As 2025 draws to a close following a year of notable creator economy gatherings, the industry prepares for 2026 with a packed January schedule. The month is set to feature several major events across multiple countries, attracting thousands of content creators, brands, and industry professionals. Programming ranges from technology-focused sessions at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas to food content at Tastemaker Conference in Los Angeles, influencer marketing at Creator Economy Live West and Affiliate Summit West, and international gatherings including the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai and Content Americas in Miami.
Digital Hollywood, a CES Conference Partner, brings together executives from entertainment, technology, and brand sectors. The one-day conference features sessions on AI and cinematic creativity, streaming strategies, monetization in the creator economy, and brand partnerships. Topics include conversational AI, virtual engagement tools, copyright and data valuation discussions, and platform innovation. Speakers represent organizations including MrBeast, Amazon Web Services, NBCUniversal, WPP, Google, and TikTok.
The CES Creator Space expands to a new location on the LVCC Central Hall show floor and opens to all CES attendees. The space offers workstations, recording pods, networking opportunities with brands and startups, and break spaces with charging stations. The program includes three days of expert-led sessions covering the creator economy, metrics, brand partnerships, and commerce. Media professionals receive complimentary registration and exclusive access to product announcements, meetings with exhibitors, and press rooms.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit hosts content creators across three venues in Dubai. The three-day event features speakers with a combined reach of more than 2.3 billion followers. Featured speakers include MrBeast, Simon Squibb, Max Amini, Mufti Menk, and Jeremy Jauncey. The summit offers three ticket tiers: Expo Ticket ($54.46), Creator Pro Ticket ($163.38), and VIP Ticket ($1,633.76). Strategic partners include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Meta, X, and Snapchat. The event includes an AI Film Award and Educator Award.
Date: January 9-11, 2026
Venue: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE
Tastemaker Conference targets food bloggers and content creators with two days of workshops, keynotes, and strategy labs. The program covers SEO, technical skills, revenue growth, business development, content creation, and brand relationships. Attendees receive access to 20-plus classes and panels, digital replays, a sponsor/exhibitor hall, and a product swag bag valued at over $150. Ticket options include General Admission ($699), Business Registration ($899), and VIP passes. The conference offers equity tickets for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and those in financial need.
Date: January 9-10, 2026
Venue: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles
Creator Economy Live West brings together brands, creators, and agencies for influencer marketing. The first 500 brand attendees receive free registration. The program features 50+ industry leaders from companies including Cracker Barrel, The Walt Disney Company, SHEIN, OLAPLEX, Quest Nutrition, Fiverr, and FOX Entertainment. Six content tracks cover community building, creator relations, measurement and ROI, social platforms, content strategy, and future tools and trends. The event takes place alongside Affiliate Summit West.
Affiliate Summit West hosts over 7,000 affiliates, advertisers, e-commerce sellers, networks, and technology partners. The event features eight topic tracks covering e-commerce, lead generation, tracking and attribution, advertising, media buying, and brand strategy. Previous speakers include executives from the New York Post, Amazon Associates, SKIMS, and Zenni Optical. The event consists of 10,000-plus scheduled meetings. Affiliates attend at no cost with access to all sessions, meet-ups, and networking events. According to attendee Charlie Calabrese of All Inclusive Marketing, his company closed a six-figure deal on-site at the 2025 event.
Podfest Expo celebrates its 12th anniversary, connecting podcasters and content creators. The four-day event unites podcasters, creators, and industry professionals focused on audio and video content. Programming targets emerging podcasters, experienced podcasters seeking to improve technology and audience growth, and professional podcasters earning a full-time income. Conference topics include technology and innovation, audience growth, monetization and marketing, and video production. All attendees receive access to education sessions, networking opportunities, and industry leaders.
Content Americas hosts a market floor, three-day conference, The Rose d’Or Latinos Awards, and Create Americas and AI Festival programming. The event connects Latin American, domestic US, and international content businesses. Programming includes dedicated blocks on creator economy opportunities and AI production partnerships. Speakers include executives from MicroCo, Cineverse, Amazon MGM Studios, TelevisaUnivision, Wild Sheep Content, NBCUniversal Formats, Dori Media Group, Fox Corporation, and Banijay. Registration costs $999 through December 31, 2025.
The International Conference on Social Media Marketing and Influencer Strategies (ICSMIS-26) convenes scientists, academicians, industry professionals, and experts. Papers undergo peer review by technical committee members, with accepted papers eligible for publication in Scopus-indexed or Web of Science journals. The conference covers science, technology, medical sciences, environment, education, business, banking, finance, languages, and history. All papers must be original, unpublished work written in English. The event follows a process including abstract submission, initial evaluation, acceptance notification, registration, full paper submission, in-depth review, and potential revision requests. Awards include Best Paper and Best Presentation recognition.
Cecilia Carloni, Interview Manager at Influence Weekly and writer for NetInfluencer. Coming from beautiful Argentina, Ceci has spent years chatting with big names in the influencer world, making friends and learning insider info along the way. When she’s not deep in interviews or writing, she's enjoying life with her two daughters. Ceci’s stories give a peek behind the curtain of influencer life, sharing the real and interesting tales from her many conversations with movers and shakers in the space.
