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Twenty AdTech Conferences You Can’t Miss in 2023
The last 12 months were a record time in our industry with some of the most exciting developments including post-cookie alternatives, updates to data privacy, and new approaches in contextual targeting, amongst others. The best is yet to come, however, and in 2023 we can expect to experience further developments that will drive the ad tech industry’s growth.
One of the best ways to understand the latest developments, what kind of technologies they involve, who’s behind them etc, is by attending some of the offline conferences scheduled to be held this year. Yes, remember those before COVID-19 hit? The conference industry is back in full swing and in 2023 there are dozens of events dedicated or related to the ad tech industry.
We’ve put together a list of twenty of the most important and interesting ad tech conferences that are going to take place offline in 2023. Make sure you mark down each event in your calendars. They offer a great window into the goings-on of the ad tech industry and how you can leverage a competitive position for your team this year.
1) Campaign Radio & Audio Advertising Summit
Date: January 26
Location: London, UK
Estimated Cost: Early bird GBP 295/Standard pricing GBP 495
Website: https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/radio-and-audio-summit
Did you know that in the U.K. alone, members of the public listen to 69 million podcast hours and 990 million radio listening hours per year? Audio advertising, therefore, has a major reach, and the Campaign Radio & Audio Advertising Summit is all about highlighting the importance of creating inspiring campaigns that stand out for listeners. If you’re looking to find new ways to advance your brand image, boost your ROI, and maximize the reach of your audio ad content, then this event should be a priority.
2) Pod Multimedia Expo Fest
Date: January 26 – 29
Location: Orlando, Florida
Estimated Cost: From $99 to $1,495
Website: https://podfestexpo.com/
Continuing the theme of audio-based content, the Pod Multimedia Expo Fest is marketed as helping budding or veteran podcasters learn from each other as part of the same big family. The conference reports that it will cover numerous aspects of the podcast creation process, from creation and launch. and technology adoption, to audience growth, social media campaigns, and monetization. A number of major podcasting platforms will be present at the event, so make sure you head down to Orlando.
3) ANA Media Conference
Date: February 15 – 17
Location: Orlando, Florida
Estimated Cost: Client-side tier $299/Non-member $1,699
Website: https://www.ana.net/content/show/id/ms-mlc-feb23
Connected television (CTV) is at the vanguard of ad tech development and the ANA Media Conference is dedicated to connecting CTV players and advertisers. If you’re an advertiser-side media professional looking to learn, network, exchange ideas, and share best practices then this is one event you don’t want to miss. Major international companies will be represented including Bloomberg, Johnson & Johnson, and JP Morgan Chase & Co, and topics will include cross-media measurement, diverse media investment, transparency, ad fraud, privacy, cookie deprecation, and gaming, as well as CTV.
4) eTail Connect Spring
Date: February 28 – March 1
Location: Towcester, U.K.
Estimated Cost: Information currently unavailable
Website: https://etailconnecteu.wbresearch.com/opportunities
Senior retail industry professionals looking for ad tech solutions should consider attending eTail Connect Spring this conference as it’s designed just with you in mind. It’s an entirely invite-only event that isn’t open to individuals in junior positions, so every connection you make will be someone with real decision-making power. There are only 35 places available for this conference so please contact the organizers ASAP if you want to attend.
5) The Publishing Show
Date: March 1 – 2
Location: London, U.K.
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://www.thepublishingshow.com/welcome
The Publishing Show is a premium conference and exhibition with key thought leaders in publishing and media, designed to drive the development of publishing businesses, portfolios and products. This iteration has a particular focus on the future of advertising, as well as audio formats like radio and CTV, podcasting, and more. The event will include numerous workshops, fireside chats and seminars with thought leaders, and will also provide numerous opportunities for networking with like-minded professionals.
6) Digital Food & Beverage
Date: October 2023
Location: St Albans, U.K.
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://foodandbeverageeuconnect.wbresearch.com/opportunities
This event is definitely more niche but if you’re looking to network with some of the U.K.’s leading food and beverage executives then this is the event for you. Ad tech solutions that are designed specifically for this industry will be discussed, as well as capitalizing on post-pandemic digital acceleration, broadening one’s customer base to increase sales, and more. Please note that space is very limited with only 18 slots currently available. Therefore, make sure that you register to attend as soon as possible.
