Top Virtual Events of 2020: Your Guide
By: Ariane Ramirez
Tags: Virtual Conference, Event Planning, Live Streaming, Online Event, Virtual Events

Calling 2020 a challenging year for event organizers would be an understatement. The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread cancelations and forced folks in the event and conference industry to quickly find a plan B.

But, there is a silver lining. Event planners have used their creativity and forward-thinking to move events online! This means greater accessibility and more opportunities to attend some of the biggest and best events, summits, and conferences in the world.

More than just webinars and streaming video, virtual events present ample opportunity for education, professional development, and networking and they do this without you having to ever leave the comfort of your own home!

Like so many other things these days, the status of many events is a little uncertain and subject to change. But to help event organizers navigate the new landscape and to help interested event-goers sort out their calendar, Accelevents has put together a list of some of our favorite virtual and hybrid events!

Accelevents’ Top 15 Virtual Events and Conferences

The following events are listed in chronological order:

May 5th, 2020

Social Media Week is a worldwide event that will not disappoint. This event will merge the New York City and Los Angeles live events into one, massive, virtual event.

With over 300 speakers and 150 virtual sessions, you will learn the ins and outs of digital marketing during one of the most disruptive times in living history. Social Media Week is an industry leader that consistently produces useful and valuable content that can help improve brand building and digital marketing savvy.

May 5–7, 2020

IBM is a tech giant so it should come as no surprise that they would have one of the top virtual conferences!

With a combination of live video, interactive sessions, and locally hosted events, attendees can learn about the latest advancements in open technologies like hybrid cloud and AI while rubbing digital elbows with luminaries and expert innovators who are using technology to change and transform our lives.

May 12, 2020

C3 is a search and content marketing conference offered for free!

Keynote addresses and dedicated chat rooms allow for ample learning and networking opportunities. Gain actionable insights that you can use immediately to better connect with your audience and improve SEO in 2020 and beyond.

May 12–14, 2020 (keynotes, breakouts, demos)

June 9–10, 2020 (Labs)

For those who work with multi-cloud applications, Agility is a valuable learning opportunity. With exclusive speaker content, certification courses, breakout sessions, and labs, this conference can easily lead to greater collaboration and understanding.

Designed for architects, engineers, and developers, attendees can come together to create better solutions in complex application development, delivery, and security challenges.

May 19, 2020

Originally scheduled as a live event in Oslo, Norway, Katapult has moved online.

Katapult brings together a community of world leaders and global experts to address and problem-solve some of the biggest challenges facing our communities and our planet.

This virtual conference seeks to foster engagement and connection, mobilizing all of us towards a better future. With speakers, a podcast series, workshops, education sessions, and “community dinners,” Katapult is an inspiring event creating hope and unity on a worldwide scale.

June TBD

The in-person 99U conference was scheduled for June but Adobe has decided to take the conference online and offer it for free!

Build for an audience of creatives, this virtual conference seeks to “unpack creative identities” to nurture talent, explore creative purpose and define individual success.

The agenda is still in the works but you can expect a group of diverse speakers covering a range of topics that offer real insight across all creative sectors. Keynotes, workshops, and masterclasses are sure to inspire creatives across all industries.

June TBD

For app developers and the technically inclined, Apple’s WWDC20 is a must-attend.

The live event is packed with expert speakers and developers and the virtual event will be no different. With keynote addresses and breakout sessions, attendees can learn how to use Apple technology to build their most innovative apps yet!

June 15, 2020

This 24-hour conference brings together some of the world’s leading authorities on DevOps and security.

Watch and listen to keynote speakers, explore virtual booths and displays at the virtual expo, and participate in Q&A sessions to maximize your insights and understanding.

June 17–18, 2020

Live collaboration, interactive chat rooms, “hands-on” labs, and a virtual tech fest makes VeemOn 2020 the perfect event for those interested in leveraging cloud technology for more efficient data protection and business growth.

In our increasingly online world, VeemOn offers access to Veem’s leadership team as well as other industry experts to inform, educate, and inspire.

June 23–25, 2020

For the more than 30,000 people expected to attend the in-person Collision Conference, Collision from home comes is welcome news.

With streaming talks from tech CEOs, international policymakers, and global cultural figures, attendees will be able to learn about and discuss industry news and advancements. They can engage with leaders from the world’s top tech companies and the most exciting and fastest-growing startups.

September 21–24, 2020

Elevate Main Stage: Livestream Edition gives founders, innovators, entrepreneurs and business executives a peek inside the minds and strategies of real-life thought leaders, tech titans, and successful entrepreneurs.

The 2020 event is scheduled for September but Elevate is offering a 13-week, free, online speaker series that provides insight into some of the most pressing issues and concerns facing both the tech industry and the global community.

September 29-October 1, 2020

The Call to Action Conference from Unbounce is currently set to be a hybrid event but they may be forced to move completely online in the months ahead.

Either way, this conference is a “no fluff,” filler-free way to gain actionable insights and takeaways from some of the world’s top marketing experts, including Rand Fishkin of SparkToro and Joanna Wiebe of Copyhackers.

October 7–25, 2020

From startups to investors, inventors to SMEs, everyone is welcome at Spark. Plans are currently in the works to bring this massive event out of Australia into the virtual realm.

The festival seeks to help businesses of all types creatively tackle the new global economy. As they say, there has never been a better time to rethink EVERYTHING.

TBD

In March, SAS announced that they will cancel their in-person event and offer a digital version instead.

Many details are still in the works but for the time being, interested parties can learn more about how to apply analytics and use SAS software through 80 sessions, available for free, on the SAS YouTube channel. Expect new content to be uploaded mid-may. This conference is expected to include downloadable content so if you miss a speaker’s live stream or want to replay a session you found particularly helpful, you will be able to do so.

Full Conference: Late autumn, TBD

Adsider Live: May 21, 2020

The Adsider Conference has been moved to the fall but marketers, publishers, agencies, and app developers, can still tune in on May 21 to hear speeches from top adtech and programmatic experts.

This conference will cover important topics like monetization, mobile, and regional marketing trends while providing an opportunity to meet with high-level decision-makers from some of the world’s top firms.

With an ongoing global health crisis on our hands, things are in a state of constant flux. It is likely that many more of our favorite live events and conferences will move online in the weeks and months ahead. If you had planned to attend a major summit or event this year, check and see if they are offering a virtual option before you request a refund.

Virtual events can provide attendees with an experience that is every bit as valuable as attending live and in person.

If you are planning to make the shift from a physical to a virtual event, the Accelevents Virtual Event Platform can help you properly host, promote, and execute your event!