Searching for the top tech conferences to attend in 2023? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together this list so that you can find some of the top conferences and events taking place this year from around the world.

Despite what some people say, conferences are not dead. Conferences matter more than you think! Trade shows, summits, and conferences are still the best way to network and stay on top of the latest trends. It’s time to get back out into the real world and meet with other developers and tech professionals!

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Top tech conferences

The tech events featured in this list take place throughout the year and focus more on the technical side of things such as development and specific technologies. To better navigate this list, we’ve ordered them by date (Jan-Dec) and added ticket prices so that you can figure out what’s most affordable for you or your organisation.  

For a quick overview of what’s happening in the world, you can use the table below—for full conference descriptions keep on reading, they are posted below.

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Mobile World Congress (MWC)

2-3 March 2025 • Barcelona, Spain • Ticket €799

The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is an incredible opportunity to meet with and hear from mobile enthusiasts from around the world. The MWC is the largest mobile technology conference in the world, bringing together innovators, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from across the globe to showcase the latest mobile technologies and trends.

With over 80,000 participants, MWC Barcelona provides the perfect platform to network, collaborate and build relationships with peers, customers, and industry experts. There’s no other event in the world where you’ll hear from mobile leaders such as the CEO of Nokia, Orange Group, Vattenfall plus many more. On top of the amazing speaker lineup, there’s an exhibition and show floor where you can discover the latest in mobile tech.

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Nvidia GTC

2024 • Online • Ticket free

NVIDIA’s logo symbolises the all-seeing eye. You know the occult symbol found on U.S. banknotes? It kind of makes sense because their hardware is in almost every device. Well, if you are familiar with their hardware, you'll want to check out the GTC. NVIDIA GTC has become very popular in the last few years with new advancements in CGI, graphics, and the Metaverse.

In more recent times, the main topic at the conference has shifted to the various applications of artificial intelligence and deep learning, such as self-driving cars, healthcare, high-performance computing, professional visualization, and training by the Nvidia Deep Learning Institute (DLI). Over the course of four days, you’ll hear from some of the biggest leaders in AI such as Demis Hassabis (DeepMind), Ilya Sutskever (OpenAI), and Jensen Huang (NVIDIA).

Next ‘24

April 9-11 • San Francisco • Tickets TBA

Google Cloud Next ‘24 is Google’s annual event for its cloud product/service, GCP (similar to AWS), which is a huge provider for companies in the US. If you’re a developer, data specialist, or security specialist, you’ve got to keep an eye out for this event. You’ll be hearing from Google’s team product announcements, sneak peeks into future roadmaps, and on-site demos. You’ll even get hands-on training and certification opportunities during this two-day conference. 

This conference will be held in San Francisco, where it’s live-streamed around the world to other Google locations. All the sessions are available for free. Registration info hasn’t been released yet, so I’m not too sure about the number of attendees and ticket prices.

Black Hat Asia

April 16-19 • Singapore • Ticket S$2,000

Black Hat Asia is a four-day cybersecurity conference that brings together the sharpest minds in the industry for an unforgettable experience. This year, the conference is held in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel — home to the world’s largest infinity pool. 

At Black Hat Asia, you will learn the latest cybersecurity trends and techniques from presentations and interactive workshops run by industry-leading experts. You’ll also receive first-hand technical skill-building taught by specialists, briefings on the latest security risks, and get access to the expo floor, where you can explore the latest cybersecurity products and services from the best vendors in the business.

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RSA Conference

May 4-7 • San Francisco • Ticket $2,195

As one of the largest and most prestigious cybersecurity conferences in the world, RSA provides an unrivalled opportunity for you to connect with top experts, learn about cutting-edge technologies, and stay up to date on the latest trends and threats in the industry.

The conference features an expansive exhibit hall, where you can explore the latest cybersecurity products and solutions from over 700 of the industry's top vendors. You'll have the opportunity to engage with representatives from companies like IBM, Cisco, and Microsoft, and explore the newest and most innovative cybersecurity technologies on the market. But RSA isn't all work and no play! In the past, attendees have enjoyed everything from concerts to pub crawls, all while meeting new people and building relationships that can last a lifetime.

Red Hat Summit

May 6-9  • Denver • Ticket $1,899

As the premier open source technology event, Red Hat Summit is where industry leaders, IT experts, developers, and partners from around the world come together to share their knowledge and experience with the global community. You'll have the chance to participate in over 200 sessions, from informative technical sessions to engaging keynotes from industry experts, all designed to help you expand your knowledge and stay ahead of the latest trends.

