The calendar has turned and 2016 is in full swing. Over the next 10 months, you won’t have to look far to find a business conference that piques your interest.

But here is the problem: you only have so much time and money for attending conferences. For this reason, set your sights on those that will provide the most value along with a positive return on investment.

Despite the fact that there are thousands of conferences to choose from, some have a better reputation than others. Below is a comprehensive list of the top business conferences of 2016:

Traffic and Conversion Summit

San Diego, California
February 9 – 11

If driving traffic and converting visitors is high on your to-do list this year, the Traffic and Conversion Summit is a great place to learn from the pros.

Speakers this year include many of the top names in the industry, such as: Ryan Deiss, Richard Lindner, and Gary Vaynerchuk.

If you didn’t get your ticket early, you may be on the outside looking in. Fortunately, there is a waiting list for those who still want to attend.

TED 2016

Vancouver, British Columbia
February 15 – 19

Rather than try to explain what this five day conference is all about, here is a brief excerpt from its official website:

“A fast-paced, highly curated five-day stage program featuring TED’s famous 18-minute talks, plus music, comedy, tech demos, short talks, video interludes and other surprises.”

What more could you want?

Related Article: Ask the Market Experts: Which Conference is Indispensable to You?

Marketing Sherpa Summit

Las Vegas, Nevada
February 22 – 24

From industry roundtables to certification courses, you will be busy if you attend this conference. In addition to networking with thousands of digital marketing professionals, there are plenty of speakers providing tips and guidance on how to improve your business.

SXSW Interactive

Austin, Texas
March 11 – 15

When it comes to business conferences, many people consider SXSW Interactive “top dog.” The location is ideal. Attendees are ready to network. Speakers are ready to teach.

The exhibitions alone are well worth the time and money. Let’s put it this way: every business professional should attend SXSW Interactive at least one time. After one visit, this may be at the top of your conference list in the years to come.  

LeadsCon

Las Vegas, Nevada
March 15 – 17

Marketing, marketing, and more marketing. Every year, more than 3,000 people descend on this event to discuss all forms of marketing and lead generation. This year, the conference has booked many big name speakers, such as Mark Schaefer and Victor You.

MarTech

San Francisco, California
March 21 – 22

This conference is all about the “intersection of marketing and technology.” If you are part of the marketing and/or tech industry, regardless of your title, this conference is right for you.

And don’t forget to visit the expo, where more than 100 marketing technology solution providers will be present.

Social Media Marketing World

San Diego, California
April 17 – 19

The name says it all. When you attend this conference, the only thing on your mind for three days will be social media marketing.

With thousands of people in attendance, you won’t be hurting for conversation. This year, some of the speakers include: Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, and Jay Baer. In other words, the top names in social media marketing.

Related Article: Making Connections: The Best Internet Marketing Conferences in 2016

World Business Forum

Hong Kong, China
May 31 – June 1

There are many reasons to attend this event, including the opportunity to network with some of the top business leaders in the world.

If you travel to Hong Kong for the World Business Forum this year, you will be in the company of Richard Branson, Randi Zuckerberg, and Nicholas Negroponte among others.

SMX Advanced

Seattle, Washington
June 21 – 22

This two-day conference packs a powerful punch. It is the only search marketing conference designed for experienced internet marketing professionals.

You can leave basic search strategies at home. SMX Advanced is all about taking your game to the next level. From in-depth workshops to networking opportunities, if it has anything to do with advanced search marketing it will be discussed here.

Affiliate Summit East

New York, New York
July 31 – August 2

An absolute star amongst business conferences, Affiliate Summit East is always a packed house.

Here is how the official website explains the conference:

“Affiliate Summit, the premier affiliate marketing conference, was founded by Missy Ward and Shawn Collins in 2003 for the purpose of providing educational sessions on the latest industry issues and fostering a productive networking environment for affiliate marketers.”

As an affiliate marketing professional, you need to be in New York City on July 31.

World Domination Summit

Portland, Oregon
August 11 – 15

If you enjoy small conferences in an intimate environment, World Domination Summit is the one for you.

From speakers to smaller get-togethers, you have the opportunity to learn more about the business world as well as yourself as a leader.

Here is something to look forward to: dozens of workshops known as “Academies,” all of which have a theme that will get your mind working.

Content Marketing World

Cleveland, Ohio
September 6 – 9

Content marketing is all the rage. Content Marketing World is the place to be if you want to learn more about this strategy, network with others, and develop new skills.

Last year, more than 3,500 marketers from 55 countries attended the conference. With 80+ sessions planned for 2016, you can expect more of the same.

Mozcon

Seattle, Washington
September 12 – 14

The conference tagline says it all: “Not your typical marketing conference.”

You may have attended marketing conferences in the past, but there is nothing like three days at Mozcon.

There are a variety of actionable sessions to attend, covering topics such as CRO, content marketing and community building.  

Agents of Change

Portland, Oregon
September 23

Is search engine optimization on your mind? Are you struggling to build a strong social following? These are the types of challenges addressed during the Agents of Change conference.

It may only be a one day event, but there is a lot of information and knowledge packed into it.

Pubcon Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada
October 10 – 13

A leading digital marketing conference, Pubcon has been taking Las Vegas by storm for many years.

While speakers for 2016 have yet to be announced, here are some names that have taken to the stage in the past: Justine Ezarik, Satya Nadella, and Malcolm Gladwell.

Inbound 2016

Boston, Massachusetts
November 8 – 11

Inbound marketing is the name of the game in 2016. If you want to build this part of your business, spend some time in Boston in November.

Here is something that sets the event apart: Inbound offers an optional additional service with full and half-day training sessions. In the past, these sessions have focused on social media, content marketing, lead nurturing, and web development among other subject matter.

EventTech

Las Vegas, Nevada
November 14 – 16

Once again this fall, the world’s largest event technology lab is taking its show to the Las Vegas Strip.

There will be more than 1,000 marketing professionals in attendance to take in sessions regarding social media and technology. Best yet, sessions are taught by some of the most knowledgeable names in the field, backed by brands such as MasterCard, Google, and IBM.