Must-Attend Education Events for 2026

News and Insights

Must-Attend Education Events for 2026

January 14, 2026

Our team of experts provides personal recommendations for your 2026 conference itinerary

With a new year comes a new crop of education conferences for your team to attend, whether for professional development, networking or marketing and sales.

Our Global Education Practiceleaders have spent decades supporting our clients at education events and convenings, including professional gatherings for PreK-12 and higher education practitioners and leaders, and B2B trade shows and conferences. There's no one-size-fits-all event, so we asked our team of communications and marketing experts to recommend some of their most enriching and impactful events. As you finalize your 2026 event plans, consider adding some of these hand-picked events to your calendar.

Education Events for Educators and Institutional Leaders

"Education conferences are about so much more than participating in panels, staffing exhibits and attending sessions," said Marina Stenos, Managing Partner. "Today, in an ever-more fragmented and noisy world, the opportunity to meet with the people on the front lines of our nation's classrooms and lecture halls is a gift. Getting to share space can spark ideas and create material opportunities for everyone. More importantly, it can keep us connected and deepen our relationships with one another-an irreplaceable and essential human need."

Any time members of FINN's PreK12 and Higher Education teamcan interact with people in the field is time well spent, and every gathering has its own unique value. That said, we have showcased a few here that stand out for us.

The National Seminar of the Education Writers Association (EWA)

June 2-5, Baltimore, MD

Jacqui Lipson, Partner

"EWAis where people who care deeply about shining a light on important education stories gather. Being in the room with journalists is essential for anyone in our field. These are some of the hardest working folks, reporting on complicated issues that matter deeply for families, communities and the nation. Education is our greatest lever for social progress, and edu-beat reporters are our eyes and ears."

Business Access Media (BAM) Conference

Oct. 16-17, New York City

Brianne O'Donnell, Partner

"The Business Access Media (BAM) Conference is a great event for communicators who work in the business school or business education space to attend. BAM provides the opportunity to network with peer institutions and puts you front and center with top journalists covering business, the economy and related issues. Over two days, reporter panels share essential intel about the editorial direction of their publications, their beats and what they need from sources for their stories. Attendees then can directly pitch their school's research, faculty, students and other initiatives. Overall, BAM is about making connections, both within the b-school space and with sector reporters, and provides valuable insight into a shifting media landscape."

Grantmakers for Education's Annual Conference

Oct. 13-15, New York City

Isa Pareles, Associate Vice President

"Grantmakers for Education's Annual Conference creates space for the education community to engage in honest conversations about what's actually working - and what needs to change. What stands out most for me is how students take center stage, sharing their own experiences, reflecting on challenges and successes and shaping conversations about the policies and practices that affect their learning. For me, it's less about attending another conference and more about being part of a community aligned around long-term impact for students at every stage of learning."

ExcelinEd National Summit on Education

Dec. 2-4, Washington, DC

Kate Johnson, Partner

"I love attending the ExcelinEd National Summit on Education. The National Summit has some of the most important discussions on education, bringing together people from across political aisles, states, regions and issue areas to rally around what is best for our nation's children and students. The data shared, policies discussed, and opportunities to connect with other education nerds and advocates makes this a top conference on my list."

Let's talk more about in-person events or any education-related issues. Please email us-we'd love to hear from you.

Education Events for B2B Product and Service Vendors

Our business-to-business education products and servicesleadership team has collectively supported clients at dozens of education tradeshows, summits and conferences across the country-from small, discipline-specific conferences to the largest tradeshows. Depending on what your business is selling and which decision makers you're trying to meet, there's likely a range of events perfect for you. Here are a handful of places where our B2B clients have found success in the past several years.

SXSW EDU

March 9-12, 2026, Austin

Lauren West, Associate Vice President

"SXSW EDUmatches the vibrance of its host city, Austin, TX. Attendees are a mix of K-12 and higher education administrators and instructors who are eager to learn about new tools, services and pedagogy. The broader SXSW event encompasses technology, film and music, so it's a culturally rich environment that lends itself to pushing the envelope. Competition for speaking sessions is fierce, but there are other ways for vendors to stand out and connect with attendees, such as exhibiting, sponsoring and meeting with top-tier media outlets. Make sure to enjoy some world-class BBQ while you're there, or your trip won't be complete."

ASU+GSV

April 12-15, 2026, San Diego

Jeremy Cesarec, Partner

"ASU+GSVis an excellent opportunity to meet and learn from some of the most influential people in edtech. The Global Silicon Valley (GSV) influence means that venture capitalists, private equity firms and high profile philanthropists crowd the halls and populate the panels. If your business is seeking funding, acquisition or merger-now or in the future-you'll want to make the trip to San Diego. Try to score invites to the comparatively lavish evening networking events for the chance to strike up conversations with tech-forward educators, funders and fellow entrepreneurs. While the ticket price is higher than most education events, if, like me, you like to stay well-fed and well-hydrated during a hectic event, you'll find that the premium price pays off with some impressive SoCal catering options throughout the day."

ISTELive and ASCD Annual

June 28-July 1, 2026, Orlando

Saul Hafenbredl, Partner

"Now co-located, ISTELiveand the ASCD Annual Conferencebring together decision-makers from "both sides of the house": technology and curriculum. While each has long been a must-attend event in its own right, their co-location offers a unique opportunity to engage key audiences at a pivotal point in the K-12 buying cycle. With a robust press corps in attendance, it is a prime venue for connecting with education journalists, bloggers and podcasters. And the high volume of educators attending for professional learning creates an atmosphere of energy and innovation that keeps attendees returning year after year.

EdWeek MarketBrief Summit

Nov. 11-13, 2026, Nashville

Kelsea Kierstead, Associate Vice President

"EdWeek MarketBriefis an excellent venue to listen and learn from education business executives who are approaching problem-solving with creativity and innovation. It's equally a privilege to hear from stand-out district leaders hand-selected by EdWeekwho are advancing K-12 education with grace and transparency. While only a few years in the making, the annual event is consistently attended by a few hundred professionals who benefit from many organized and organic networking opportunities throughout the three-day summit. The content of the event is carefully selected and guided by MarketBrief'sproprietary research, which neatly underpins each panel, briefing or break-out discussion. The energy of attendees and panelists is well-fueled by meals and snacks that exceed conference standards-a big plus for those accustomed to typical trade show dining hall options. It's a close-knit gathering for industry newbies and veterans that's become a fixture for annual conference calendars."

EdTech Week

Dates TBA, New York City

Emily Embury, Managing Partner

"EdTech Week in NYCoffers the same high-caliber networking as ASU+GSV, but within a much more intimate, boutique setting that facilitates deeper connections. The event provides a curated environment where marketers can engage in meaningful, one-on-one dialogues with K-12 and higher education decision-makers, investors and policymakers. Whether through the invite-only CEO Summit, the pioneering Shark Tank competitions, or the dedicated EdTech Expo, marketers gain access to the "movers and shakers" of education, allowing you to understand the real-world challenges and procurement shifts currently shaping the industry. The 2025 event was held at Teachers College-Columbia University, which was the perfect setting to get into the education mindset as I ducked into an unused classroom to take a quick call and stood in afternoon coffee lines next to burgeoning educators."

Read our recent post, How to Get the Most out of Event Marketing in Education, for our seasoned tips on a successful event season.

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