Face-to-face interactions are a vital component of public relations, and conferences are the place to see and be seen: Attendees can build robust professional networks as they learn from all-star PR speakers and panelists. And after more than two years of cancelled, postponed or downsized conferences, seminars and summits, PR industry events are (mostly) back in full swing—and it’s time for PR and communications professionals to meet, greet and gather online and in person at conferences across North America and the world to discuss the most important trends and technologies affecting public relations today.
Which ones are worth the price of admission? We put together a list of the top PR conferences and industry events to have on your radar right now.
Fierce Pharma PR and Comms Conference 2022
- July 19–20, 2022
- Liberty House, Jersey City, NJ
- www.pharmaprsummit.com
The Fierce Pharma PR and Comms Conference brings together life sciences communicators and PR professionals for two days of industry updates, networking and opportunities to discuss and learn best practices for effective communications in health care.
2022 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media
- August 16–18, 2022
- Atlanta, GA and online
- www.nchcmm.org
The NCHMM conference is a forum for education and dialogue: Over three days, academics and government public health researchers will gather with PR and communications professionals to discuss challenges in today’s public health sphere and present evidence-based strategies for effective public health communication. The topics of this year’s thematic panel presentations and sessions will include managing misinformation, building and rebuilding trust in public health, reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving health equity.
Social Media Conference
- September 21-23, 2022
- Disney World, Orlando, FL
- www.ragan.com/store/ragans-social-media-conference-2022/
Organized by PR industry mainstays Ragan and PR Daily, the annual Social Media Conference gathers PR and communications pros to share strategies and best practices for helping brands and organizations reach their full potential on social media. With more than 65 speakers and over 50 hours of event programming, the conference promises ample networking opportunities, skills workshops and engaging panel discussions on topics ranging from the contemporary social media landscape to crafting stories for various communications platforms.
PRSA IPA 6th Annual VirtuCon: The Business of the Business
- September 28, 2022
- Online
- www.prsa.org/event/2022/09/28/default-calendar/prsa-ipa-virtucon-2022-ipa2022
This half-day, virtual event was created in 2017 as a “no-travel” way for independent public relations professionals to develop their skillsets and network with more than 50 other independent PR professionals. VirtuCon 2022 will focus on the “Business of Business,” and sessions will address the skills and practices needed to run an independent PR company.
PRDecoded
- October 11–12, 2022
- Chicago, IL
- www.prdecoded.com
As PRWeek’s flagship event, PRDecoded is a two-day conference that covers contemporary trends and challenges across the public relations industry. This year’s theme is “Purpose Evolved" and will center on corporate purpose: what it is, why it matters, and how PR professionals can help corporations bring their mission statements alive, align their purpose with their actions, and show that purpose and profit can coexist.
Public Relations Leadership Forum
- October 12–13, 2022
- SUNY Global Center, New York City
- web.cvent.com/event/72d08238-4f4c-40c8-ae65-78ea2913a403/summary
Organized by the Institute for Public Relations, the Public Relations Leadership Forum is a two-day seminar-style conference that gathers a small group of mid- to senior-level managers and executives working in-house or at public relations agencies to discuss leadership strategies and strengthen leadership skills. Attendance is limited to 25 participants with at least 10 years of experience in PR and communications.
The Future of Communications Conference
- November 1–2, 2022
- Edison Ballroom, New York City, NY
- https://www.ragan.com/store/the-future-of-communications-conference/
The Future of Communications Conference is the New York event at the center of industry leader Ragan Communication’s worldwide Communications Week. Speakers and presenters will share real-world tips and tactics on key PR topics, including: how to measure and report effectively in order to meet the needs of audiences; how to build media relationships; and how best to use tools to engage on social media.
Sustainability Reporting and Communications USA 2022
- November 1–2, 2022
- New York Marriott Club Pulse, New York City, NY
- events.reutersevents.com/sustainable-business/reporting-usa
Rapidly changing standards and regulations continue to impact and shape sustainability reporting and communications, and this two-day conference, organized by Reuters, brings together sustainability, policy and finance leaders to discuss how to navigate the ongoing transformation of reporting. This year’s focus areas include: data collection, data management and integration, regulations and global standards, financing sustainability, and multi-stakeholder communication.
Web Summit
- November 1–4, 2022
- Lisbon, Portugal
- websummit.com
Web Summit is a central global tech event, drawing more than 70,000 attendees and 900 speakers from over 160 countries. It’s “the world’s largest tech conference” according to the Financial Times, and it brings a variety of brands – from tech giants to small, scrappy startups – to Lisbon, Portugal.
PRSA ICON 2022
- November 13–15, 2022
- Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Dallas-Fort Worth Area, TX
- www.prsa.org/conferences-and-awards/icon-2022
This year's conference has more than 100 sessions, 10 keynote speakers, and more than 300 talks, workshops, breakout sessions and networking opportunities, all tailored to the needs and concerns of today’s PR industry professionals. This year's theme is “The Power of Influence” and will address the role of communicators in building narratives that drive change in business and society, sorting misinformation from fact, and shaping the future of corporate social responsibility and DE&I.
PRSA 2022 Health Academy Conference
- November 12–13, 2022
- Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Dallas-Fort Worth Area, TX
- www.prsa.org/home/get-involved/professional-interest-sections/health-academy-section/2022-health-academy-conference
The Health Academy Conference brings together PR professionals and communicators who serve the health care industry. Typically attracting about 200 PR professionals, the PRSA Health Academy Conference features renowned speakers and includes events that address current trends and issues in health care PR.
Global PR Summit Canada
- November 18–19, 2022
- Online
- www.thepworld.com/event/global-pr-summit-canada-6
The 2022 Global PR Summit Canada will feature interactive virtual presentations by public relations experts and leaders from IBM, Ikea, Facebook and Wattpad, with a particular focus on the important PR issues and trends in the post-pandemic world.
