Top Marketing Conferences for San Diego Professionals (2026-2027 Guide)

Epic Marketing Events Team July 1, 2026

Key Takeaways

• RESI San Diego 2026 offers virtual partnering days from June 23-30, making it the primary marketing-adjacent event in San Diego for the rest of June 2026.
• The Epic Marketing Summit in January 2027 is the premier conference designed for coaches, consultants, and agency owners seeking AI-driven growth strategies.
• For San Diego marketers, the NAED 2027 Western Region Conference in Phoenix (January 11-13, 2027) is the most geographically convenient regional B2B marketing event.
• DigiMarCon South 2026 (October 29-30, San Antonio, TX) provides a comprehensive deep-dive into a wide range of digital marketing tactics.
• The NAED hosts several key events, including a dedicated Marketing Summit in August 2026 and a Women in Industry Forum in June 2027.
• The best conference strategy for San Diego professionals in 2026-2027 involves a mix of local hybrid events and travel to key national and regional summits.
• Key themes at top 2026 marketing conferences include AI implementation, first-party data strategies, and proving marketing ROI.

Part of our guide to Marketing Conferences

TL;DR

While the calendar for dedicated San Diego marketing conferences in the latter half of 2026 is limited, your best local option is the RESI San Diego 2026, which offers virtual partnering days from June 23-30. For a truly transformative experience, the premier event for San Diego-based founders and marketers is the Epic Marketing Summit in January 2027. To round out your calendar, consider key regional events like the NAED 2027 Western Region Conference in Phoenix and other national summits that provide significant ROI.

Searching for top-tier San Diego marketing conferences in 2026 can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. The event landscape is constantly shifting, with many organizers planning further out. But for ambitious San Diego agency owners, consultants, and SaaS founders, the goal remains the same: find events that deliver real strategies, powerful connections, and measurable growth.

While there aren't many large-scale marketing-specific conferences happening within San Diego city limits for the rest of 2026, there are excellent opportunities both locally (in a hybrid format) and nationally that are well worth the investment for any serious marketer. This guide cuts through the noise to give you a definitive list of events where you can learn from industry leaders, connect with peers, and grow your business in 2026 and 2027.

Why Attending Marketing Conferences Remains Crucial

In-person and high-value virtual events are more critical than ever. As AI filters more of our digital lives, authentic human connection has become a superpower. The most valuable conferences in 2026-2027 are focusing on actionable strategies you can't get from a webinar. Based on industry analysis from firms like 42DM, the core themes are:

• AI-Powered Marketing: Moving beyond theory to practical implementation of AI in content creation, personalization, and operations.
• First-Party Data Strategy: With the continued deprecation of third-party cookies, learning to activate your own data is non-negotiable.
• Demonstrating Revenue Impact: CMOs and agency owners are under pressure to prove ROI. Events that connect marketing efforts directly to pipeline and revenue are essential.

These are the pillars of modern marketing, and they're the focus of the events on this list. See how our past speakers have tackled these topics on our recordings page.

The Best Marketing Conferences for San Diego Professionals

Here is our ranked list of the most impactful marketing conferences for San Diego professionals to attend in 2026 and 2027.

1. Epic Marketing Summit

• Date: January 2027
• Location: To Be Announced
• Format: In-Person
• Best For: Coaches, consultants, agency owners, course creators, and SaaS founders.
• Our Verdict: The Epic Marketing Summit is the premier event for established business owners looking to scale. Unlike massive, impersonal conferences, we focus on a curated cohort, fostering intimate, high-level networking. Our AI-first curriculum is designed not just to discuss trends but to provide a practical implementation blueprint. This is where you'll build your growth plan for the year ahead alongside fellow founders.

2. RESI San Diego 2026

• Date: June 22 (In-Person) & June 23-24, 29-30 (Virtual Partnering)
• Location: JULEP Venue, San Diego, CA (and Virtual)
• Format: Hybrid
• Best For: Marketers and business leaders in the life sciences and healthcare tech space.
• Our Verdict: The only major conference with a physical San Diego presence on our list for the remainder of June 2026. While the main in-person day is June 22, the event extends with four days of virtual partnering, offering a fantastic opportunity for San Diego locals to connect with global investors and strategic partners without leaving home. Learn more at the official RESI Conference site.

3. NAED 2027 Western Region Conference

• Date: January 11-13, 2027
• Location: Phoenix, AZ
• Format: In-Person
• Best For: Marketing and sales executives in the electrical distribution industry, especially those on the West Coast.
• Our Verdict: A short flight from San Diego, this is the most geographically relevant conference for regional networking. Hosted by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), it’s a prime opportunity for B2B marketers in industrial sectors to connect with key executives from across the Midwest and West Coast.