7) Podcast Music Evolution
Date: March 7- 10
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Estimated Cost: $149 – $399
Website: https://evolutions.podcastmovement.com/
The glitz and glamor of Las Vegas plays host to Podcast Music Evolution, an event that brings together podcasters and podcast industry professionals to grow their shows, the podcast community, and the wider audio industry. As you might imagine by the name, this conference focuses particularly on the latest developments in research, tools, technology, and cutting-edge information, and how podcasters can use them to boost their game. With a lineup of outstanding guest speakers and plenty of networking on hand, this is a great event for ad tech professionals to attend.
8) The Marketing & Advertising Expo
Date: March 21 – 22
Location: Los Angeles, California
Estimated Cost: Free
Website: https://www.marketingexpo.us/
The Marketing & Advertising Expo is expanding to the States with this event and it promises to be one of the largest and most dynamic in the ad tech industry this year. The conference is entirely free to visit for attendees and offers a very attractive program consisting of multiple summits, specialized co-located events, and networking and investment opportunities. With numerous guest speakers combining decades of advertising experience, this expo is one of the most efficient ways to increase your advertising knowledge this year.
9) The Data & Programmatic Insider Summit
Date: March 22 – 25
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Estimated Cost: $4,995
Website: https://www.mediapost.com/programmaticinsidersummit/
For high-end professionals working in programmatic advertising, this is one conference you may want to consider attending even if it comes with a steep price tag. This all-inclusive three-day event offers an in-depth exploration of the latest developments in data and analysis in the advertising industry, designed to optimize how your company successfully manages the complexity of integrated media planning and brand success measurement. You‘re almost guaranteed to meet executives performing at the very top of the industry at this event, so make sure you contact the organizers before all spaces are full.
10) The American Advertising Academy Annual Conference
Date: March 23 – 26
Location: Denver, Colorado
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://www.aaasite.org/annual-conference?utm_source=online.marketing
Head up to the high altitude of Colorado in March and you’ll be able to attend a conference that focuses more on the theoretical and philosophical aspects of the ad tech industry, and other related fields. The academy describes itself as ‘fostering research that is relevant to the field of advertising and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among its academic and professional members.’ This is the event to attend if you want to get access to the studies that could herald major developments in advertising before they’re deployed, so make sure you don’t miss out.
11) The 2023 OAAA OOH Media Conference
Date: March 27 – 29
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://oohtoday.com/the-2023-oaaa-ooh-media-conference/
With one of the most outstanding onomatopoeic acronyms around, the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) is the American national trade association for the out of home advertising (OOH) industry, which includes digital out-of-home (DOOH). Phew, so many vowels, but if you’re looking to learn more about advertising formats like billboards, street furniture, transit advertising, and place-based media, then this is the conference for you. As it’s held in the music capital of Nashville you’ll be assured of an exciting weekend, so check the link to find out more.
12) Digital Marketing Europe 2023
Date: March 28 – 29
Location: N/A
Estimated Cost: EUR 146 – EUR 335
Website: https://digitalmarketingcon.eu/
While it’s an online event this year we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this giant of the European ad tech industry as it’s one of the most comprehensive conferences in the global industry. The conference will bring together over 5000 attendees from more than 30 countries to hear from 40+ top industry speakers on various subjects related to online advertising. If you decide to attend then prepare to hear actionable content about the newest digital marketing insights, upcoming trends, and other capabilities marketers need today.
13) Digital Travel Connect Europe 2023
Date: May 11 – 12
Location: St Albans, U.K.
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://digitaltravelconnect.wbresearch.com/opportunities
There’s exclusive and then there’s exclusive, and this conference is very much in the latter category as only 10 individuals may attend in person, and that’s only by invitation. As you can imagine the people who will attend this event in St Albans should represent the elite of the elite in the travel and advertising industries, so if you’re interested in learning from their wisdom contact the organizers immediately. If accepted, you’ll get to network with representatives of leading companies like British Airways, Expedia, Eurostar, Skyscanner, and more.
