Name: Experiential Marketing Summit 2026
Start: 2026-05-18T00:09:00+0000
End: 2026-05-20T17:00:00+0000
Location: MGM Grand Las Vegas

Produced by:

Human Connection in the Digital Age Starts Here

Join 1,000+ brand marketers and event industry professionals at the only conference focused solely on live experiences. Launched by Event Marketer more than 20 years ago, EMS offers the largest brand-side speaking faculty of its kind. Each year, Fortune 1000 companies such as American Express, IBM, Ford, Sephora, Salesforce, PepsiCo, Dreamworks and Pernod Ricard, share how they’re using strategic events and experiences, sponsorship activations, and trade show exhibits to connect and convert customers. Demo new products and services. Network with peers. And get a deep dive into the latest trends, best practices and case studies. Often imitated, never duplicated. We are events.

The EMS Experience

Ex Awards Gala

May 18 | 6:30 PM

Some call it the Oscars of events. Others, the Golden Globes of experiential. We call it the biggest party of the year that you don’t have to plan. Come celebrate the best event campaigns of the year at the 24th annual Ex Awards, where inspiration and a damn-good time collide. Advance registration required.

Executive Forums

May 18 | 1:00 PM

Kick off your EMS Experience with one of two Executive Forum workshops. Senior brand-side marketers are invited to an intimate closed-door seminar discussing the year’s most pressing topics at our B2B Executive Forum. Exhibit strategists can join fellow marketers for the Exhibit Strategies & Trade Show Forum. Both sessions require advance registration.

Universal Horror Unleashed Tour

May 18 | 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Closed to the public and designed exclusively for EMS, join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of two immersive haunted house experiences on rotation at Universal Horror Unleashed. Transportation and light snacks included. Limited capacity. Advance registration required.

Opening Reception

May 18 | 4:30 PM

The Hall of Ideas is the social hub at EMS, where you can network, catch up with industry friends or colleagues, and raise a glass. Jump into interactive networking moments and challenges, enjoy snacks and drinks, and stay tuned for a few special surprises. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by an incredible ecosystem of event solutions. Welcome to EMS!

Networking Mixers

May 18 & 19 | During Happy Hour

Throughout EMS, we’re hosting community meetups at The Clubhouse. Check the agenda for intimate networking experiences created specifically for EMS First-Timers, P.R. Pros, the Experiential in Color Community, and the EDPA!

Innovation Central

May 18, 19 & 20 | Inside the Hall of Ideas

Jump into 1:1 chats with nearly a dozen suppliers offering tailored services and solutions for a wide range of event challenges and needs. From tech providers, to event entertainers, to site selection platforms, they’re all housed in one village and accessible to you during each day’s activities in the Hall.

WHO ATTENDS?

Brand-side Event Marketers

Creators of the Brand Experience

Corporate Trade Show Exhibit Managers

P.R. and Comms Pros

Event Agency Professionals

Meeting Planners

Experience Designers

Event Tech Innovators

2026 ADVISORY BOARD

At Event Marketer, we want to ensure that the Experiential Marketing Summit is evolving to fit the needs of the marketers who attend our events. As part of our efforts, we have engaged an Advisory Board of leading brand event marketers to help us curate an enhanced program and create an even better EMS.

Colleen Bisconti

VP-Global Conferences & Events,
Kim Haney

Director-Experiential Marketing,
Jimmy Knowles

Global Head of Experiential,
Judy Lee

Sr. Director, Global Brand Experiences,
Sylvia Lopez-Navarro

National Manager of Brand Experience, Corporate Events and Auto Shows,
Venita McLemore

