The top email marketing events of 2026

Attending industry conferences is one of the most effective ways for lifecycle marketers to stay ahead of shifting algorithms, privacy regulations, and emerging AI technologies. For CRM managers and email strategists, these events offer a rare opportunity to see backend workflows from other brands and network with platform experts.

As you plan your professional development budget for the year, here are the top lifecycle marketing events to attend in 2026.

eTail Palm Springs

Date: February 23-26, 2026
Location: Palm Springs, CA

eTail is a staple for eCommerce brands. Unlike broader marketing conferences, eTail focuses specifically on the retail journey. For lifecycle teams, this event is valuable for understanding how email and SMS fit into a multi-channel retail strategy.

Shoptalk

Date: March 24-26, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Shoptalk is arguably the largest retail innovation conference in the world. CRM managers should attend Shoptalk to learn about the future of unified commerce. The 2026 theme focuses heavily on "Retail in the Age of AI," featuring speakers from OpenAI, Wayfair, and Walmart.

Email Insider Summit (Spring)

Date: April 12-15, 2026
Location: Key Largo, FL

The Spring Email Insider Summit brings together top CRM and email leaders for deep-dive discussions on the future of the inbox. This event focuses on advanced personalization and how AI is reshaping customer retention strategies. It is an ideal venue for senior marketers to benchmark their performance and solve complex deliverability challenges in a collaborative setting.

Unspam

Date: April 20-22, 2026
Location: Long Beach, CA

Unspam, organized by Really Good Emails, is known as the "unconference" for email professionals. For 2026, the event moves to the West Coast for the first time. It is a highly tactical event where lifecycle marketers can dive deep into email design, advanced development, and copywriting. Unspam focuses on actionable knowledge-sharing and solving the real-world complexities of the modern inbox.

MAU (Mobile Apps Unlocked)

Date: May 19-21, 2026
Location: Las Vegas, NV

If your brand has a mobile app, MAU is a mandatory event. This conference focuses on mobile growth and retention. Lifecycle marketers can learn about push notification strategies and in-app messaging. Attendance is by application, so early registration is encouraged.

Salesforce Connections

Date: June 3-4, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL

Connections is the premier event for Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Commerce Cloud users. The 2026 sessions focus on personalization at scale and how "Agentic AI" is transforming the way brands interact with customers throughout their lifecycle.

CommerceNext

Date: June 23-24, 2026
Location: New York, NY

CommerceNext is tailored for marketers at scaled retailers and innovative tech companies. With over 60 sessions, the 2026 agenda explores how AI is reshaping consumer behavior and the future of loyalty and retention.

Klaviyo K:BOS 2026

Date: September 9-10, 2026
Location: Boston, MA

For brands built on Klaviyo, this is the most important technical event of the year. K:BOS 2026 will bring the community together at the Hynes Convention Center for an exclusive look at the product roadmap. According to Klaviyo’s previous data, brands that implement their advanced automation features see significantly higher revenue per recipient

Braze Forge

Date: September 29 - October 1, 2026
Location: New York, NY

Forge is the annual user conference for Braze. It is highly focused on customer engagement and real-time data. For lifecycle teams that manage complex, multi-channel journeys, Forge offers some of the most technical sessions in the industry.

Why these events matter for your 2026 strategy

The lifecycle marketing landscape is moving toward a "privacy-first" model. Research from McKinsey shows that 71% of consumers expect companies to deliver personalized interactions. Attending these events allows your team to learn how to meet those expectations without overstepping privacy boundaries.

By investing in these conferences, your CRM and lifecycle teams can move beyond basic newsletters and start building sophisticated, automated journeys that drive long-term retention.