I have carefully curated this list of must-attend travel conferences for travelers, creators, and influencers based on their programming quality, networking potential, and what I’ve learned from years of actually showing up. As travel content creators, maintaining a calendar of relevant conferences and industry events matters for expanding knowledge, making connections that turn into actual work, and staying current in a field that changes fast.
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My 2026 Travel Conference Calendar
This year’s lineup is smaller than past years. I’m being more selective about where I spend my time and money, prioritizing conferences that align with my current work and destinations I actually want to visit. I’ve also started looking beyond traditional travel conferences because attending events in other industries positions me as the travel expert in rooms full of beauty creators, multipotentialites, or general lifestyle influencers, which often leads to more interesting opportunities than being one of hundreds at a travel-only event.
TBEX North America – June 23-26, 2026, Richmond, Virginia
I’ll be in Richmond for TBEX North America this summer. The conference continues to be one of the most established gatherings for travel bloggers, content creators, and industry professionals. Expect workshops on content strategy, monetization, and working with tourism boards, plus networking sessions that can lead to press trips and partnerships.
Richmond offers solid proximity for East Coast creators, reasonable costs compared to major cities, and a food scene worth sticking around for after the conference ends.
Latino Travel Fest – Summer 2026, New York City (Location TBD)
Latino Travel Fest is moving back to New York City this year. For Latino/a/x travelers, creators, and influencers (and anyone who supports the community), this conference celebrates the perspectives and experiences that are still underrepresented in mainstream travel media. The programming balances industry education with cultural celebration—expect workshops on storytelling, monetization, and building an inclusive travel brand alongside food activations and music that reflect the diversity of our communities.
This conference matters because it creates space for voices that are often left out of larger industry conversations. Whether you’re established or just starting, it’s a place to connect with other Latino creators, learn from people who understand your specific challenges, and celebrate our cultura without having to explain ourselves.
Subscribe to their newsletter and stay tuned for special sales on their tickets.
NOTE: If you are a Latin content creator, I recommend joining the Creator’s Directory. You’ll be able to access exclusive opportunities such as sponsored content, press trips, and more.
TBEX Asia – August 20-23, 2026, Almaty, Kazakhstan
This will be my first time in Central Asia, and I’m using TBEX Almaty as the anchor for a longer trip through the region. Kazakhstan isn’t a destination that gets much coverage in US travel media, which makes it exactly the kind of place I want to explore and write about.
Beyond the conference programming, Almaty offers access to the Tian Shan mountains, Soviet-era architecture, and a cultural landscape that blends Russian, Turkish, and Central Asian influences. If you’re looking to expand beyond the usual European and Latin American destinations that dominate travel content, this is worth considering.
Worth Considering in 2026
Tales of the Cocktail – July 2026, New Orleans, Louisiana
If you’re in the beverage industry or cover cocktail culture as part of your travel content, Tales of the Cocktail remains the premier event. Set in New Orleans, this conference immerses you in the craft of cocktail making through hands-on seminars, tastings, and workshops. You’ll connect with top mixologists, distillers, bar owners, and beverage marketers who shape what the world is drinking.
The conference covers both spirited and no/low alcohol beverages, and the programming is geared toward industry professionals—bartenders, beverage writers, hospitality workers, and anyone building a brand around drink culture.
If cocktails are part of your beat, this is where you need to be.
Ulta Beauty World – 2026 (Dates TBA)
I’m planning to attend Ulta Beauty World in 2026. As an expanding travel content creator, this puts me in a room where I’m the travel expert among beauty professionals. That positioning often opens doors that wouldn’t exist at traditional travel conferences. More details coming as dates are announced.
What I Learned in 2025
I attended four conferences in 2025: WITS in New York City, TBEX in Quebec City, Latino Travel Fest in Chicago, and TBEX in Donegal, Ireland.
WITS (Women in Travel Summit) – Eileen Ivette’s session on content creation and strategy shifted how I think about structuring my editorial calendar. She broke down the difference between content that performs and content that converts, and I’ve been applying those principles ever since.
TBEX Quebec City & Donegal – Both destinations proved that location matters as much as programming. Quebec City offered easy proximity and a walkable old town worth exploring between sessions.
Donegal required more effort to reach, but the landscape alone made it worthwhile. I stayed for a few additional days and still wish I would’ve had more time to explore.
Latino Travel Fest – Chicago – The energy at this conference is different from the others. It’s more grassroots, and the conversations happen in Spanish as often as English. If you’re looking for a community that understands the specific challenges of creating travel content as a Latina/o/x, this is where you’ll find it.
