CES (January 6-9, 2027) is the best tech conference to attend, with NVIDIA GTC at #2 and Web Summit at #3. The ranking weighs size, influence and what you can learn or close there.
Photo: Jack145945 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe biggest tech show on the calendar.
When: January 6-9, 2027Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, NevadaOrganizer: Consumer Technology Association
CES runs January 6-9, 2027, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, organized by the Consumer Technology Association.
Go ifSeeing every new gadget of the year
Skip ifYou hate crowds
Why #1 over #2: Its scale beats every other show; GTC is narrower.
2
NVIDIA GTC
Photo: Jack145945 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe AI conference of the year.
When: March 15-18, 2027Where: San Jose, CaliforniaFocus: AI, graphics, data science, machine learning
NVIDIA GTC is March 15-18, 2027, in San Jose, covering AI, graphics, data science and machine learning.
Go ifAI engineers and builders
Skip ifYou are not technical
Why #2 over #3: It is the AI event, where Web Summit is broader.
3
Web Summit
Photo: Web Summit / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictEurope’s biggest tech conference.
When: November (annual)Where: Lisbon, PortugalFounded: 2009, by Paddy Cosgrave
Web Summit, founded in 2009 by Paddy Cosgrave, takes over Lisbon every November.
Go ifStartups, investors and Europe’s tech scene
Skip ifYou want a product show floor
Why #3 over #4: Its startup-and-investor scale beats SXSW for tech deals.
4
SXSW
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Answrs VerdictTech meets culture in Austin.
When: March 13-21, 2027Where: Austin, TexasFounded: 1987
SXSW runs March 13-21, 2027, in Austin, mixing technology with film, music and culture; it was founded in 1987.
Go ifTech mixed with film, music and culture
Skip ifYou want a pure tech event
Why #4 over #5: Its range beats Dreamforce’s single-vendor focus.
5
Dreamforce
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Answrs VerdictThe enterprise software event.
When: September 21-23, 2027Where: San Francisco, CaliforniaHost: Salesforce
Dreamforce, Salesforce’s event, is September 21-23, 2027, in San Francisco.
Go ifSales, CRM and enterprise AI buyers
Skip ifYou do not use Salesforce
Why #5 over #6: It draws more business buyers than re:Invent.
6
AWS re:Invent
Photo: Lydia Pintscher & Philippe Saadé / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe biggest cloud conference.
When: Late Nov-early Dec (2026: Nov 30-Dec 4)Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
AWS re:Invent runs in Las Vegas at the end of each year (2026: Nov 30-Dec 4).
Go ifCloud and AI engineers
Skip ifYou do not build on AWS
Why #6 over #7: Its cloud and AI depth beats WWDC for most engineers.
7
Apple WWDC
Photo: Minh Nguyen / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictWhere Apple shows its next software.
When: Every JuneWhere: Apple Park, Cupertino, California
Apple WWDC is held every June at Apple Park in Cupertino.
Go ifApple developers
Skip ifYou do not build for Apple platforms
Why #7 over #8: Apple’s platform news edges Google I/O.
8
Google I/O
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Answrs VerdictGoogle’s developer showcase.
When: Every spring (annual since 2007)Where: Mountain View, California
Google I/O, held every spring since 2007, is Google’s developer conference in Mountain View.
Go ifAndroid and Google AI developers
Skip ifYou want a hardware show
Why #8 over #9: Its AI news edges Microsoft Build.
9
Microsoft Build
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Answrs VerdictMicrosoft’s developer conference.
When: Annual (first held 2011)Audience: Developers using Windows, Azure and Microsoft tools
Microsoft Build, first held in 2011, is the annual event for developers using Windows, Azure and Microsoft tools.
Go ifWindows and Azure developers
Skip ifYou do not use Microsoft tools
Why #9 over #10: Its platform news reaches more developers than Disrupt.
10
TechCrunch Disrupt
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Answrs VerdictThe startup conference.
When: October (2026: October 13-15)Where: San Francisco, CaliforniaAttendance: 10,000+ founders, VCs and operators
TechCrunch Disrupt brings 10,000+ founders, VCs and operators to San Francisco each October (2026: October 13-15).
Go ifStartup founders and investors
Skip ifYou want big-company keynotes
How we ranked these
We ranked each conference on size, influence and what you can learn or close there, from published dates and records. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
When is CES 2027?
January 6-9, 2027, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
What is the best tech conference for AI engineers in 2027?
NVIDIA GTC, March 15-18, 2027, in San Jose; AWS re:Invent is the big cloud and AI event at the end of the year.
Which conference is best for meeting enterprise buyers?
Dreamforce, September 21-23, 2027, in San Francisco.
Year first held (where published) at a glance
SXSW1,987 year
Google I/O2,007 year
Web Summit2,009 year
Microsoft Build2,011 year
Year first held (where published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
