Design conferences and festivals for creatives
These events are fantastic opportunities for people working in creative industries to get inspired, network and collaborate. Make sure to mark your calendar and register early.
These events are fantastic opportunities for people working in creative industries to get inspired, network and collaborate. Make sure to mark your calendar and register early.
Conferences and festivals for creativity and design are perfect for connecting with like-minded people, exploring fresh ideas, and sharpening your skills. They’re vibrant spaces to network, spark innovation, and fuel your creative journey.
Established in 2000, OFFF Barcelona has become the industry leading festival which presents the latest trends in the field of creativity, art and digital design.
Held annually at the Disseny Hub Barcelona, it offers a dynamic three-day program featuring workshops, conferences, and networking opportunities, attracting a global community of designers, artists, and digital innovators.
SXSW is a globally recognized event held annually in Austin, Texas, blending conferences, festivals, and exhibitions across industries like tech, film, music, and culture.
Known for its diverse and dynamic programming, SXSW attracts thought leaders, creatives, and innovators, offering everything from keynote speeches and networking sessions to live performances and film premieres. It's a hub for exploring cutting-edge ideas and emerging trends, making it a must-attend event for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Forward Festival is a series of events dedicated to creativity, design, and communication, hosted in multiple European cities including Vienna, Berlin, and Amsterdam. The festival brings together renowned experts and emerging talents, offering insights through talks, workshops, and exhibitions, aiming to inspire and connect the creative community.
Adobe MAX is a premier creativity conference that takes place annually in Miami Beach and online, bringing together a global community of designers, artists, and innovators. Renowned for its inspiring keynote presentations, the event showcases the latest advancements in Adobe’s creative tools, offering hands-on labs, workshops, and sessions tailored to a wide range of creative disciplines.
Organized by the Art Directors Club of Europe, the ADCE Festival is an annual gathering that celebrates European creativity in advertising and design. Held in Barcelona, the festival features conferences, workshops, and the prestigious ADCE Awards, highlighting the best creative work across Europe and fostering collaboration among industry professionals.
Us by Night is a unique nocturnal festival that seamlessly blends a creative conference with an urban night market atmosphere.
Taking place in Antwerp, Belgium, it features an eclectic mix of speakers from various creative disciplines, alongside art installations, live music, and food stalls, fostering an immersive and inspiring environment for attendees.
POV Budapest is Hungary's inaugural international design conference, held at the National Dance Theatre in Budapest.
The event features an impressive lineup of industry leaders from graphic design, architecture, film, and visual arts. Attendees have the chance to engage in talks, workshops, and side events such as performances and design walks, fostering inspiration and networking among creatives.
Established in 2017, the Birmingham Design Festival is an annual celebration of the local, national, and international design industry, held every June in Birmingham, UK.
The festival features over 100 events across three days, including talks, workshops, exhibitions, and design tours, covering disciplines such as graphic design, digital design, product design, and illustration. It brings together a diverse lineup of speakers and offers attendees opportunities to engage with the creative community.
SXSW London is the first European edition of the renowned South by Southwest festival. This event features a convergence of technology, film, music, and culture, offering keynotes, music showcases, tech exhibitions, and immersive experiences.
It aims to attract over 20,000 attendees and generate significant economic benefits, while providing a platform for both global and local creative talents.
Design Indaba, held annually in Cape Town, South Africa, is a globally renowned festival celebrating the power of design to inspire change and innovation. Bringing together leading creatives from various disciplines, the event features thought-provoking talks, exhibitions, and performances. With a focus on social impact and future-forward ideas, it has become a hub for connecting global design talent and fostering creative collaboration.
The Flux Festival in Los Angeles celebrates the intersection of film, art, and emerging technology. This multi-day event features curated screenings, immersive exhibits, engaging workshops, and live performances, culminating in a showcase at the iconic Audrey Irmas Pavilion. It's a platform for creatives to explore innovative storytelling and artistic expression.
All Flows is an annual creative, design, and digital festival held in Milton Keynes, UK. Established in 2023, it aims to amplify Milton Keynes' reputation as a 'Design City' and support the growth of the local creative industries sector. The festival features influential speakers from across the creative industries, covering subjects such as prototyping radical futures, technology, brand creation, generative media platforms, and the magic of everyday life.
HOW Design Live is a premier conference for creative professionals, held annually in Nashville, TN. Known for its extensive educational sessions, workshops, and keynote addresses by industry leaders, it provides designers across disciplines with practical skills, inspiration, and strategies to elevate their craft. It’s a vibrant community-driven event, fostering collaboration and innovation in design, branding, and marketing.
Design Matters, based in Copenhagen and available online, is a cutting-edge conference that explores the evolving world of digital design. With a focus on integrating non-digital disciplines, the event features talks, workshops, and case studies that highlight the intersection of creativity, technology, and human-centered design. It’s a hub for designers to engage with global trends and innovative ideas.
Organized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the AIGA Design Conference is a cornerstone event for the design community. Featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers, hands-on workshops, and immersive experiences, it showcases the transformative power of design. The conference provides a platform for exploring design’s role in culture, society, and business, fostering connections and professional growth.
Config, Figma’s highly anticipated annual conference, gathers UX/UI designers, developers, and digital creators in San Francisco and online. The event is a deep dive into collaborative design, offering product updates, interactive workshops, and insights from global leaders in the design community. Config celebrates creativity and innovation, providing attendees with tools and inspiration to push the boundaries of design.
Melbourne Design Week is Australia's largest annual celebration of design, offering a rich program of exhibitions, talks, and events. The festival explores themes of sustainability, innovation, and collaboration, showcasing the impact of design across industries and communities.
CreativePro Week is the essential HOW-TO conference for creative professionals who design, create, or edit in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, or Microsoft PowerPoint. No matter your skill level, you’ll learn techniques and best practices you can start using immediately to improve your productivity.
Leading Design takes place in London and New York and is an exclusive conference for design leaders, offering insights into managing teams, fostering innovation, and navigating the evolving role of design leadership. It’s a place to connect with peers and exchange strategies for shaping impactful design practices.
Circles Conference in Texas, USA, is a dynamic event for creatives to connect, collaborate, and be inspired. Featuring renowned speakers, interactive workshops, and community-building activities, it offers a platform to explore design and creativity in-depth.
The International Design Conference, hosted in Austin, TX, is a gathering of designers and innovators exploring the future of design. The event features interdisciplinary talks, workshops, and discussions, creating a space to rethink and shape the role of design in society.
The Creative Works Conference celebrates the art of creativity and community in Seattle and New York. With a mix of talks, hands-on workshops, and networking events, it connects designers, illustrators, and makers, fostering inspiration and collaboration.
Mouvo, held annually in Prague, Czech Republic, is a festival that celebrates motion design and its intersection with technology and storytelling. Through captivating presentations and workshops, it brings together industry leaders and emerging talent to share ideas and innovations.
The Design Conference in Brisbane, Australia, is a must-attend event for designers and creatives looking to explore the intersection of design, culture, and storytelling. It features thought-provoking talks, practical workshops, and networking opportunities in a lively, collaborative environment.
OFFF Tel Aviv is part of the renowned OFFF festival series, bringing together global creators, designers, and artists in Israel. This vibrant event celebrates digital innovation, creativity, and collaboration through inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and exhibitions.
We hope these guide about conferences for creatives gave you a good overview and maybe we see each other at one of those events soon.
If you don’t want to wait for the next conference to meet other creatives, you can join the Creative Lunch Club right now. It gives you the opportunity to meet two creatives from your city for lunch every month.