Conferences I’m Keeping on My Radar
These are conferences I’m not attending in 2026 but that are worth knowing about if they align with your niche or goals.
IPW – May 17-21, 2026, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Dubbed the leading international inbound travel trade show, IPW is where serious business gets done between U.S. suppliers and international buyers. For travel influencers and bloggers working on building a global audience, this is the event for getting your name in front of major international travel brands, tour companies and destination marketing organizations.
While the pre-scheduled buyer/seller appointments can lead to key partnerships and paid opportunities, IPW also provides education through seminars on international travel trends and strategies for elevating your global presence. You’ll gain insights into cultural nuances, purchasing behaviors and in-demand experiences from different markets.
As destinations increasingly look beyond traditional media to leverage influencers for global promotion, IPW represents a rare opportunity to get face-to-face with decision makers.
TravelCon – 2026 (Dates and Location TBA)
TravelCon is the business event for travel content creators. The conference focuses on helping creators “Go Pro” and “Scale” their businesses through workshops on content strategy, working with brands, monetization, and building sustainable creator businesses.
The 2025 event was in Tucson, Arizona in March. Check their website for 2026 announcements.
Nomadness Fest – 2026 (Dates and Location TBA)
For travelers of color and allies, Nomadness Fest is a weekend event that brings together stories, leaders, resources, and community. The festival fosters honest and communal discussions about navigating the world as a person of color, with programming tracks typically covering media and tech, leisure travel, and community impact.
The 2024 event was held in Charlotte, NC in September. Watch their social media for 2026 updates.
Black Travel Summit – October 15-18, 2026, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Founded in 2019, the Black Travel Summit is dedicated to supporting and empowering the Black travel community. The 2026 edition, themed “Renaissance: Rebirth.Renew.Reclaim,” will take place in Milwaukee—a city with deep Black history and a growing ecosystem of Black-owned businesses.
Attendees can learn from top industry speakers, gain actionable insights to start or scale their travel careers or businesses and connect with like-minded individuals through networking segments, workshops, and social events. The summit focuses on practical strategies while fostering a supportive and inspiring community.
Programming includes skills sessions, B2B matchmaking, the LaunchPad Accelerator and Pitch Competition, Black Travel Film Festival, and the Black Travel Awards Gala.
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ITB Berlin – March 3-5, 2026, Berlin, Germany
ITB Berlin celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026 as one of the world’s largest travel trade shows. With over 5,500 exhibitors from more than 170 countries, this B2B event brings together decision-makers, politicians, and media representing the entire tourism value chain.
The show is clearly structured by both geographic destinations and market segments including Adventure Tourism, Business Travel, LGBTQ+ Travel, Luxury Travel, Medical Tourism, and Travel Technology. The ITB Berlin Convention runs parallel to the exhibition, serving as the leading think tank where experts discuss trends and innovations shaping the future of travel.
Angola is the Official Host Country for 2026. This is primarily a trade show rather than a creator conference, but it’s valuable for understanding global tourism trends and making international connections.
And More Conferences You Need to Know About
TravelMore Conference – 2026 (Dates TBA)
If you’re eager to take your travel hacking skills to new heights and explore the world more affordably, the TravelMore Conference is worth watching. This conference caters to travel enthusiasts looking to maximize their points, miles, and rewards programs.
Through sessions and workshops, you’ll learn insider tips on booking free award flights, redeeming hotel points, and building a comprehensive points-earning strategy. What sets TravelMore apart is its commitment to inclusivity—over 80% of speakers are women, offering a refreshingly different perspective in the often male-dominated world of points and miles.
IMM – TravMedia – January 21-22, 2026, New York, NY
TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace (IMM) is the premier global networking event linking the travel industry with editors, journalists, broadcasters, and influencers. At IMM, you can pitch a year’s worth of stories, FAM trips, and features in a day.
The event includes the TravMedia Summit on the first day, offering insights from influential leaders in the travel industry. This makes it valuable for professional development for travel PR professionals, editors, and writers.
NATJA Conference – North Little Rock, AR May 12-15, 2026
NATJA, the North American Travel Journalists Association, is committed to advancing the field of travel journalism and promoting excellence in reporting across various media platforms. Established in 1991, NATJA has grown to become one of the largest professional associations in the industry, encompassing travel writers, photographers, editors, bloggers, and tourism professionals.
Check their website for 2026 conference details.
