We are currently halfway through 2020 and to say it has been an eventful year so far would be a bit of an understatement. With the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing on both sides of the Atlantic, the normal order of things has been altered quite dramatically, and nowhere is this truer than in the tech world. Many of the most eagerly anticipated tech conferences that were scheduled for this spring and summer have either been postponed, cancelled or are now taking place online for the first time.
While we all hope that the world gets back to normal sooner rather than later, all is not lost when it comes to the tech event calendar for this year. To help you keep your finger on the pulse of what is hot and what is not in the tech world this year, we have put together this list of the best conferences in the US and Europe that are still set to go ahead in what remains of this year.
- Enterprise Data World, Chicago, IL (October 18-23, 2020)
Originally scheduled to go ahead at the end of March in San Diego, California, the 24th annual Enterprise Data World (EDW) Conference has moved location and been postponed until October. EDW is renowned as one of the premier educational conferences on data management in the world. Here, you will find over 1,000 data professionals from around the world, all of whom have come to learn from experts and peers. You will learn a wide range of practical, actionable solutions that you can take back with you to the office.
- UXDX Conference, Dublin (October 7-9, 2020)
The annual UXDX Conference taking place in Dublin, Ireland is a place where you can come to listen to the brightest minds in tech. This year’s event will feature actionable talks from high-profile speakers from some of the biggest names in tech, such as eBay, BuzzFeed, Verizon, GitHub and Shopify. UXDX is one of the fastest-growing conferences in Europe, with over 2000 attendees, 50 speakers, 40 talks and 15 workshops.
- Black Hat, Las Vegas, NV (August 1-6, 2020)
Attracting an attendance of more than 2000 delegates every year, the Black Hat conference is one of the most important events on the cybersecurity event circuit. Attendees are treated to a host of top names from across the tech industry who come to discuss the newest strategies on how to avoid data breaches. It delves into novel approaches that those at the top of the industry are taking to combat the hacker onslaught.
- AI & Big Data EXPO Europe 2020, Amsterdam (November 24-25, 2020)
As one of the leading tech conferences in Europe, AI & Big Data EXPO Europe 2020 is a hotbed for the latest technologies and strategies from the world of artificial intelligence and big data. Attended by over 8,000 industry experts, the expo showcases the most high-tech technologies from over 350 exhibitors and a chance to listen to talks from over 500 speakers sharing their real-life experiences and unrivalled industry knowledge.
- CSO50 Conference, Scottsdale, AR (7-9 December, 2020)
The CSO50 Conference in Scottsdale is an event that provides a space for security industry experts to exhibit world-class security strategies. It explores developments in the business risk landscape and how enterprise technology is rapidly advancing and exposing new threats posed by the Internet-of-Things (IoT). This is a great event to attend if you are curious about the level of cyber threat that affects your business.
- UX and Digital Design Week, London (August 10-14, 2020)
Taking place at various locations across London, England, UX and Digital Design Week is one of the smaller events on this list. But while it may be low-key, it is still one of the best places to get inspiration for your current design projects. It provides an immersive experience that gives a chance to get a glimpse of the hottest design trends and latest inventions out there as well as the opportunity to meet the teams behind them.
If you are from the United States but plan to attend one of these great conferences next year when things on the public health front have calmed down a bit, do not forget that the visa process for US citizens coming to Europe is set to change from January 2021 with the ETIAS visa exemption. It works in much the same way as the ESTA visa that EU citizens currently have to apply for before travelling to the United States. For more information on the ESTA visa, check out this excellent ESTA guide.