The conference also features an extensive expo floor, where you can explore the latest open-source technologies and solutions from the best vendors in the business. You'll have the chance to engage with representatives from companies like Intel, AWS, and Google, and explore the latest innovations in open-source software, cloud, automation, and much more.

VivaTech

May 22-25・Paris, France・Ticket €620

According to their website, Viva Technology is Europe’s biggest startup and tech event. There will be around 91,000 people from over 146 countries attending this tech conference in Paris. Like many of the other events on this list, Viva boasts a huge lineup of speakers (350), three stages, and plenty of opportunities to meet with global investors and startups. 

The biggest attraction is the exhibition hall where you can meet with 1,800 startups revolutionising their industries. Plus there will be around 300 innovations being showcased and demoed, everything from passenger drones to plants that create electricity — it’s all here for you to discover.

Dublin Tech Summit

May 29-30・Dublin・Ticket €435

Join our community of thought leaders & learn from 120 talks across 4 stages covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Sustainability Metaverse and much more.

There will be over 8,000 attendees, 200 speakers, and 150 startups at Dublin Tech Summit 2023. DTS has become on of Europe’s fastest-growing B2B tech events. So if you’re a startup founder or investor this right place to meet your customers and potential business partners. But it’s probably not the tech conference for tech enthusiasts or developers looking to learn and network. 

TOA Festival

June 4-7・Berlin, Germany・Ticket €569

After a three-year COVID break, the Tech Open Air festival is back in Berlin! Join 10,000+ tech professionals in July for this three-day festival where you’ll hear from the world's leading founders, investors, operators, scientists, and creatives. There’ll be over 200 speakers — to get an idea of who you’ll be hearing from,  previous speakers include the co-founders of Google, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Ethereum. 

Not only is TOA23 a great place to meet and connect with other tech professionals but you’ll also have opportunities to meet with investors and potential customers, find talent, and expand your job horizons. Given that you’ll be in the techno capital of Europe, there’s sure to be plenty of spontaneous social events going on outside of the festival. Tickets are on sale now!

The Next Web Conference

June 20-21  • Amsterdam, Netherlands • Ticket €1,050

Join 10,000 other tech enthusiasts in Amsterdam for The Next Web (TNW) conference. This yearly conference is held in the beautiful grounds of Taets Art and Events Park, doors open on Thursday and shut on Friday. You can expect side events and parties, and plenty of great opportunities to network with investors and other tech professionals, plus an expo floor where you can browse and chat with tech startups and growth companies.

One thing TNW is known for is its high-profile speakers, engaging panel discussions, and cutting-edge content. Attendees can expect to gain insights on a wide range of topics, including AI, blockchain, IoT, and more. You can expect to hear from some of the biggest companies in the tech industry like Google, IBM, Microsoft, and AWS. 

WeAreDevelopers World Congress

July 17-19  • Berlin, Germany • Ticket €399

Every summer thousands of developers from around the globe descend on Berlin for the WeAreDevelopers World Congress. They discuss and learn about the latest trends and innovations shaping the world. With an a-list speaking lineup, you’ll learn hands-on practical advice from over 300 speakers and get a chance to meet with some of the world’s most amazing brands. 

One thing the World Congress is known for is the official conference party, where developers got a chance to network and celebrate together with live DJs and electronic music. Last year DJ Tiësto headlined, this year, we’ve got something bigger and better in store for you, so keep an eye out! 

DEF CON

August 12-13 • Las Vegas • Ticket price varies

DEF CON is one of the most iconic hacking and cybersecurity conferences in the world. This year they are expecting around 30,000 computer security professionals, security researchers, and hackers to participate in this annual convention. 

There are a bunch of cool talks but the real excitement around this event comes from the hacking contests which are extremely popular. Past contests include lockpicking, robotics-related contests, coffee wars, scavenger hunts and Capture the Flag. Avoid this conference if you’ve racked up some felonies cause federal law enforcement agents regularly attend DEF CON.

IFA 

September 6–10 • Berlin, Germany •  Tickets available mid-May

‍The Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) is a premier technology conference that takes place annually in Berlin, Germany. This event brings together manufacturers, retailers, and media representatives, to showcase the latest advancements in consumer electronics and home appliances. With a focus on innovation, the IFA offers attendees the opportunity to see new products and technologies before they hit the market.

Beyond the exhibition floor, the IFA also offers a comprehensive program of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking events. This allows attendees to gain valuable insights from industry leaders, make valuable connections, and learn about the latest trends and developments in the tech industry. 