The Everything Conference – London, UK, April 25th 2026
The Everything Conference (ETC) is a one-of-a-kind event celebrating multi-passionate, ever-curious individuals—the “multipotentialites.” This gathering brings together people from all walks of life who refuse to be put in a box. Whether you’re an engineer who paints, a coder who acts, or anything in between, ETC is a space to revel in your diverse interests.
From outdoor yoga to entrepreneurship workshops, musical jams to book scavenger hunts—ETC is a participant-driven experience. As a travel creator, being the travel expert in a room full of people with wildly different primary interests often leads to more interesting collaborations than traditional travel conferences.
SATW Annual Convention – 2026 (Dates and Location TBA)
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Annual Convention gathers influential travel writers, photographers, editors, bloggers, and industry professionals. The convention features keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities covering the latest developments in travel writing, photography techniques, digital media strategies, destination marketing, sustainable travel practices, and more.
Alt Summit – 2026 (Dates and Location TBA)
Alt Summit has evolved from a gathering for design bloggers into a dynamic community for creative entrepreneurs and influencers from various backgrounds—artists, photographers, instagrammers, vloggers, shop owners, content creators, and designers.
The conference fosters a supportive environment where attendees can exchange ideas, receive feedback, and explore new avenues for growth. As a travel creator, Alt Summit puts you in rooms with people building businesses in completely different niches, which can lead to unexpected partnerships and fresh perspectives on your own work.
Travel and Adventure Show – Various US Locations, Quarter 1 Each Year
The Travel & Adventure Shows offer an opportunity for travel brands and creators to engage with consumers and industry professionals. Positioned strategically in nine major U.S. travel feeder markets, the shows attract serious, ready-to-buy consumers.
This is mostly a travel show for consumers, but if you position yourself strategically, there are opportunities for travel content creators to make connections and showcase offerings.
VidCon – 2026 (Dates and Location TBA)
The world’s premier gathering for digital content creators, VidCon brings together influencers, platforms, brands, and fans to celebrate and shape the future of online media. Founded by YouTube pioneers John and Hank Green, this annual event offers unique opportunities for creators to expand their reach and for industry professionals to forge partnerships.
The conference features specialized tracks for creators, industry professionals, and fans. If you’re focusing on video content—especially YouTube, TikTok, or other platforms—VidCon is where the video creator industry convenes.
Conferences No Longer Running
Camp Indie closed in 2025. For those who attended, you know what made it special—it prioritized the wellbeing of creators over content output. It was a place to heal your inner child, connect through vulnerability, and remember why you started creating in the first place. The people who showed up made it what it was, and I’m grateful I went twice before it ended.
A non-conference for digital nomads
Mochileando Travel Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hasn’t announced plans for 2026. This was Puerto Rico’s biggest travel event bringing together travel bloggers from Latin America. The purpose was to establish Puerto Rico as a center for travel information and to continue expanding a network of travel bloggers, building a Latin American family of knowledgeable travelers. If that changes, I’ll update this post.
Final Thoughts
Attending travel conferences is an investment. Choose the ones that align with your niche, your budget, and the destinations you actually want to visit. If a conference doesn’t serve your current goals, skip it. Your time and money matter more than checking boxes.
I’m also increasingly interested in conferences outside the traditional travel space—being the travel expert at a beauty conference or a multipotentialite gathering often opens more doors than being one of hundreds of travel creators at a travel-specific event. Think strategically about where your expertise is most valuable, not just where everyone else is going.
If this is your first time on my blog, make sure to read Why Latinas Should Never Solo Travel. Want to read more about some of my readers’ stories, you can read Elena’s travel story.
If you want to solo travel but don’t know where to start, I have an entire Guide to help you Solo Travel.
Resource List
? Subscribe to The Globetrotter’s Gazette – my FREE newsletter for exclusive stories, solo travel tips, and updates on the conferences I’m attending in 2026.
? Ready to pitch brands and tourism boards at conferences? Join Pitching con Poder, a cohosted 4-session workshop series where Taima Ramsey and I teach Latina/o/x creators how to confidently pitch for paid opportunities, press trips, and brand partnerships—specifically designed for conference season.
? New to solo travel and considering your first conference? My Guide to Solo Travel shares practical advice on staying safe, navigating new cities, and building confidence on the road—essential skills for conference travel.
? First time attending a travel conference as a Latina? Read Changing the Face of Travel: 10 Reasons Why Latinas Need to Attend Conferences to understand why representation at these industry events matters.
ES