Top 5 monetization events for curious publishers

Best programmatic, ad monetization, and digital marketing conference 2026

1. ALM conference, held from February 1st to 3rd in Palm Springs, CA (Annual Leadership Meeting by IAB – Interactive Advertising Bureau), is where the “demand side” (advertisers and media agencies) meets the “supply side” (publishers). It is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the CMOs of major brands (the 2026 agenda includes representatives from Nissan, Nestlé, and Dollar General, among others) about where they plan to allocate their budgets in the coming year. This year’s agenda is tailored to address the challenges publishers are facing, like traffic loss, monetization, visibility, and relevance in an AI/LLM-driven ecosystem. Approximate attendance costs range from 3,495$ for IAB members to 4,495$ for non-members.

2. The Programmatic I/O conference in September 2026 (the place is still to be determined) can be highly valuable for digital publishers as well. Even if the event’s primary audience consists of marketers and advertising technology specialists, it is worth considering attendance for several key reasons:

• Programmatic I/O is a large, comprehensive event for the entire programmatic ecosystem;
• The conference is one of the largest and most important gatherings dedicated to programmatic advertising worldwide, attracting professionals from all sides of the market, including publishers, agencies, SSP/DSP technology providers, and data experts;
• The content covers strategies, technologies, and tools that directly impact how websites monetize their inventory and optimize revenue;
• Last year, in 2025, it was possible to attend sessions, like workshops and meet-ups dedicated only to publishers, where the main topics included protecting eCPMs and the cookieless world.

Tickets for this premium ad-tech event typically start around 1,695$ for early registration and can reach approximately 2,595$ for standard passes.

3. Gamesforum Cyprus 2026, taking place from 15th to 16th April, is explicitly dedicated to mobile app publishers and developers. Specifically, it markets itself as “The Mobile Gaming Conference for UA & Ad Monetization”. The event is designed for professionals in the mobile sector (User Acquisition managers, Ad Monetization leads, and Growth strategists). The 2026 agenda focuses on automating workflows, navigating privacy constraints, and diversifying revenue streams beyond standard app stores. The event also highlights other growth strategies such as App Store Optimization and influencer marketing, encouraging publishers to expand their horizons. This event is generally affordable, with conference passes ranging approximately from 160€ for early bird rates to 200€ for standard admission.

4. DMEXCO 2026, taking place at Cologne’s Koelnmesse on September 23-24th, promises to be Europe’s foremost gathering for digital business, marketing, and technology specialists. The event draws global industry leaders, innovative tech pioneers, and marketing professionals to experience a full spectrum of expos, debates, keynotes, and hands-on masterclasses. It will also give attendees a hands-on look at the latest tools, strategies, and automation solutions that are keeping marketing teams ahead of the curve. Visitor tickets are tiered by purchase date, typically starting at 99€ and increasing to around 399€ as the event approaches.

5. Digital Marketing Europe (DME) from April 14th to 16th in Lisbon is increasingly recognized as a credible and reasonably popular European digital marketing conference. DME is entering its 7th edition in 2026, which suggests it has sustained interest and support over several years, rather than being a one‑off or brand‑new experiment. The main topics at Digital Marketing Europe 2026 center around the full spectrum of digital marketing strategy, execution, and technology. The conference explores brand strategy in the digital space, including how to position and grow a brand across channels and formats, as well as paid advertising techniques and Search Engine Optimization. Content creation, content strategy, and user-generated content are highlighted alongside influencer marketing and digital PR. Attendance costs vary by access level, with 2-day conference passes starting around 630€ and full 3-day tickets reaching up to 1,260€.

The journey that never ends!

And that’s our tour of the best conferences for publishers in 2026. But here’s the thing: the slides will change, the buzzwords will evolve, and the tech will keep moving, fast. In publishing and ad monetization, learning never really ends. Between flights, keynotes, and coffee breaks, make sure to keep your knowledge fresh by stopping by the optAd360 blog. We’re there year-round with practical insights, industry trends, and tips to help you stay ahead, no conference badge required!