Top-performing real estate professionals don’t leave their growth to chance; they make intentional choices, such as pursuing education, earning certifications, and attending the right events. That’s why I’ve curated the most influential national real estate conferences happening from April 2026 onward. These are great industry events where agents, brokers, team leaders, and other professionals can come together and learn from industry experts, spot emerging trends early, and build relationships that lead to real business opportunities.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, expand your network nationwide, or build your career in the real estate industry, these events can give you a competitive edge. I’ve also included practical tips to help you make the most of every conversation and connection while you’re there.
| The Gathering by HousingWire |
| April 27 to 30, 2026 | Austin, Texas | $2,500 |
| NARPM Broker/Owner Conference & Expo |
| April 27 to 30, 2026 | Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA | Non-member $1,099 |
| National Hospitality Real Estate Conference |
| April 29, 2026 | Manhattan, NYC | |
| ULI Spring Meeting |
| May 5 to 7, 2026 | Nashville, TN | |
| NYC Real Estate Forum |
| May 6, 2026 | Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC | |
| ICSC Las Vegas |
| May 18 to 20, 2026 | Las Vegas Convention Center, NV | Non-member $2,275 |
| REALTORS® Legislative Meetings |
| June 13 to 18, 2026 | Washington, DC | |
| InvestHER Con |
| June 14 to 16, 2026 | Scottsdale, AZ | |
| Apartmentalize by NAA |
| June 17 to 19, 2026 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA | Non-member $1,395 |
| NAR Government Affairs Directors Institute |
| July 21 to 24, 2026 | Columbus, OH | |
| NAREB National Convention |
| July 26 to 31, 2026 | Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas, NV | |
| Inman Connect |
| July 28 to 30, 2026 | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, CA | |
| Tom Ferry Success Summit |
| August 3 to 5, 2026 | Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA | |
| RealWorld 2026 |
| August 9 to 11, 2026 | Gaylord Rockies Resort, Denver, CO | |
| Housingwire AI Summit |
| August 11, 2026 | George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, Texas | |
| Five Star Conference |
| September 1 to 3, 2026 | The Omni Hotel, Dallas, TX | General admission $595 |
| Blueprint |
| September 22 to 24, 2026 | The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV | |
| CREW Network Convention |
| September 23 to 25, 2026 | Fontainebleau, Miami Beach, FL | |
| Sotheby’s International Realty Global Networking Event |
| October 6 to 8, 2026 | Moscone West, San Francisco, CA | |
| Reconvence Conference |
| October 6 to 8, 2026 | Santa Monica, CA | |
| Unlock Conference |
| October 12 to 15, 2026 | Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, NV | |
| National Real Estate Investing Summit |
| November 5 to 8, 2026 | Cincinnati, OH | |
| NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience |
| November 6 to 8, 2026 | New Orleans, LA | |
| REITworld Annual Conference |
| November 16 to 19, 2026 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA | |
| Triple Play REALTOR® Convention & Trade Expo |
| December 7 to 10, 2026 | Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ | |
| Real Estate Global Forum |
| December 1, 2026 | University Club of New York, NYC | |
| IMN SFR West Forum |
| December 7 to 9, 2026 | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, AZ |
April conferences and events
The Gathering by HousingWire
-
Date:
April 27 to 30, 2026
-
Location:
Austin, Texas
-
Fees:
$2,500
-
Focus:
Provides market intelligence and cross-industry insights that help agents make connections and better understand how lending, policy, and technology impact transactions and consumer demand.
-
Best for:
- Brokerage leaders or owners
- Top-producing real estate agents
- Mortgage professionals
NARPM Broker/Owner Conference & Expo
-
Date:
April 27 to 30, 2026
-
Location:
Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA
-
Fees:
Member $949, Non-member $1,099
-
Focus:
Centered around residential property management businesses, and is designed for brokers, owners, company leaders, and senior property management professionals.
-
Best for:
- Senior property managers
- Real estate brokerage or team owners
- Investors managing rental portfolios
National Hospitality Conference
-
Date:
April 29, 2026
-
Location:
Manhattan, NYC
-
Fees:
$140
-
Focus:
Identifies and discusses hotel development, hospitality investment, and travel-driven real estate trends.
-
Best for:
- Commercial-focused real estate professionals
- Institutional investors who focus on hotel investments
- Private equity real estate funds
- May conferences and events
- June conferences and events
- July conferences and events
- August conferences and events
- September conferences and events
- October conferences and events
- November conferences and events
- December conferences and events
- Why real estate professionals should attend conferences
- Tips for networking at real estate conventions
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
May conferences and events
ULI Spring Meeting
-
Date:
May 5 to 7, 2026
-
Location:
Nashville, TN
-
Fees:
Pricing varies
-
Focus:
Centered around big-picture real estate development and the future of cities, highlighting investment strategies, urban development, and policy shaping the real estate market.
