Must-Attend Real Estate Conferences & Events in 2026
Top-performing real estate professionals don’t leave their growth to chance; they make intentional choices, like education, certifications, and showing up at the right events.
That’s why I’ve curated the most influential national real estate conferences happening from February 2026 onward, where agents, brokers, and team leaders come together to 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 maximize every conversation and connection while you’re there.
| Inman Connect | ||||
| RETCON | ||||
| The Gathering by HousingWire | ||||
| NYC Real Estate Forum | ||||
| REALTORS Legislative Meetings | (Exact venue to be announced) | |||
| Apartmentalize | ||||
| Tom Ferry Success Summit | ||||
| Blueprint | ||||
| NAR NXT, The REALTOR Experience | (Exact venue to be announced) | |||
| REITworld Annual Conference |
1. Inman Connect
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Date:
February 3 to 5, 2026
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Location:
New York Hilton Midtown, NY
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Fees:
$1,599
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Focus:
Helps agents gain insights into emerging real estate tech, marketing strategies, and tools, as well as shifting buyer and seller expectations, so they can adapt faster in a competitive market.
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Accreditation:
- Agents and brokers who want to stay ahead of industry trends, technology, and consumer behavior
- Team leaders and brokerage owners looking to modernize operations and marketing
- Real estate professionals seeking high-level networking with well-known innovators and decision-makers
2. RETCON
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Date:
March 9 to 11, 2026
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Location:
MGM Grand, Las Vegas
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Fees:
Owner/operator pass costs $495, and the general attendee pass is $1,695
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Focus:
Shows how new and upcoming technologies are reshaping real estate, giving agents ideas on how to leverage tech tools to improve efficiency, lead generation, and investment opportunities.
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Best for:
- Real estate investors, operators, and founders focused on technology and innovation
- Agents expanding into investment-focused or tech-enabled real estate niches
- Professionals interested in AI, automation, and digital transformation
3. The Gathering by HousingWire
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Date:
April 27 to 30, 2026
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Location:
Austin, Texas
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Fees:
$2,500
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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.
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Best for:
- Brokerage leaders, top-producing agents, and mortgage professionals
- Agents who want a big-picture understanding of housing, lending, and economic trends
- Professionals looking to network across the entire housing industry
4. NYC Real Estate Forum
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Date:
May 6, 2026
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Location:
Metropolitan Pavilion, NY
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Fees:
To be announced (TBA)
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Focus:
Offers exposure to large-market trends and investment strategies, helping agents understand how macro and metro-level forces influence pricing, development, and demand.
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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
- Professionals seeking market-specific insights with national relevance
5. REALTORS Legislative Meetings
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Date:
June 13 to 18, 2026
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Location:
Washington, DC (Exact venue to be announced)
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Fees:
To be announced
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Focus:
Equips agents with knowledge of real estate policy and advocacy to anticipate regulatory changes and better protect their businesses and clients.
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Best for:
- REALTORS® interested in advocacy, policy, and industry regulations
- Agents who want to understand how legislation affects transactions, commissions, and housing supply
- Association leaders and politically engaged professionals
6. Apartmentalize by NAA
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Date:
June 17 to 19, 2026
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Location:
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans
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Fees:
Member rate starts at $985; non-member rate starts at $1,395
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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.
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Best for:
- Multifamily professionals, property managers, and leasing specialists
- Agents working with investors, landlords, or rental portfolios
- Professionals interested in operations, maintenance, and resident experience
7. Tom Ferry Success Summit
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Date:
August 3 to 5, 2026
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Location:
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
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Fees:
From $899
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Focus:
Delivers actionable sales strategies, mindset coaching, and systems that agents can immediately apply to generate more leads, listings, and closings.
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Best for:
- Agents focused on production, accountability, and income growth
- Team leaders and brokers looking to scale systems and performance
- Professionals who want tactical, motivational, and business-building guidance
8. Blueprint
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Date:
September 22 to 24, 2026
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Location:
The Venetian, Las Vegas
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Fees:
All-Access Pass starts at $1,195
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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.
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Best for:
- Real estate executives, founders, and technology leaders
- Agents interested in the future of property technology (proptech) and digital infrastructure
- Professionals focused on innovation and long-term industry shifts
9. NAR NXT, The REALTOR Experience
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Date:
November 6 to 8, 2026
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Location:
New Orleans, LA (Exact venue to be announced)
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Fees:
TBA
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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.
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Best for:
- REALTORS® at all career stages seeking education, networking, technology, and industry updates
- Agents wanting exposure to tools, vendors, and training in one place
- Professionals focused on professional development and industry involvement
10. REITworld Annual Conference
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Date:
November 16 to 19, 2026
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Location:
Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia
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Fees:
TBA
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Focus:
Provides insight into public real estate investment trends and capital markets, helping agents understand how institutional activity influences commercial and high-value transactions
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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
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.
- Return home with clarity and momentum.
- Get inspired by keynote speakers and success stories.
- Reevaluate your goals and business direction.
Want to continue learning beyond conferences? Explore our picks for the Best Online Real Estate Schools to build skills at your own pace year-round.
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.
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
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.
While conferences generate many great conversations and networking opportunities, staying organized afterward is what really matters. CINC, a real estate customer relationship management (CRM) platform, helps agents capture notes, track contacts, and set follow-ups in one place, so no connection slips through the cracks. By keeping your conference takeaways inside your CRM, you can turn quick conversations into long-term relationships.
Follow up soon and stay personal
Following up within a few days helps keep the connection alive. A short message that references something from your conversation feels thoughtful and intentional. This is often where casual conversations turn 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)
How many real estate conferences should agents attend each year?
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.
What should I bring to a real estate conference?
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.
Can I attend real estate conferences virtually?
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.
The post Must-Attend Real Estate Conferences & Events in 2026 appeared first on The Close.
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