AI Influencer Marketing Strategies for Virtual Brand Success
The creator economy, ecommerce, and social commerce worlds are colliding fast. Brands are expected to move quicker, creators are expected to perform, and platforms are rewriting the playbook in real time.
That’s why the events you choose to attend actually matter.
Below is a curated list of the most relevant creator economy, influencer marketing, retail, and commerce events in 2026. Each event includes a short overview based on the event’s focus, who typically attends, and why it’s worth showing up.
We’ve also clearly marked the events JoinBrands will be attending, so if you want to talk creators, UGC, and performance-led partnerships in person, you know where to find us.
Table of Contents
January 2026
NRF Big Show
January 11–13 | New York City
NRF Big Show is the largest retail conference in the world, bringing together enterprise retailers, technology providers, and global brands. The event focuses on the future of retail, including AI, omnichannel experiences, and evolving consumer behavior. Expect large-scale keynotes, tech showcases, and high-level strategy discussions.
Best for: Enterprise retailers, retail tech companies, senior brand leaders
Why attend: Big-picture insights into where retail and commerce are heading next.
Creator Economy Live West
January 13–14 | Las Vegas
Creator Economy Live West is built specifically for the creator economy, covering monetization, brand deals, content strategy, and creator-led businesses. Sessions are tactical and creator-first, with speakers who actively work in the space. It’s known for being practical rather than theoretical.
➡️ JoinBrands will be attending
Cosmoprof Miami
January 27–29 | Miami
Cosmoprof Miami is a major B2B beauty trade show connecting brands, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The event highlights emerging beauty trends, product innovation, and global market expansion. It’s especially valuable for brands exploring retail or wholesale growth.
Best for: Beauty and personal care brands, retailers, manufacturers
Why attend: Trend discovery and high-quality industry connections.
February 2026
E-Tail West
February 23–26 | Palm Springs
E-Tail West focuses on ecommerce growth, retention, and customer experience for mid-market and enterprise brands. Sessions are designed around peer-level learning, with real-world case studies from operators. The event emphasizes practical frameworks over theory.
Best for: DTC and ecommerce brands, growth teams
Why attend: Tactical ecommerce strategies and strong peer networking.
ANA Creator Marketing Conference
February 23–25 | Las Vegas
Hosted by the Association of National Advertisers, this conference explores how brands can build and scale creator and influencer programs responsibly. Topics include measurement, brand safety, governance, and long-term creator partnerships. The audience is brand-heavy and strategy-focused.
Best for: Brand marketers, agencies, enterprise teams
Why attend: Mature, brand-first perspectives on creator marketing.
March 2026
Expo West
March 4–6 | Anaheim
Expo West is the leading trade show for natural, organic, and wellness brands. It brings together CPG brands, retailers, distributors, and service providers at massive scale. Creator partnerships and UGC opportunities are everywhere, especially for emerging brands.
➡️ JoinBrands will be attending
Prosper Show
March 10–12 | Las Vegas
Prosper is designed for established ecommerce sellers, particularly those focused on Amazon and marketplaces. Content goes deep into operations, scaling systems, and advanced growth strategies. It’s less beginner-friendly and more execution-focused.
Best for: Marketplace and Amazon sellers
Why attend: Advanced insights from operators who have already scaled.
Shoptalk Spring
March 24–26 | Las Vegas
Shoptalk Spring is one of the most influential global commerce events, bringing together retailers, brands, and technology platforms. Topics span retail innovation, ecommerce, payments, and customer experience. Networking is a major draw, with structured meetings built into the event.
Best for: Retail, ecommerce, and technology leaders
Why attend: High-level conversations and industry-shaping connections.
April 2026
Social Media Week
April 14–16 | New York City
Social Media Week covers platform trends, cultural shifts, and digital marketing strategies. Sessions explore how brands can stay relevant as social behavior evolves. It blends marketing, culture, and technology into one program.
Best for: Social media managers, digital marketers, strategists
Why attend: Platform updates and cultural trend insights.
Commerce Roundtable
April 20–21 | Austin
Commerce Roundtable is a more intimate event designed for senior ecommerce leaders and founders. Discussions are peer-led and focus on real challenges rather than surface-level trends. The smaller format makes networking intentional and high-quality.
➡️ JoinBrands will be attending
Grow LA
April 22 | Los Angeles
Grow LA is a one-day event centered on scaling consumer brands. Programming focuses on growth marketing, operations, and leadership. It’s fast-paced and designed for founders who want condensed, practical insights.
Best for: Founders, growth marketers
Why attend: High-impact learning in a single day.
May 2026
Accelerate Summit
May 21–22 | Salt Lake City
Accelerate brings together performance marketers and growth teams to discuss acquisition, retention, and optimization. Sessions are tactical and data-driven, with an emphasis on what’s working right now. The event is known for its execution-focused mindset.
Best for: Growth and performance marketing teams
Why attend: Practical frameworks you can implement immediately.
June 2026
CommerceNext
June 23–24 | New York City
CommerceNext focuses on mid-market and enterprise ecommerce brands navigating omnichannel growth. Topics include retention, customer experience, and operational scale. The event attracts senior leaders and decision-makers.
Best for: Ecommerce executives and operators
Why attend: Strategic insights from experienced brand leaders.
VidCon Anaheim
June 25–27 | Anaheim
VidCon is the largest creator-focused event globally, bringing together creators, platforms, fans, and brands. It covers content creation, platform updates, and creator culture at every level. The energy is unmatched.
Best for: Creators, platforms, brands investing in creators
Why attend: Deep immersion into creator culture and trends.
July 2026
Affiliate Summit East
July 27–28 | New York City
Affiliate Summit East dives into affiliate marketing, partnerships, and performance-based growth. The event is highly transactional, with a strong focus on deal-making. Many attendees come ready to partner.
Best for: Affiliate and performance marketers
Why attend: Monetization strategies and partnership opportunities.
August 2026
Newtopia Now
August 19–20 | Denver
Newtopia Now spotlights conscious consumer brands focused on wellness, sustainability, and innovation. The event blends product discovery with forward-looking conversations about consumer values. It’s especially relevant for emerging brands.
Best for: Wellness and sustainability-focused brands
Why attend: Early access to trends and retail connections.
September – October 2026
VidSummit
September 29 – October 1 | Dallas
VidSummit is an advanced video marketing and YouTube-focused conference. Sessions go deep into content strategy, monetization, and audience growth. It’s designed for creators and brands serious about long-form video.
Best for: Video-first creators and brands
Why attend: Tactical video growth strategies.
Social Commerce Fest (Multiple Cities)
Social Commerce Fest is a multi-city event series dedicated to social selling, live shopping, and creator-led commerce. Each stop features hands-on sessions, real brand case studies, and platform-specific strategies. It’s built for teams actively selling through social.
Best for: Social commerce brands, creators, live shopping teams
Why attend: Real-world strategies for turning content into revenue.
Where to Meet JoinBrands in 2026
If creator-led growth, UGC at scale, and performance-driven influencer marketing are on your roadmap, come say hi.
You’ll find JoinBrands at:
- Creator Economy Live West — January 13–14, Las Vegas
- Expo West — March 4–6, Anaheim
- Commerce Roundtable — April 20–21, Austin
Join the JoinBrands Community
JoinBrands connects brands with high-performing creators to produce content that converts.
👉 Creators: Sign up here to become a JoinBrands creator
👉 Brands: Sign up here to work with creators and scale your UGC
For event updates, creator marketing insights, and recaps from the conferences we attend, follow JoinBrands on social media and stay plugged into what’s happening across the creator economy.