4. DigiMarCon South 2026

• Date: October 29-30, 2026
• Location: San Antonio, TX
• Format: In-Person & Virtual
• Best For: Digital marketers looking for a comprehensive deep-dive into the latest tools and tactics.
• Our Verdict: If you're looking for a firehose of digital marketing knowledge, DigiMarCon is a strong contender. As detailed on the DigiMarCon South event page, the agenda covers everything from SEO and programmatic advertising to data science, conversion rate optimization, and growth hacking. It’s a worthwhile trip for marketers who need to stay on the absolute cutting edge of a wide array of disciplines.

5. NAED 2026 Marketing Summit

• Date: August 3-5, 2026
• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Format: In-Person
• Best For: B2B marketing leaders focused on strategy and leadership.
• Our Verdict: The NAED Marketing Summit is a top-tier event focused on strategic growth. While the audience leans towards the electrical industry, the marketing principles discussed are universally applicable for any B2B leader. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about channel marketing, sales enablement, and building a high-performance marketing team. Details can be found on the NAED events page.

6. NAED 2027 Women in Industry Forum

• Date: June 14-16, 2027
• Location: To Be Announced
• Format: In-Person
• Best For: Women leaders in marketing and sales seeking powerful networking and professional development.
• Our Verdict: A highly-regarded forum for networking and leadership development. For women in leadership roles at San Diego-based companies, this event offers a unique and supportive environment to connect with peers and mentors from across the country.

7. NAED 2027 National Meeting

• Date: May 11-13, 2027
• Location: Salt Lake City, UT
• Format: In-Person
• Best For: Senior executives and decision-makers looking for high-level industry insights.
• Our Verdict: This is NAED's flagship event, bringing together top executives. For San Diego marketing leaders aiming to understand the broader business landscape and connect with the C-suite, this is a valuable conference to have on the calendar.

San Diego Marketing Conferences 2026-2027: At a Glance

How to Choose the Right Conference for You

Selecting the right event from this list depends entirely on your goals. Ask yourself:

1. What is my primary objective? Are you looking for specific lead-generation tactics (DigiMarCon), high-level networking with founders (Epic Marketing Summit), or regional industry connections (NAED Western Region)?
2. What is my budget? Factor in not just the ticket price but travel and lodging. A local hybrid event like RESI San Diego offers great value by eliminating travel costs.
3. What is my industry? While general marketing conferences are valuable, industry-specific events like those from NAED can provide more targeted networking and content.

For a truly immersive experience that combines learning, networking, and direct application, consider our AI Authority Accelerator program, which prepares you to maximize your impact at any event. You can also review sessions from our past events to see the caliber of content we deliver.

Your Next Step to Growth

The most successful marketers are proactive planners. By looking ahead to the best events of late 2026 and early 2027, you're positioning yourself and your business for success. While the options in San Diego itself may be narrow, the opportunities for growth are wide open if you know where to look.

Ready to join an elite group of founders and marketers dedicated to scalable growth? Explore our upcoming schedule of virtual and in-person events built for leaders like you.

Browse Our Upcoming Events

Tickets for Epic Marketing Summit, January 19 and 20, 2027 at The LAB Miami are available now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any marketing conferences in San Diego in 2026?

Yes, but options are limited for the second half of the year. RESI San Diego 2026 takes place on June 22, with virtual partnering days continuing from June 23-30, offering a local hybrid opportunity for marketers, especially in the life sciences sector.

What is the best marketing conference to attend near San Diego in 2027?

The NAED 2027 Western Region Conference, held in Phoenix, AZ from January 11-13, 2027, is an excellent choice for San Diego marketers. Its focus on the western region and proximity make it ideal for B2B networking.

What major digital marketing conferences are happening in the US in late 2026?

DigiMarCon South 2026 is a major event happening in San Antonio, TX, from October 29-30, 2026. It covers a broad spectrum of digital marketing topics from SEO and content marketing to data science and growth hacking.

What is the Epic Marketing Summit?

The Epic Marketing Summit in January 2027 is a premier conference for established coaches, consultants, agency owners, and SaaS founders. It focuses on an AI-first curriculum and intimate, high-level networking in a small cohort setting.

Are there any B2B marketing summits scheduled for 2026?

Yes, the NAED 2026 Marketing Summit will take place in Indianapolis, IN, from August 3-5, 2026. It's designed for marketing leaders, with a focus on strategy, leadership, and B2B growth.