The top immersive marketing events of 2023

I don’t find out about you, however my strategy 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, making certain my well being is my prime precedence.

You could fall on one facet of this equation, the opposite or land someplace in between, however there is no such thing as a denying that occasions will proceed to be an vital avenue for advertising professionals. 

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

A lot of the occasions that made the checklist 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 professionals trying to enhance their metaverse advertising muscle. 

February 1, 2023 / Digital (Watch the recap right 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 give attention to digital citizenship, inclusion, and accessibility of the metaverse for all. 

The group provides a number of digital occasions annually with numerous matters starting from ladies in tech to athletics within the metaverse. The AI summit supplied precious info for advertising professionals as all of us are grappling with how advances in AI will affect our function, methods and techniques shifting ahead. 

February 27–March 2, 2023 / Barcelona, Spain

The function of 5G throughout the immersive media panorama can’t be overstated. As extra shoppers undertake 5G, the chance to create and share mind-blowing immersive experiences through cell gadgets will increase as effectively. 

A number of of the metaverse-themed classes this yr embrace: 

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

This have to be the biggest occasion on this checklist with over 100,000 attendees this yr touring from everywhere in the globe. The convention will home the most recent and biggest immersive expertise developments from the massive gamers with massive budgets. 

MWC takes over all the metropolis and housing and transportation turn out to be a serious problem. Plan to attend in lengthy traces for public transit and taxis so contemplate strolling as a substitute. Barcelona is among the most walkable and delightful cities I’ve ever visited.

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

Originating as a music pageant, SXSW has matured into an enormous 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 complete observe devoted to manufacturers and advertising. 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 a whole bunch of free occasions. You’ll completely have to plan, put together and give attention to the important thing occasions you wish to hit earlier than you arrive. 

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

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

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 powerful give attention to business and enterprise case makes use of for immersive comparable to healthcare, structure and development, prior years have included tracks devoted to cross-vertical matters comparable to advertising, gross sales, infrastructure, 5G, storytelling, notion, and IoT. 

This convention is squarely targeted on business-to-business immersive tech so for those who’re extra fascinated with shopper campaigns, this may not 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 soak up throughout your keep. It presents a lovely backdrop to the immersive business networking occurring exterior of occasion classes.

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

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

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

The present provides a wide array of immersive technical tracks — specializing in content material significantly precious to broadcasters and media professionals. This yr, the present features a visible storytelling observe that may you’ll want to characteristic progressive immersive content material. 

The present additionally gives a devoted immersive theater area, permitting exhibitors and audio system to indicate off the most recent immersive broadcasting capabilities. Going down in Vegas, you would possibly get seduced by discovering a lodge on the strip, however I like to recommend discovering a lodge off the strip nearer to the conference heart as they are typically cheaper and a pleasant respite from the hubbub of the playing capital of the world.

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

This invite-only, personal community of top-level advertising model leaders homes a number of the most progressive 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 provides one of the crucial vital elements of business occasions — energy networking. The close-knit group provides a supportive and discrete community of name entrepreneurs who’re brazenly discussing as we speak’s challenges. 

There’s a membership price and vetting course of to hitch the group, however this ensures that there’s a great match on either side. The matters and content material supplied at their gatherings are certain 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. 

Could 31–June 2, 2023 / Santa Clara, California, USA (On-line passes out there)

I’ve attended AWE over the past 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 yr to current a case examine on how Intel’s advertising group engaged (and delighted!) the developer viewers utilizing augmented actuality. 

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

Going down within the coronary heart of Silicon Valley, AWE pairs buyers with the most recent XR-focused start-ups. That is the convention to attend for those who’re on the lookout for bleeding-edge expertise that would take your campaigns to the following stage.

June 19–23, 2023 / Cannes, France

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

Prior years have included tracks that characteristic manufacturers leveraging immersive expertise to interact audiences. In case you’re trying to community with best-in-class advertising groups and businesses — then that is the convention for you! 

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

Cannes Lions is extra about model constructing and promoting than expertise, so don’t attend hoping to seek out Immersive Advertising and marketing 101 or tactical content material. It’s extra about rubbing shoulders with a number of the finest advertising groups within the enterprise whereas sipping rosé on the seashore. 

I used to be lucky sufficient to current at Cannes pre-pandemic in partnership with Model Innovators and they’re certain to be bringing in some superior audio system utilizing cutting-edge expertise this yr as effectively.

September 2023 / New York Metropolis, USA

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

Going down 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 a whole bunch of classes and events on the roster, so doing all your homework earlier than you arrive is important.

December 2023, Location TBD

The Immerse International Summit is the annual occasion organized by the AR/VR Affiliation( https://www.thevrara.com/) . It was held in Miami in 2022 after a Covid-induced hiatus and guarantees to be top-of-the-line business occasions of 2023.

The AR/VR Affiliation is an lively group of immersive business professionals targeted on verticals efficiently leveraging immersive applied sciences comparable to schooling, advertising, finance, and others. The group has regional chapters that maintain many occasions month-to-month and is an excellent place to seek out different pioneers and innovators specializing in XR.

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

The above is in no way a complete checklist of all of the conferences protecting advertising within the metaverse in 2023, so please be at liberty to attach with me on LinkedIn and share any nice choices that I could have missed.