Mystic Mike’s predictions: What does 2026 hold for paid media?
By Mike Sharp, Operations Director at Launch That time of year is here. The time when I confidently predict the…
It’s time to get your calendar out and plan your marketing events for the year ahead so you can schmooze with the great and good from the industry, and hear from the people in the know to take tips, inspiration and actionable insights back to your team.
We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up some of the best UK digital marketing events – both virtual and in-person – to pop in your diary.
1. The CMO’s guide to Performance marketing
26 March, Bristol
More and more CMOs seem to be backed into a corner, pushed to prioritise volume of customer acquisition with little regard for the quality of those customers.
This event to help aims to help marketers to redress the balance – to reclaim the time and resource needed to reach those most valuable customers.
Hosted by Launch’s award-winning team, it will also welcome speakers from Pinterest and Icelandair.
Get your ticket for the CMO’s guide to Performance Marketing.
2. BrightonSEO
April 10th-11th 2025, Brighton
BrightonSEO has grown to become a lynchpin for digital marketers, and not just in the UK. With its massive variety of talks, it’s an excellent way to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the industry.
If you’re after insight in a specific digital discipline beyond SEO, we highly recommend checking out the growing fringe festivals, including Hero Conf and MeasureFest.
3. Building Brands
May 22 2025, Plymouth
September 11 2025, Bristol
November 13 2025, Exeter
In the last few years, Building Brands has built a reputation for providing marketers in the South West (and beyond!) a brilliant day of insights.
It somehow manages to balance a broad spectrum of disciplines with the level of detail needed to come away with actual insights. As a day-long conference, it’s run spectacularly well. Our Paid Social Director Becky and Paid Media Executive Harry spoke at a previous event and you can hear them run through a recap of the event on LinkedIn – Performance Max by Harry and Pinterest tips from Becky!
Learn more about Building Brands
4. MAD//Fest
July 1st to 3rd 2025, London
Ever wondered where the cutting-edge of digital marketing converges? Look no further than MAD//Fest London. This festival isn’t just an event; it’s a vibrant melting pot of ideas, innovation, and interaction. It’s where the brightest minds in digital marketing, advertising, and technology gather to rewrite the rulebook. With keynote speeches from industry leaders and pioneering companies, workshops brimming with actionable insights, and a unique pitchfest for startups, MAD//Fest is a playground for professionals who dare to think differently.
Learn more on the MAD//Fest website
5. Marketing Week’s Festival of Marketing
2 October, London
If you want to go big or go home, this is the event for you. With some of the world’s biggest brands in attendance the Festival of Marketing is a one-stop shop for those looking for thought leadership from some of the biggest and brightest in the industry. It really is brilliant stuff, with handy reminders of the foundations of marketing, along with the topical talking points to help you stay super relevant.
Learn more about the Festival of Marketing
6. Social Media Marketing Forum (SocialDay)
12 November 2025, London (in person)
Is there a collective noun for a pack of Social media marketing professionals? Well if there isn’t, SocialDay is THE day to invent one. It’s an unmissable networking opportunity, a chance to catch up with the latest trends plus there’s Q&As with the likes of Meta, Twitter and Snapchat. Stop scrolling and start talking and you’ll come away with big ideas (so users don’t scroll past you, eh)?
Learn more on the SocialDay website.
Slightly Further Afield
7. SMX Advanced Europe
September 30th to October 1st 2025, Berlin
Whilst it’s not UK based, SMX Advanced warrants a mention for the unique opportunity it offers to explore the complexities of search marketing among Europe’s finest. For advanced SEO and PPC executives only, it offers featured sessions, workshops and roundtables to give you the chance for in depth discussion with leading figures from the industry.
Learn more on the SMX advanced website
And finally…
Naturally, we also recommend you keep a close watch on Google events throughout the year, especially with search evolving so rapidly.
We never shy away from a learning opportunity at Launch, which is one reason why our team of paid media experts, data analysts and CRO team get consistently great results for our clients. So you’re likely to run into us at industry events, both virtual and in-person! You can also contact us directly if you are looking to optimise your performance marketing strategy.
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