14) Retail CIO Connect
Date: June 21 – 22
Location: St Albans, U.K.
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://retailctoconnect.wbresearch.com/opportunities
Whatever the conference industry in St Albans is doing is clearly working, because here we have yet another high-level, exclusive, and invite-only event coming from Hertfordshire’s leading town. Entirely focused on the retail industry, this conference should be very interesting for those looking to increase their brand awareness via innovative, retail-focused ad technology. Like other events of this nature, if you’re able to get in you’ll be able to network with the industry’s leading minds, almost guaranteeing a return on investment of the cost of attending.
15) B2B Online Berlin
Date: December 5 – 6
Location: Berlin, Germany
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://b2bonlineeu.wbresearch.com/
This event in the capital of Germany is designed to put business leaders in touch with each other to exchange ideas about how to best optimize the advertising of their brand campaigns. You’ll be able to connect with 150+ heads of marketing, sales, eCommerce, and digital departments to gain insight into how they’re adapting their companies to meet increasing B2B demand since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are still speaking and sponsorship opportunities available for this event, so get in touch with the organizers to find out more.
16) Digital Travel Europe 2023
Date: November 16 – 16
Location: London, U.K.
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://digitaltraveleu.wbresearch.com/opportunities
Travel began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic last year and there are now major opportunities for ad tech professionals in this industry, and if you want to take advantage of this trend then consider attending Digital Travel Europe 2023. At this conference, you’ll be able to network with travel and advertising executives, hear from inspirational keynotes, attend small-group interactive learning sessions, and more. Both speaking and sponsorship opportunities are still available so if you’re looking to make your mark in digital travel this year beyond just attending the conference make sure you sign up as soon as possible.
17) eTail Germany Connect
Date: October 2023
Location: Germany (city TBD)
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://etailconnectgermany.wbresearch.com/opportunities
Another iteration of eTail’s events will be held in Germany later this year and like other entries on this list, it’s also a small-scale, invite-only function, designed to appeal to high-level executives in eCommerce and digital marketing. One hundred of the leading retailers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are slated to be represented at this conference, providing ample opportunity for advertisers looking to introduce ad tech solutions into this market. If you decide to attend, you will be provided with 1-1 meetings with elite decision-makers to explore opportunities and potentially grow your revenue.
18) Retail Delivery Connect
Date: TBC
Location: U.K. (city TBD)
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://retaildeliveryconnecteu.wbresearch.com/
Another invite-only event, this time hosted in the U.K. specifically for elite members of the fulfillment, supply and logistic, and supply chain management industries. This event should provide senior-level advertising professionals with an interesting opportunity to discuss opportunities for ad tech in what are highly technology dependent industries. While the event is invite-only, partnership opportunities remain available, so if you want to make a real impact at this event it might be worth considering investing in attendance.
19) eTail Connect Autumn
Date: September 13 – 14
Location: St Albans, U.K.
Estimated Cost: N/A
Website: https://etailconnectautumn.wbresearch.com/opportunities
The penultimate entry on our list is also the last event to be held in St Albans and is another iteration of the eTail format; Like other events in this series eTail Connect Autumn is invite-only and is targeted at the senior level decision makers working in digital marketing and ecommerce, so if you’re able to get an invitation you should receive a good return on investment. To be eligible you must be a budget-holding official at your company and be based in the U.K., get in touch with the organizers if you’d like to find out more.
20) Auto Intelligence Summit
Date: February 15
Location: New York, New York
Estimated Cost: $99
Website: https://audiointelligencesummit.com/#about
The Auto Intelligence Summit will bring brands, agencies, and publishers together to discuss how audio and audio advertising is being effectively utilized, measured, and optimized to heighten brand awareness and increase ROI. This is one of the best ‘bang for buck’ conferences likely to occur this year for advertisers as it brings together professionals from a huge array of businesses and industries. While it is only scheduled to last for one day it’s planned to be packed full of educational events, speeches, training sessions, and more, so watch this space.
