Your Passport to 2016 Edtech Conferences

The endless deluge of nouvelle vague communication apps make sharing, caring and making new friends easier than before. Tools like Twitter and Voxer, Pinterest and Periscope offer more combinations and possibilities than a Rubik’s Cube.

But nothing can quite mimic the dynamics of face-to-face interactions—and chance encounters—that happen at events and conferences. And the education world surely does not lack for such gatherings.

We’ve curated and compiled a list of 50 conferences convening all around the world, along with a couple that will stream online, in 2016. The only “by invitation” event is the NewSchools Venture Fund Summit. (Organizers there note that the event is a gathering of NSVF ventures past and present. If you're eager to join the NSVF event, you can request an invitation here.)

This year, in addition to dates and category, we’ve organized the list according to geography to help you find the gatherings closest to home. There are plenty events on this list where you’ll find one of us moderating, reporting or tabling (and certainly reporting). We’ve also included 11 cities that will host our Tech for Schools Summits, which are free to all educators.

We’re pleased to share it with you in a couple of formats—a hi-res image or a handy 3-page PDF that can be printed. Or if the walls in your office are feeling a bit sparse and barren, you can order an 18" x 24" poster on Zazzle. It also makes for a great (last-minute Christmas) gift!

Hi-res image 3-page PDF 18" x 24" poster

What do those colors mean?

We’ve color-coded each conference to denote its target audience—but of course, anyone can attend any conference. Events in blue are geared for educators; some may involve exhibitor halls. Conferences in dark red hone in on the business of edtech (and where entrepreneurs are likely to meet investors). Orange gatherings focus on a specific audience (such as chief technology officers and superintendents) or topic (math or English language arts).

Then there are the EdSurge Summits in green! Across the country (and even in Canada) we bring together teachers, administrators and entrepreneurs for a rich conversation about what schools and students really need to succeed. Keep posted on our Summits page for the latest dates and locations.

Aw, you left out my favorite confab!

Sorry about that! Feel free to add a comment on this piece with details about the event you like the best. Or better yet, fill out this form! We will review submissions as we update the calendar. Recurring, locally-organized events, such as EdCamps and Startup Weekends, are tough to add because they take place all year long and just about everywhere! Dates for a few events have also not been confirmed yet, but we will update them as soon as they are available.