As 2025 draws to a close following a year of notable creator economy gatherings, the industry prepares for 2026 with a packed January schedule. The month is set to feature several major events across multiple countries, attracting thousands of content creators, brands, and industry professionals. Programming ranges from technology-focused sessions at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas to food content at Tastemaker Conference in Los Angeles, influencer marketing at Creator Economy Live West and Affiliate Summit West, and international gatherings including the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai and Content Americas in Miami.
Digital Hollywood: A CES Conference Partner
Digital Hollywood, a CES Conference Partner, brings together executives from entertainment, technology, and brand sectors. The one-day conference features sessions on AI and cinematic creativity, streaming strategies, monetization in the creator economy, and brand partnerships. Topics include conversational AI, virtual engagement tools, copyright and data valuation discussions, and platform innovation. Speakers represent organizations including MrBeast, Amazon Web Services, NBCUniversal, WPP, Google, and TikTok.
Date: January 5, 2026
Venue: Aria Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
CES Creator Space
The CES Creator Space expands to a new location on the LVCC Central Hall show floor and opens to all CES attendees. The space offers workstations, recording pods, networking opportunities with brands and startups, and break spaces with charging stations. The program includes three days of expert-led sessions covering the creator economy, metrics, brand partnerships, and commerce. Media professionals receive complimentary registration and exclusive access to product announcements, meetings with exhibitors, and press rooms.
Date: January 6-9, 2026
Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
1 Billion Followers Summit
The 1 Billion Followers Summit hosts content creators across three venues in Dubai. The three-day event features speakers with a combined reach of more than 2.3 billion followers. Featured speakers include MrBeast, Simon Squibb, Max Amini, Mufti Menk, and Jeremy Jauncey. The summit offers three ticket tiers: Expo Ticket ($54.46), Creator Pro Ticket ($163.38), and VIP Ticket ($1,633.76). Strategic partners include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Meta, X, and Snapchat. The event includes an AI Film Award and Educator Award.
Date: January 9-11, 2026
Venue: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE
Tastemaker Conference
Tastemaker Conference targets food bloggers and content creators with two days of workshops, keynotes, and strategy labs. The program covers SEO, technical skills, revenue growth, business development, content creation, and brand relationships. Attendees receive access to 20-plus classes and panels, digital replays, a sponsor/exhibitor hall, and a product swag bag valued at over $150. Ticket options include General Admission ($699), Business Registration ($899), and VIP passes. The conference offers equity tickets for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and those in financial need.
Date: January 9-10, 2026
Venue: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles
Creator Economy Live West
Creator Economy Live West brings together brands, creators, and agencies for influencer marketing. The first 500 brand attendees receive free registration. The program features 50+ industry leaders from companies including Cracker Barrel, The Walt Disney Company, SHEIN, OLAPLEX, Quest Nutrition, Fiverr, and FOX Entertainment. Six content tracks cover community building, creator relations, measurement and ROI, social platforms, content strategy, and future tools and trends. The event takes place alongside Affiliate Summit West.
Date: January 13-14, 2026
Venue: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas
Affiliate Summit West
Affiliate Summit West hosts over 7,000 affiliates, advertisers, e-commerce sellers, networks, and technology partners. The event features eight topic tracks covering e-commerce, lead generation, tracking and attribution, advertising, media buying, and brand strategy. Previous speakers include executives from the New York Post, Amazon Associates, SKIMS, and Zenni Optical. The event consists of 10,000-plus scheduled meetings. Affiliates attend at no cost with access to all sessions, meet-ups, and networking events. According to attendee Charlie Calabrese of All Inclusive Marketing, his company closed a six-figure deal on-site at the 2025 event.
Date: January 12-14, 2026
Venue: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas
Podfest Expo
Podfest Expo celebrates its 12th anniversary, connecting podcasters and content creators. The four-day event unites podcasters, creators, and industry professionals focused on audio and video content. Programming targets emerging podcasters, experienced podcasters seeking to improve technology and audience growth, and professional podcasters earning a full-time income. Conference topics include technology and innovation, audience growth, monetization and marketing, and video production. All attendees receive access to education sessions, networking opportunities, and industry leaders.
Date: January 15-18, 2026
Venue: Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®
Content Americas
Content Americas hosts a market floor, three-day conference, The Rose d’Or Latinos Awards, and Create Americas and AI Festival programming. The event connects Latin American, domestic US, and international content businesses. Programming includes dedicated blocks on creator economy opportunities and AI production partnerships. Speakers include executives from MicroCo, Cineverse, Amazon MGM Studios, TelevisaUnivision, Wild Sheep Content, NBCUniversal Formats, Dori Media Group, Fox Corporation, and Banijay. Registration costs $999 through December 31, 2025.
Date: January 19-22, 2026
Venue: Hilton Miami Downtown, Miami
International Conference on Social Media Marketing and Influencer Strategies
The International Conference on Social Media Marketing and Influencer Strategies (ICSMIS-26) convenes scientists, academicians, industry professionals, and experts. Papers undergo peer review by technical committee members, with accepted papers eligible for publication in Scopus-indexed or Web of Science journals. The conference covers science, technology, medical sciences, environment, education, business, banking, finance, languages, and history. All papers must be original, unpublished work written in English. The event follows a process including abstract submission, initial evaluation, acceptance notification, registration, full paper submission, in-depth review, and potential revision requests. Awards include Best Paper and Best Presentation recognition.
Date: January 28-29, 2026
Venue: Texas, U.S.
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