-
Best for:
- Real estate professional focused on commercial or urban residential real estate
- Large-scale real estate developers
- Urban planners and city officials are looking to work with private developers
NYC Real Estate Forum
-
Date:
May 6, 2026
-
Location:
Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC
-
Fees:
To be announced (TBA)
-
Focus:
Offers exposure to large-market trends and investment strategies, helping agents understand how macro and metro-level forces influence pricing, development, and demand.
-
Best for:
- Real estate professionals focused on urban and luxury markets, especially around New York City
- Agents and investors working in high-density or high-value metros
- Real estate developers
ICSC Las Vegas
-
Date:
May 18 to May 20, 2026
-
Location:
Las Vegas Convention Center, NV
-
Fees:
Member $1,100, Non-member $2,275
-
Focus:
Brings together developers, investors, retailers, and leasing professionals to discuss the new trends in the retail real estate industry.
-
Best for:
- Real estate professionals focused on retail leasing and transactions
- Retail developers and investors
- Mall and shopping center owners
June conferences and events
REALTORS® Legislative Meetings
-
Date:
June 13 to 18, 2026
-
Location:
Washington, DC
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Equips agents with knowledge of real estate policy and advocacy to anticipate regulatory changes and better protect their businesses and clients.
-
Best for:
- REALTORS® association leaders
- Agents interested in housing policy and advocacy
- Agents looking for networking opportunities
InvestHER Con
-
Date:
June 14 to 16, 2026
-
Location:
Scottsdale, AZ
-
Fees:
From $1,197
-
Focus:
Discusses real estate investing and entrepreneurship, and focuses on supporting women in the industry.
-
Best for:
- Real estate investors focusing on portfolio growth
- Women entering the real estate market
- Professionals looking for networking and mentorship opportunities
Apartmentalize by NAA
-
Date:
June 17 to 19, 2026
-
Location:
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
-
Fees:
Member $985, Non-member $1,395
-
Focus:
Gives agents insights into rental housing trends and operations, helping those in multifamily or investor-focused roles better serve landlord and property management clients.
-
Best for:
- Apartment property owners, operators, and managers
- Real estate agents who focus on multi-family transactions
- Property management technology companies
July conferences and events
NAR Government Affairs Directors Institute
-
Date:
July 21 to 24, 2026
-
Location:
Columbus, OH
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Educating professionals on housing policy, advocacy strategy, and legislative issues affecting the real estate industry.
-
Best for:
- REALTORS® association leaders
- Real estate policy and housing advocacy professionals
- Government affairs directors
NAREB National Convention
-
Date:
July 26 to 31, 2026
-
Location:
Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas, NV
-
Fees:
From $499
-
Focus:
Centered on empowering minority real estate professionals, expanding homeownership, wealth building through real estate, and addressing housing equity gaps.
-
Best for:
- Residential real estate agents and brokers
- Housing advocates and nonprofit leaders
- Community development professionals
Inman Connect
-
Date:
July 28 to 30, 2026
-
Location:
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, CA
-
Fees:
$899
-
Focus:
Centered around innovation, technology, and the future of residential real estate.
-
Best for:
- Real estate agents and brokers looking to elevate their business
- Brokerage leaders and team owners
- Real estate technology companies and startups
August conferences and events
Tom Ferry Success Summit
-
Date:
August 3 to 5, 2026
-
Location:
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
-
Fees:
$899
-
Focus:
Delivers actionable sales strategies, mindset coaching, and systems that agents can immediately apply to generate more leads, listings, and closings.
-
Best for:
- Agents looking to grow their business
- Real estate marketing professionals
- Team leaders and brokerage owners
RealWorld 2026
-
Date:
August 9 to 11, 2026
-
Location:
Gaylord Rockies Resort, Denver, CO
-
Fees:
$495
-
Focus:
Centers on multifamily real estate operations, property management technology, rental real estate, and data-driven decision making.
-
Best for:
- Multifamily property owners and operators
- Real estate professional that focus on rentals or multifamily transactions
- Real estate technology companies
Housingwire AI Summit
-
Date:
August 11, 2026
-
Location:
George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, Texas
-
Fees:
From $500
-
Focus:
Discussing how artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing the housing industry, especially across real estate, mortgage lending, and title.