AI & BIG DATA EXPO

October 1-2・Amsterdam・Ticket $649

If you’re a data professional, this tech conference is for you. TECHEX organises a bunch of data conferences around the world with a similar format, so you might want to pick an event closest to you. The AI & BIG DATA EXPO Europe will be held in Amsterdam this year. You can expect to hear about 5G, IOT, blockchain, cybersecurity & cloud, edge computing, and all things digital transformation. 

The conference is really a showcase of next-generation technologies and strategies from the world of Artificial Intelligence & Big Data, an opportunity to explore and discover the practical and successful implementation of AI & Big Data in driving forward your business in 2023 and beyond. There will be 6,000 attendees, 150 speakers, and 200 exhibitors.

TechCrunch Disrupt

October 28-30 • San Francisco, United States • $675

TechCrunch is a major online publication which writes on high tech and startup companies. They now run a yearly tech conference, TechCrunt Disrupt, in San Francisco, which brings together founders and investors searching for the next big thing. Similar to Slush conference in Helsinki, Disrupt was started to help provide founders with the tools, knowledge, and connections to make their ideas a reality.  

One of the highlights of TechCrunch Disrupt is the Startup Battlefield competition, where emerging companies have the chance to showcase their ideas and potentially secure funding from top venture capitalists. Additionally, the conference features a variety of keynote speakers and panel discussions on the latest trends and developments in the tech industry.

GITEX Global

October 14-18・Dubai, United Arab Emirates・Ticket TBA

Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Saudi Arabian tech scene, which, is experiencing tremendous growth. GITEX Global is a huge tech conference held annually in Dubai. Over 170,000 qualified trade professionals and tech executives fly in from around the world to speak, teach, and showcase their innovative ideas and companies. 

The great thing about this conference are speaking tracks and events specifically for developers and coding talent. You’re not just hearing from executives or brands but from leaders in the programming space, with the opportunity to participate in hackathons and meet and greets with other devs. 

Web Summit 

November 11–14 • Lisbon, Portugal • Tickets €950

In November, Lisbon is set to welcome over 70,000 tech enthusiasts for the annual Web Summit conference. Over three days, you’ll get a chance to hear from hundreds of tech leaders from many different walks of life. Previous speakers include Elon Musk, Changpeng Zhao, and the Queen of Jordan. 

With a focus on cutting-edge technology and thought-provoking discussions, the conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the most influential figures in the industry. Whether you're a startup founder looking for inspiration, a seasoned professional looking to stay ahead of the curve, or simply someone with an interest in technology, Web Summit is the perfect place to explore the future of the industry and connect with like-minded individuals.

KubeCon

November 12–15 • Chicago, United States • Standard ticket $899

The Linux Foundation's KubeCon + CloudNativeCon conference focuses on Kubernetes, the open-source container orchestration system. This next conference takes place in Chicago, Illinois and is the premier event for those interested in cloud-native computing and Kubernetes.

The conference features keynote speeches, technical sessions, and workshops on topics such as Kubernetes architecture, best practices, and case studies. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with other Kubernetes experts, learn about new developments in the field, and discover new solutions and tools for container orchestration.

Microsoft Ignite

November 18–22 • Chicago • Ticket prices TBA

Microsoft Ignite is a showcase of the best of what’s next for Microsoft and its partners, technical decision-makers, and information technology implementers. The products and updates unveiled during Microsoft Ignite are designed to help customers, partners, and developers get the full value of Microsoft’s technologies. 

One of the unique aspects of the conference is the hands-on learning experience, where you can participate in over 1,000 sessions, workshops, and labs led by Microsoft experts. You'll have the chance to explore the latest technologies and solutions, learning practical skills and knowledge that you can apply to your work immediately. This year I’d imagine we’re going to hear a lot more about AI with Microsoft’s new partnership with Open.ai.

Slush 

November 20-21 • Helsinki, Finland • Tickets €945

Slush describes itself as, “the world’s leading startup event.” This conference, which takes place Helsinki, provides an amazing opportunity to founders and investors in the tech space. You probably wouldn’t just attend this conference out of general curiosity (like Web Summit or IFA), as it seems really geared towards those actively seeking to forge connections and get on the scene. 

While some of these other conferences focus on big name speakers to draw in the crowds, Slush seems hyper focused on connecting startups and investors, with 1-on-1 mentorship rooms, product launches, showcases, and pitching competitions. Yes, there are some headline speakers so you can expect that, but really if you’re a founder or investor wanting to connect with people who can share your vision, this event is for you. 

Explore more tech conferences

If you'd like to find local conferences near you, check out our other articles, which explore amazing tech conferences in Europe's bustling tech hubs. Know of any other great tech events? Let me know! Thanks for reading ✌️

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