MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference)

MAICON 2026, the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference, runs 13-15 October 2026 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland (300 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio). Now in its eighth year and run by Marketing AI Institute, it is built for people actually deploying AI inside marketing organisations rather than for AI-curious spectators: the breakout programme splits into an Applied AI track of hands-on tactical sessions showing real-world use cases and a Strategic AI track covering AI strategy, leadership and decision-making, with an AI Transformation Stage running candid conversations about adoption, change management, executive buy-in and measurable business impact. Build Sessions are working sessions where attendees leave having actually created an AI application, agent, workflow or automation. A separate AI for CMOs Summit can be added to the main conference pass. The 2026 speaker list includes Karen Hao, Andrew Yang, Kevin Roose of The New York Times, Dan Slagen of Zapier, Jessica Hreha of Veeam Software, Wil Reynolds of Seer Interactive, Katie Robbert of Trust Insights, Sandy Carter, and Marketing AI Institute's Paul Roetzer and Mike Kaput. The 2025 edition drew 1,500 marketers and business leaders to Cleveland.

Date

October 13–15, 2026

Location

Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, 300 Lakeside Avenue, Ohio

Format

In-Person

Event Type

Conference

Status

Upcoming

Pricing

Paid

Organizer

Marketing AI Institute (SmarterX)

Added

Jun 21, 2026

Updated

Aug 13, 2026

• ✓CMO
• ✓VP / Head of Marketing
• ✓Marketing operations director
• ✓Head of marketing analytics
• ✓Creative and content technology leaders
• ✓AI programme leads inside marketing organisations
• ✓Agency principals and consultants

A marketing leader arrives at MAICON with two unresolved questions — what to actually deploy next quarter, and how to get the organisation to adopt it — and the programme is deliberately built around both. The Strategic AI track and the AI for CMOs Summit cover budget, governance and organisational design; the Applied AI track and Build Sessions send your operators home with a workflow or agent they built in the room. The AI Transformation Stage exists specifically for the change-management problem that kills most marketing AI programmes. With 1,500 attendees at the prior edition and a vendor-neutral organiser, the benchmarking conversations are with peers at comparable maturity rather than with a sales floor.

• ✓Applied AI breakout track — hands-on tactical sessions showcasing real-world applications and use cases
• ✓Strategic AI breakout track — AI strategy, leadership and decision-making
• ✓AI Transformation Stage — adoption, change management, executive buy-in and measurable business impact
• ✓Build Sessions — hands-on working sessions producing a tangible AI application, agent, workflow or automation
• ✓AI for CMOs Summit, bookable alongside the main conference
• ✓Pre-conference workshop day included with All-Access passes
• ✓Main-stage recordings available on demand as a pass upgrade
• ✓Keynotes from Karen Hao, Andrew Yang and Kevin Roose

• ★Split Applied AI / Strategic AI tracks let a CMO and their operators attend the same conference and each get sessions pitched at their altitude, instead of one blended programme that serves neither
• ★Build Sessions are working sessions with a deliverable — attendees leave having created a working AI application, agent, workflow or automation, not a notebook of ideas
• ★The AI Transformation Stage is explicitly about the unglamorous part: change management, executive buy-in and evidencing business impact
• ★An AI for CMOs Summit runs as a bookable add-on to the main conference, so the executive peer track is a real separate room rather than a badge tier
• ★Independent, vendor-neutral organiser — Marketing AI Institute publishes and teaches year-round, and 2026 speakers include working journalists (Karen Hao, Kevin Roose) rather than only practitioners with a product to sell

Main Conference $1,899-$2,099 depending on how early you book (early rate through to on-site). All-Access Pass $2,399-$2,599, which adds the workshop. All-Access + On-Demand $2,799-$2,999, which adds main-stage recordings. AI for CMOs Summit + Main Conference $2,799-$2,999. The early-bird deadline is 21 August 2026; prices step up after that.

When is MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference)?

MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) takes place October 13–15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Where is MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) held?

MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) is held in Cleveland, Ohio. The event format is in-person.

How much does MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) cost?

MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) is paid. Main Conference $1,899-$2,099 depending on how early you book (early rate through to on-site). All-Access Pass $2,399-$2,599, which adds the workshop. All-Access + On-Demand $2,799-$2,999, which adds main-stage recordings. AI for CMOs Summit + Main Conference $2,799-$2,999. The early-bird deadline is 21 August 2026; prices step up after that.

Who should attend MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference)?

MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) is aimed at CMO, VP / Head of Marketing, Marketing operations director, Head of marketing analytics, Creative and content technology leaders, AI programme leads inside marketing organisations, Agency principals and consultants.

What topics does MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) cover?

MAICON 2026 (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) covers Applied AI for marketing, AI strategy and leadership, AI governance in marketing, AI agents and workflow automation, Change management and AI adoption, Marketing ROI measurement for AI, AI tool evaluation and stack selection, AI and the future of creative work.

This page was written from 4 sources, 1 on domains other than marketingaiinstitute.com.

1. 1.marketingaiinstitute.com — marketing artificial intelligence conferencevendor
2. 2.marketingaiinstitute.com — agendavendor
3. 3.marketingaiinstitute.com — maicon 2025vendor
4. 4.cmswire.com — maicon cleveland 2026