Principal, Global Media Events,
Allison Barrie Rand

Head of Experiential Marketing & Cultural Engagement,
Kelsey Schneider

Director, Global Events and Experiences,
Valerie Strehle

Senior Director, Field Marketing and Global Events,
Jon Wolff

Sr. Global Events Manager,

Speakers

Florent Bayle-Laboure

VP of Strategic Development,
Colleen Bisconti

VP-Global Conferences & Events,
Jimmy Knowles

Global Head of Experiential,
Monique Ruff-Bell

Chief Program & Strategy Officer,

Caroline Absher

Head of Event Marketing,
Shane Aubé

VP, Corporate Marketing & Events,
Kimasia Ayers

Socio-Cultural Consultant
Allison Barrie Rand

Head of Experiential Marketing & Cultural Engagement,
Lauren Barsamian

Director, Disney AdDirector, Disney & ESPN Sponsorship,
Kelsey Boardsen

Senior Manager, Events and Partnerships,
Rachel Boucher

Head of Content,
Aja Bradley Kemp

Founder,
Ashley Brantman

SVP, Co-Head of Jack 39 and Head of Growth,
Debbie Brewer

VP-Strategic Events,
Elle Chan

Founder and CEO,
Juanita Chavarro Arias

Managing Editor,
Rick Cosgrove

President & CXO,
Azra Daniels

Director, Global Events,
Allison Doughty

Director, Events and Hospitality Services,
Rob Drury

Founder & CEO,
Kylie Elliott

Event Marketing Manager,
Imani Ellis

Founder & CEO,
CultureCon
Rodrigo Espinosa

SVP, Integrated Campaigns,
Marisa Garamendi

Director, Sales & Partner Events,
Kelly Hahn

Director, US Partnerships & Events,
Sara Grauf

SVP, Experience Development,
Kim Haney

Director-Experiential Marketing,
Julia Hathaway

Creative Director,
Jeff Haynes

Founder,
Staci Hallmon

Chief Experience Officer,
Mollie Hansen

CMO,
Matt Herek

Sponsorships Marketing Manager,
Diane Hund

SVP & CMO,
Sarah Jackson

Senior Executive Producer & Sustainability Lead for the Americas,
Tavar James

VP, Global Events,
Dan Ireland

Portfolio Activation Lead,
Ashley Jex Wagner

Head of Live Experiences,
Steve Kapusta

Chief Revenue Officer,
Chase Kehoe

Head of Global B2B Events,
Aly Klidies

Senior Strategic Events Manager
Marissa Kiersch

SVP & Head of Brand & Creative Strategy,
Evan Korn

CEO & Founder,
Deanna Krause

Event Strategist,
Katja Lindemann

Senior Director, Brand Events and Sponsorships,
Cyntia Leo

Head of Brand Marketing & Communications,
Sylvia Lopez-Navarro

National Manager of Brand Experience, Corporate Events and Auto Shows,
Scott Mansfield

Retail Creative Director,
Venita McLemore

Principal, Global Media Events,
Katie Meyer

CEO,
Analise Mehmet

Senior Designer, Agency Sustainability Committee Lead,
Jake Mathews

Director, Direct to Consumer Store Development,
Nicole Meier

Director, Product Marketing,
Natascha Miner

Senior Event Marketing Manager,
Lauren Neilsen

Director, Events and VP,
Gaby Neves

President & Co-Owner,
Alicia Patton

VP,
Jodi Pavia

Director, Experiential Marketing,
Chris Pendl

Founder & Principal,
Tara Sahu

Head of Global Strategic Alliances,
Alex Sapiz

SVP-Corporate Marketing, Global Brand and Events,
Kelsey Schneider

Director, Global Events and Experiences,
Ed Petruczenko

Creative Director,
Ricardo Scorzelli

Senior Director, Marketing Activation,
Tiffaine Stephens

Senior Marketing Manager,
Valerie Strehle

Senior Director, Field Marketing and Global Events,
Mark Testa

Founder, Creative Director,
Brandie Townsend

Sustainability Manager,
Justin Tabas

Senior Experiential Marketing Manager,
Kate Wolff

Co-Founder & Co-Chair,
Jon Wolff

Sr. Global Events Manager,
Kaan Yalkin

Partnerships & Engagement Lead, The Climate Pledge,

Speakers

Venue

MGM Grand

3799 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109

For the best prices, book your hotel stay in our room block. These low rates are available until April 23 or until Sold Out, whichever comes first. Availability is limited and rooms are filling fast, so don’t delay – reserve today!

Connections Housing is the only approved, official housing vendor for EMS 2026. We understand that unauthorized housing companies may contact you and advertise cheaper rates or may imply or claim an affiliation with the event. If you are contacted by any company that is NOT Connections Housing, let us know at ems@eventmarketer.com.

EMS Pass Pricing

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

Early Bird 03/06/26

Advance 04/10/26

Full Price 05/20/26

Brand

3-Day Pass

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas, and Opening Reception.

$1,600

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,800

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,995

Advance 04/10/26

$2,150

Full Price 05/20/26

Brand

2-Day Pass (M/T or T/W)

Includes access to all sessions and Hall of Ideas on the days included on your pass as well as the Opening Reception on Monday, May 18. You must choose a date combination during registration.

$1,700

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,700

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,700

Advance 04/10/26

$1,700

Full Price 05/20/26

Brand

1-Day Pass (Tuesday or Wednesday)

Includes access to all sessions and Hall of Ideas on Tuesday, May 19 or Wednesday, May 20, plus the Opening Reception on Monday, May 18. You must choose which date during registration.

$1,500

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,500

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,500

Advance 04/10/26

$1,500

Full Price 05/20/26

Brand

1-Day Pass (Monday)

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas and the Opening Reception on Monday, May 18 ONLY.

$1,200

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,200

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,200

Advance 04/10/26

$1,200

Full Price 05/20/26

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

Early Bird 03/06/26

Advance 04/10/26

Full Price 05/20/26

Agency

3-Day Pass

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas, and Opening Reception.

$1,650

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,850

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,995

Advance 04/10/26

$2,200

Full Price 05/20/26

Agency

2-Day Pass (M/T or T/W)

Includes access to all sessions and Hall of Ideas on the days included on your pass as well as the Opening Reception on Monday, May 18. You must choose a date combination during registration.

