The top immersive marketing events of 2023

I don’t find out about you, however my method to business occasions has modified dramatically as COVID has receded. I’ve two distinct voices in my head:

• One that’s craving the in-person networking, pleasure and sheer adrenaline of large-scale occasions.
• One other that’s extremely selective about when and the way I journey, guaranteeing my well being is my prime precedence.

Chances are you’ll fall on one aspect of this equation, the opposite or land someplace in between, however there isn’t any denying that occasions will proceed to be an necessary avenue for advertising and marketing professionals. 

Having explored occasions that embody immersive media and applied sciences for entrepreneurs pre-pandemic, I used to be keen to find how the panorama has shifted after the previous couple of years.

A lot of the occasions that made the listing earlier than COVID are again in full swing as in-person occasions in 2023. Some are opting to incorporate digital passes, hoping to supply a pleasant stay-at-home possibility. 

So, with out additional ado, under are my prime picks for advertising and marketing professionals seeking to increase their metaverse advertising and marketing muscle. 

February 1, 2023 / Digital (Watch the recap here)

The Gatherverse group is squarely targeted on the metaverse and the group implications these new applied sciences current to enterprise leaders and organizations.

The group leads with wellness, ethics, and security which is a refreshing change from many different tech occasions which might be extra targeted on ROI and enterprise outcomes. Very very like the tenets of my Metaverse Manifesto, there’s a sturdy concentrate on digital citizenship, inclusion, and accessibility of the metaverse for all. 

The group presents a number of digital occasions annually with numerous matters starting from girls in tech to athletics within the metaverse. The AI summit offered invaluable info for advertising and marketing professionals as all of us are grappling with how advances in AI will impression our position, methods and ways shifting ahead. 

February 27–March 2, 2023 / Barcelona, Spain

The position of 5G inside the immersive media panorama can’t be overstated. As extra shoppers undertake 5G, the chance to create and share mind-blowing immersive experiences by way of cell gadgets will increase as nicely. 

A number of of the metaverse-themed classes this 12 months embody: 

• NFT’s: The one-hit surprise? 
• From Metaverse to Matterverse, Methods to Do it Proper.
• Who’re the New Customers in Net 3.0. 

This have to be the most important occasion on this listing with over 100,000 attendees this 12 months touring from all around the globe. The convention will home the newest and biggest immersive know-how developments from the massive gamers with large budgets. 

MWC takes over the whole metropolis and housing and transportation change into a serious problem. Plan to attend in lengthy strains for public transit and taxis so contemplate strolling as an alternative. Barcelona is likely one of the most walkable and exquisite cities I’ve ever visited.

March 10–19, 2023 / Austin, Texas, USA (On-line passes obtainable)

Originating as a music pageant, SXSW has matured into a large phenomenon attracting roughly 75,000 attendees. The convention now attracts professionals from the movie, music, and interactive industries. 

Expertise and model expertise are paired at SXSW, with a whole monitor devoted to manufacturers and advertising and marketing. The world’s hippest inventive groups descend upon Austin – hoping to maintain it bizarre and stand out in a crowded panorama.

Like Cannes Lions, many professionals head to Austin with out an official SXSW badge as there are tons of of free occasions. You’ll completely must plan, put together and concentrate on the important thing occasions you need to hit earlier than you arrive. 

Driving in downtown Austin isn’t beneficial and strolling is most definitely your finest transportation possibility. Keep away from the temptation of carrying your hippest gear, as sticking to snug footwear and sensible clothes choices is unquestionably the way in which to go. 

Though the climate in Austin does are usually sunny, it’s not assured and packing all-weather gadgets equivalent to a rain poncho is beneficial.

April 12–16, 2023 / Laval, France

Laval Digital is an business convention with about 20,000 annual attendees gathering in a small city exterior of Paris. 

Highlighting a robust concentrate on business and enterprise case makes use of for immersive equivalent to healthcare, structure and development, prior years have included tracks devoted to cross-vertical matters equivalent to advertising and marketing, gross sales, infrastructure, 5G, storytelling, notion, and IoT. 

This convention is squarely targeted on business-to-business immersive tech so when you’re extra inquisitive about shopper campaigns, this won’t be your best option.

Laval is steeped in historical past, being constructed within the eleventh century. There are chateaus, museums, and many native flavors to absorb throughout your keep. It presents a good looking backdrop to the immersive business networking taking place exterior of occasion classes.

April 15–19, 2023 / Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

NAB is a large present that spans the whole digital ecosystem together with promoting, app growth, synthetic intelligence, audio, augmented actuality, broadcast, cable, cloud options, digital video, movie, blended actuality, digital actuality, 5G and extra. 

