many others.
2. Content material Entrepreneur Expo
Content material entrepreneurs ought to control this yr’s Content material Entrepreneur Expo (CEX) occasion, which is occurring in Cleveland, Ohio, from August 24–26.
The convention is designed particularly to assist content material creators and entrepreneurs get extra from their content material output, from constructing an viewers and driving income to bettering their total operations.
3. Digital Olympus
The Digital Olympus Convention is scheduled for September 11 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which is only a 4-hour Eurostar practice away from London.
Digital Olympus options talks from a few of Europe’s largest entrepreneurs who work for DHL, Microsoft, Decathlon, Reddit and lots of different international manufacturers. The occasion additionally places a concentrate on the way to break previous methods of considering and give you extra disruptive types of advertising.
4. DMEXCO
Should you’re on the lookout for a giant occasion, you received’t discover many greater than DMEXCO. DMEXCO is Europe’s largest digital advertising convention, and it’s occurring this yr in Cologne, Germany, on September 17–18.
Resulting from its scale, DMEXCO tickets could be inexpensive, significantly if you happen to ebook early fowl choices. This yr’s exhibitors are nonetheless being introduced, however embrace Disney Promoting, CoreMedia, Adform and lots of others.
Why you must attend social media advertising conferences
Attending social media advertising conferences can enhance your private profession growth. They’re additionally an effective way so that you can community, construct your contacts and place your model as a thought chief. These occasions additionally enable you to get impressed, main you to assume outdoors of the field and method your advertising in new methods.
Alongside private advantages, they provide many advantages for companies. This consists of uncovering potential partnerships, nurturing gross sales alternatives and furthering the attain of what you are promoting in your house nation and abroad.
Ideas for maximising your convention expertise
Profiting from a advertising convention isn’t so simple as shopping for a ticket. There are a number of ideas you may deliberate to optimise your attendance.
Discover the correct occasion for you
Don’t simply contemplate the most important, flashiest convention. Typically a smaller occasion could be extra helpful, as they’re much less overwhelming and could be simpler to navigate whenever you’re networking. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re half of a giant workforce and everybody’s attending, it may be a lot simpler to section yourselves and deal with greater occasions.
Work out which occasions relate essentially the most to you or your organization. Discover conferences that match your model, or that can profit not simply your private growth, however the work you do on a day-to-day foundation whenever you return. Conferences would possibly match primarily based in your {industry}, the audiences you’re focusing on, or the audio system attending. The higher the match, the extra seemingly it’s that the talks will educate you one thing related.
Define your objectives forward of time
You’ll be able to attend conferences for all kinds of causes. Some individuals attend conferences merely to be taught from thought leaders. Others go in with a gross sales mindset or to advertise consciousness of their model. You would possibly merely wish to meet new individuals and community.
All of those approaches are legitimate, however be certain that to resolve on yours forward of time. Should you’re a part of a workforce of attendees, give everybody their very own function. It will enable you to plan your method, and means you’re extra prone to get essentially the most out of the occasion.
Plan your schedule
Conferences can include a whole lot of various talks and networking alternatives. As soon as you recognize your purpose, plan a tough schedule of what you’ll do every day to attain it.
Notice down the places and occasions of key audio system so that you don’t miss them. Should you want to enroll in sure interactive classes forward of time, ensure you do. Do not forget that your schedule doesn’t should be strict, however it ought to offer you a tough define of the place try to be every day.
Discover ways to mingle
Networking is a talent. Apply the way you’ll open conversations and your exit methods. Take into consideration who you most wish to discuss to, and decide how one can determine them early on throughout a chat.
Some persons are inherently good at mingling, whereas others discover it overwhelming. Should you’re within the latter class, take issues gradual and don’t overthink it. Bear in mind you’re all attending the identical occasion for related causes.
Strategise your follow-ups
Lastly, outline a transparent follow-up technique. All the time trade socials or contact particulars, so that you don’t lose monitor of anybody you’ve spoken to. Making a spreadsheet of contacts can be a great way to recollect who you’ve spoken to throughout an occasion.
Tweak your method for several types of individuals; individuals you’re hoping to associate with, promote to or just be taught extra about all require totally different follow-up methods.
Flip reside occasions into social interactions
Because the majority of those conferences occur yearly, if no more commonly, control them for the long run in case your dates don’t fairly match up. And as intimidating as conferences can generally be, keep in mind to take pleasure in your self.
Bear in mind to additionally flip your attendance into social activations. Be sure you’re taking pictures, making notes and collating ideas that you would be able to flip into future content material. These could be posted throughout your private accounts and your organization’s, and imply you get extra worth out of your attendance at every occasion.
Should you’re attending a convention quickly, learn up on a few of right this moment’s main UK social traits so that you’re ready.