-
Best for:
- Mortgage lenders and loan officers
- Technology founders and AI startups
- Real estate professionals and brokerage executives
September conferences and events
Five Star Conference
-
Date:
September 1 to 3, 2026
-
Location:
The Omni Hotel, Dallas, TX
-
Fees:
Member $496, General admission $595
-
Focus:
Centers on the mortgage and housing finance industry, and highlights the challenges and opportunities currently shaping the US housing market.
-
Best for:
- Mortgage lenders and loan operators
- Foreclosure and REO property-focused real estate agents
- Investors and companies serving the mortgage industry
Blueprint
-
Date:
September 22 to 24, 2026
-
Location:
The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
-
Fees:
All-Access Pass starts at $1,195
-
Focus:
Explores how technology and data are shaping real estate’s future, helping agents understand which tools and platforms may impact their business in the coming years.
-
Best for:
- Real estate owners, operators, and developers
- Technology companies and AI startups focused on real estate
- Construction professionals
CREW Network Convention
-
Date:
September 23 to 25, 2026
-
Location:
Fontainebleau, Miami Beach, FL
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Centers around commercial real estate leadership, industry networking, deal-making, development trends, and diversity in commercial real estate.
-
Best for:
- Real estate professionals who focus on commercial real estate
- Developers and investors of commercial real estate
- Brokers and deal professionals
October conferences and events
Sotheby’s International Realty Global Networking Event
-
Date:
October 6 to 8, 2026
-
Location:
Moscone West, San Francisco, CA
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Designed to bring luxury real estate professionals from across the global Sotheby’s International Realty network to network, collaborate, and share strategies.
-
Accreditation:
- Sotheby’s International Realty sales associates and agents
- Luxury real estate professionals with high-net-worth clients
- Agents looking to build international referral partnerships
Reconvence Conference
-
Date:
October 6 to 8, 2026
-
Location:
Santa Monica, CA
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Centered around commercial real estate investment strategies, capital markets, leasing trends, and development insights.
-
Best for:
- Commercial real estate agents
- Real estate finance professionals
- Commercial real estate investors and developers
Unlock Conference
-
Date:
October 12 to 15, 2026
-
Location:
Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, NV
-
Fees:
Early access $699
-
Focus:
Created by Zillow, the conference focuses on helping agents and brokers gain data insights, educate themselves on modern sales strategies, and grow their business using technology.
-
Best for:
- Real estate agents interested in adopting AI tools
- Agents focused on lead generation, marketing, and business development
- Team leaders and brokerage owners
November conferences and events
National Real Estate Investing Summit
-
Date:
November 5 to 8, 2026
-
Location:
Cincinnati, OH
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Highlights real estate investing strategies and portfolio growth, educating professionals on property management trends, financing strategies, and market insights
-
Best for:
- House flippers and rental property owners
- Real estate investors
- Real estate agents who focus on representing investors
NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience
-
Date:
November 6 to 8, 2026
-
Location:
New Orleans, LA
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Combines education, expo access, and networking to help agents sharpen skills, discover new tools, and stay aligned with national real estate standards and trends.
-
Best for:
- REALTORS® at all career stages
- Brokers and team leaders
- REALTORS® looking for networking opportunities
REITworld Annual Conference
-
Date:
November 16 to 19, 2026
-
Location:
Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Provides insight into public real estate investment trends and capital markets, helping agents understand how institutional activity influences commercial and high-value transactions.
-
Best for:
- Institutional investors, analysts, and REIT executives
- Agents working with commercial or investment-focused clients
- Professionals interested in capital markets and large-scale real estate investment
December conferences and events
Triple Play REALTOR® Convention & Trade Expo
-
Date:
December 7 to 10, 2026
-
Location:
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Delivering REALTORS®, brokers, appraisers, and other real estate professionals with education, industry insights, and networking opportunities.
-
Best for:
- REALTORS® association members
- Residential real estate agents and brokers
- Real estate technology companies
Real Estate Global Forum
-
Date:
December 1, 2026
-
Location:
University Club of New York, NYC
-
Fees:
TBA
-
Focus:
Bringing together real estate industry leads to discuss global real estate investment strategies and trends.
-
Best for:
- Real estate private equity firms
- Real estate brokers or team owners
- Institutional investors
IMN SFR West Forum
-
Date:
December 7 to 9, 2026
-
Location:
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, AZ
-
Fees:
From $2,499
-
Focus:
Evaluating and educating professionals on the single-family rental industry, discussing investment strategies, financing, operational challenges, and tenant trends.