That is an business occasion that attracts professionals from all disciplines desirous to additional their careers, acquire data, expertise cutting-edge coaching, get hands-on with the newest know-how, and join with business trailblazers advancing the artwork, science and enterprise of content material.

The present presents a big selection of immersive technical tracks — specializing in content material notably invaluable to broadcasters and media professionals. This 12 months, the present features a visible storytelling monitor that may you’ll want to function modern immersive content material. 

The present additionally supplies a devoted immersive theater house, permitting exhibitors and audio system to point out off the newest immersive broadcasting capabilities. Happening in Vegas, you would possibly get seduced by discovering a resort on the strip, however I like to recommend discovering a resort off the strip nearer to the conference middle as they are usually cheaper and a pleasant respite from the hubbub of the playing capital of the world.

Might 10–11, 2023 / New York Metropolis, USA

This invite-only, non-public community of top-level advertising and marketing model leaders homes among the most modern minds within the enterprise. I used to be lucky sufficient to get a particular invite to current at their fall occasion in Santa Clara and I used to be completely impressed. 

This group presents probably the most necessary elements of business occasions — energy networking. The close-knit group presents a supportive and discrete community of name entrepreneurs who’re brazenly discussing as we speak’s challenges. 

There’s a membership charge and vetting course of to affix the group, however this ensures that there’s match on each side. The matters and content material supplied at their gatherings are positive to hit on present developments for model entrepreneurs together with all the pieces immersive and the metaverse. 

The intimacy of those occasions permits for the event of significant business connections, which can be missing at bigger occasions. 

Might 31–June 2, 2023 / Santa Clara, California, USA (On-line passes obtainable)

I’ve attended AWE during the last a number of years and have seen this convention mature right into a premier XR occasion. I’m thrilled to have been invited again this 12 months to current a case examine on how Intel’s advertising and marketing staff engaged (and delighted!) the developer viewers utilizing augmented actuality. 

This 12 months’s three-day occasion options a number of tracks that can be of curiosity to entrepreneurs together with retail, ecommerce, promoting, web3, AI and digital beings, gaming, leisure, and media. 

Happening within the coronary heart of Silicon Valley, AWE pairs traders with the newest XR-focused start-ups. That is the convention to attend when you’re searching for bleeding-edge know-how that might take your campaigns to the subsequent stage.

June 19–23, 2023 / Cannes, France

Cannes Lions explores the worth of creativity in branded communications. The five-day pageant and awards present supplies the business with entry to new concepts, shopper analysis and rising applied sciences which is able to assist make and form well-liked tradition. 

Prior years have included tracks that function manufacturers leveraging immersive know-how to have interaction audiences. In the event you’re seeking to community with best-in-class advertising and marketing groups and businesses — then that is the convention for you! 

Passes run upward of $3,000 for the official convention classes. Nevertheless, each writer conceivable hosts “unofficial” workshops and networking occasions. Convention veterans can return annually with out buying a cross and nonetheless have a full agenda.

Cannes Lions is extra about model constructing and promoting than know-how, so don’t attend hoping to search out Immersive Advertising and marketing 101 or tactical content material. It’s extra about rubbing shoulders with among the finest advertising and marketing groups within the enterprise whereas sipping rosé on the seaside. 

I used to be lucky sufficient to current at Cannes pre-pandemic in partnership with Model Innovators and they’re positive to be bringing in some superior audio system utilizing cutting-edge know-how this 12 months as nicely.

September 2023 / New York Metropolis, USA

This four-day occasion encompasses a mix of thought management content material and fascinating particular occasions, with attendees starting from public relations professionals and promoting execs to chief advertising and marketing officers and social media advisers. Prior years have had dozens of classes that includes immersive content material and I’m positive this 12 months can have much more.

Happening in bustling New York Metropolis, this convention brings collectively everybody who’s anybody within the media biz. Grappling with declining TV viewership and a proliferation of content material, attendees are afforded a behind-the-curtain peak into the way forward for promoting. Much like Cannes, there are tons of of classes and events on the roster, so doing all of your homework earlier than you arrive is important.

I additionally host a digital, month-to-month, dwell occasion for entrepreneurs seeking to discover immersive areas and I might love so that you can be a part of. We collect by way of Zoom on the fourth Friday of every month at midday PT, you may study extra and discover the hyperlink to affix here.

The above is under no circumstances a complete listing of all of the conferences overlaying advertising and marketing within the metaverse in 2023, so please be at liberty to connect with me on LinkedIn and share any nice choices that I’ll have missed.