$1,750

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,750

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,750

Advance 04/10/26

$1,750

Full Price 05/20/26

Agency

1-Day Pass (Tuesday or Wednesday)

Includes access to all sessions and Hall of Ideas on Tuesday, May 19 or Wednesday, May 20, plus the Opening Reception on Monday, May 18. You must choose a date combination during registration.

$1,500

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,500

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,500

Advance 04/10/26

$1,500

Full Price 05/20/26

Agency

1-Day Pass (Monday)

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas and the Opening Reception on Monday, May 18 ONLY.

$1,200

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,200

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,200

Advance 04/10/26

$1,200

Full Price 05/20/26

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

Early Bird 03/06/26

Advance 04/10/26

Full Price 05/20/26

Supplier Pass

3-Day Pass

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas, and Opening Reception.

Important Note: Supplier Pass holders will have limited networking and messaging capabilities through our event App. If networking is a priority in attending the event, please contact Jon McLoughlin

at 646-988-8387 or jmcloughlin@accessintel.com to discuss exhibit and sponsorship options that provide full networking access.

$5,100

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$5,100

Early Bird 03/06/26

$5,100

Advance 04/10/26

$5,100

Full Price 05/20/26

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

Early Bird 03/06/26

Advance 04/10/26

Full Price 05/20/26

EDPA

Member Full-Service Exhibit Agency 2-Day Pass (M/T or T/W)

Full-service direct-to-brand exhibit builders primarily serving Fortune 1000 end-users. Examples: Czarnowski, Derse, EWI, Hamilton, Pinnacle. (Active EDPA membership to be verified with EDPA.)

$1,750

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,750

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,750

Advance 04/10/26

$1,750

Full Price 05/20/26

EDPA

Member Full-Service Exhibit Agency 3-Day Pass

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas, and Opening Reception.

$1,650

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$1,850

Early Bird 03/06/26

$1,995

Advance 04/10/26

$2,200

Full Price 05/20/26

EDPA

Member Exhibit Fabricator/Distributor/Franchisee 3-Day Pass

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas, and Opening Reception.

$2,650

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$2,850

Early Bird 03/06/26

$2,995

Advance 04/10/26

$3,200

Full Price 05/20/26

EDPA

Supplier 3-Day

Includes access to all sessions, Hall of Ideas, and Opening Reception.

$4,850

Ultra-Early Bird 12/31/25

$4,850

Early Bird 03/06/26

$4,850

Advance 04/10/26

$4,850

Full Price 05/20/26

Price 05/20/26

Accelerator

Two-Day Pass M/T or Two-Day Pass T/W

Our promise to help develop the next generation of corporate event professionals begins at EMS with a new learning program reserved for the industry’s fastest rising stars. The EMS Accelerator Pass onboards early-career event marketers into the industry through a two-day immersion into the Experiential Marketing Summit’s rigorous curriculum at a deep discount. The 2026 EMS Accelerator Community will leave EMS with the strategic and tactical insights they need to excel in their event roles and become top contributors to their event organizations.

Passes are limited to the first 50 to apply. Submit your request today.

Available to marketers ages 21-26. Must be a junior level employee of a brand-side event organization or event agency (supplier companies cannot participate), or, attending an accredited university program. Proof of age required in advance along with a letter from your company or professor “sponsoring” you are qualified to attend. Sample letter here.

$499

Price 05/20/26

Not sure what pass type you qualify for?

Get the Brand pass if:

You work for a B2C or B2B brand or company or non-profit organization or university. Examples: Nike, Cisco, University of Washington, American Cancer Society.

Get the Agency pass if:

You work for an event agency that provides event strategy and activation services to brands, non-profit organizations and universities. Examples: George P. Johnson, Sparks, Momentum Worldwide, Motive

Get the Supplier pass if:

You work for a company whose product or service is used at live or virtual events. Examples: Event technology solutions/platforms, A/V & production, staffing, registration platforms, promotional merchandise, event structures, event venues, mobile marketing vehicles.

Get the EDPA pass if:

You work for a company who is a member of the EDPA. Review the pass types in the chart above for detailed descriptions.

EMS values an atmosphere where attendees feel safe, respected, and able to participate fully in the event experience. All attendees, including exhibitors, play an important role in upholding this standard.

To support this, we ask that all EMS attendees:

Engage attendees in a respectful and non-intrusive manner.
Avoid any physical contact without clear permission.
Do not follow, pressure, or pursue attendees outside the exhibit hall or official meeting times.
Immediately respect an attendee’s request to disengage from a conversation or demo.

Behaviors that compromise attendee comfort or safety will not be tolerated. EMS reserves the right to take appropriate action, including removal from the event.

EMS 2026 is CEM Preferred Provider. Each hour of education is eligible for one clock hour towards CEM recertification.

SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS

Reach Event Marketer’s highly engaged audience of the leading buying companies in the market.
Grab a spot in the Hall of Ideas, book a thought-leadership speaking package or explore sponsorship to serve as your business generation engine for 2026—and beyond.

Act now to secure a prime location in the Hall of Ideas for 2026. Explore sponsorship options that allow you to directly target the titles you want. Let us help you create a package that leaves our attendees talking about you—even on the plane ride home.

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