-
Best for:
- Build-to-rent developers
- Real estate agents who focus on rentals
- Single-family rental investors
Why real estate professionals should attend conferences
Research shows that agents who regularly invest in learning build stronger skills, deepen their industry knowledge, and support long-term career growth. Real estate conferences naturally fit into this process by offering education and industry updates in a more engaging, hands-on setting.
Beyond formal sessions, conferences create opportunities to learn from peers, hear real-world insights from experienced professionals, and gain a fresh perspective on where the industry is headed. For many agents, attending these events is a practical way to grow their business while staying connected to the real estate community.
Stay ahead of market trends & industry shifts
Real estate conferences give you a front-row seat to what’s shaping the industry, even before those changes hit your local market.
- Learn how national housing trends, interest rates, and buyer behavior are evolving.
- Discover new technologies, tools, and platforms gaining traction.
- Hear directly from economists, industry leaders, and top-producing agents.
Learn proven strategies from top performers
Many conferences feature sessions led by high-producing agents and successful brokerage leaders who share what’s actually working.
- Get actionable tactics for lead generation, marketing, and client retention.
- Learn how top teams scale operations and improve efficiency and productivity.
- Gain insights you can implement immediately in your business.
Expand your network beyond your local market
National conferences connect you with professionals from across the country, opening doors you wouldn’t find solely online or at local events.
- Build referral partnerships in other states and major metro areas.
- Exchange ideas with agents facing similar challenges in different markets.
- Connect with vendors and service providers offering national solutions.
Strengthen your personal brand and professional credibility
Showing up at major industry events positions you as a committed, informed professional.
- Stay current with best practices and compliance updates.
- Bring fresh insights back to your clients and team.
- Increase confidence when speaking with buyers, sellers, and peers.
Fuel motivation and gain a fresh perspective
Stepping away from day-to-day routines can spark new ideas and renewed energy.
- Get inspired by keynote speakers and success stories.
- Reevaluate your goals and business direction.
- Return home with clarity and momentum.
Tips for networking at real estate conventions
Real estate conventions offer countless networking opportunities, but you must be prepared, present, and purposeful in order to make the most of them. Here are some useful and practical tips that you can follow when you attend your next real estate conference this year.
Arrive with a game plan
Before the event starts, take a moment to define what you want to achieve. Whether your goal is to build referral relationships, learn from top producers, or explore new tools, having direction helps you focus your time and energy. A simple plan makes the conference feel more manageable and purposeful.
Keep introductions simple and natural
You don’t need a rehearsed elevator pitch to make a good impression. A brief introduction that explains who you are, which market you serve, and who you typically work with is sufficient. Asking an open-ended question helps keep the conversation flowing and makes the interaction feel more genuine.
Spend time in smaller sessions and social events
Large keynote sessions are great for learning, but smaller workshops and networking events are often better for connecting. These settings feel more relaxed and make it easier to have real conversations. Arriving early or staying a bit after sessions can also lead to unexpected connections.
Focus on listening, not selling
Strong networking is about building genuine relationships, not closing deals on the spot. By listening closely and showing interest in others’ experiences, you build trust naturally. Many meaningful opportunities come from simply being curious and engaged.
Choose quality conversations over quantity
It isn’t necessary to meet everyone to have a successful conference. A handful of thoughtful conversations each day can be far more valuable than collecting dozens of business cards. Focus on people you genuinely connect with and see potential for long-term relationships.
Take notes while they’re fresh
I am one who always carries a little notebook around when at these events, but your phone’s notes section works too. After each conversation, jot down a few details about who you met and what you discussed. These notes will be incredibly helpful when you follow up later and want to personalize your message. Small details go a long way in standing out from the crowd.
Follow up soon and stay personal
Following up within a few days helps keep the connection alive. Send a short message and be sure to reference something from your conversation to make your message thoughtful and intentional. This is how I’ve transformed casual conversations into lasting professional relationships.
Pace yourself and take breaks
Networking works best when you’re present and energized. Conferences can be busy, so give yourself permission to take breaks when needed. Staying refreshed helps you show up more confidently and make better connections.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
There’s no set number, but many agents aim for one to three national conferences per year. Attending fewer, higher-quality events is often more effective than trying to attend too many and feeling stretched thin.
Bring business cards (or a digital alternative), a reliable way to take notes, and a clear idea of what you want to learn or who you want to meet. Comfortable shoes and a phone charger are also must-haves for long conference days.
Many national conferences now offer virtual or hybrid options. While in-person events provide stronger networking opportunities, virtual attendance can still be useful for education and insights if travel isn’t possible.
Related Articles