Wrong year? Here’s our latest list of Learning & Development Conferences.

Hello to 2021, and goodbye to the strangest year ever — at least in most of our lifetimes!

As much as 2020 shook everyone up, it also presented opportunities to think differently about how we work and how we learn — and what work-life balance actually means when people’s commute time suddenly collapses from a cross-town journey into a pyjama-clad bedroom-to-kitchen shuffle.

Not only did our personal work lives get a massive rethink this year — so did professional development opportunities, which underwent their own shuffle from hotel conference rooms to webinar screens. The sudden pivot to virtual wasn’t without glitches, but it was a good dress rehearsal for a slick virtually all-virtual 2021 conference slate. Training & Development conferences have never been more accessible. So double down on this year’s offerings. The more the merrier — because we’re all in this together.

And if travel isn’t in your plans this year, don’t forget the wide range of free L&D webinars we publish each month — quick hits of inspiration packaged into one-hour bites. To ensure you don’t miss out, subscribe to our blog with your RSS reader of choice or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or even Facebook! 

January 25–28, 2021: ATD TechKnowledge 2021 Conference Week, online
Redesigned as an immersive online experience, ATD TechKnowledge lets you “build your own adventure” through various session types: two keynotes, nine thought-leader sessions, 25 virtual classroom sessions, 20 hands-on learning sessions, 29 “byte-sized” sessions, oodles of chat sessions and a hack-a-thon.

February 8–12, 2021: Training 2021 Virtual Conference, online
Training magazine’s annual conference is headlined by The Happiness Advantage author Shawn Achor and includes keynotes on topics such as equity and inclusion, digital learning and innovation, plus training leadership lessons, tips and techniques, solution showcase demos and vendor meetings, daily one-on-one meetups and over 1,200 curated webinars.

February 17–18, 2021: Deepening Your Instructional Design Skills Online Conference, online
The Deepening Your Instructional Design Skills Online Conference is all about ways to take your ID knowledge up a level. Filled with sessions from presenters who are leading the way in more innovative approaches to creating learning solutions, you’ll find out more about how people learn, be introduced to advanced instructional design techniques and approaches, and understand what actual practitioners like you find helps their work the most.

February 22–23, March 9–10 and 24–25, 2021: ITC 2021 Annual Conference — eLearning, online
The Instructional Technical Council (ITC) 2021 Annual Conference — eLearning is for L&D professionals of every description. Each date features an opening keynote plus concurrent sessions throughout the day and opportunities for participants to collaborate and chat.

March 2–3, 2021: ATD 2021 Southeast Asia Summit, online
ATD comes to Southeast Asia for the first time with ATD 2021: Driving Success in the Digital Workspace, featuring over 20 interactive sessions, 20 on-demand sessions (available for 60 days post-event), 17 speakers and three mini-bootcamps.

March 23–24, 2021: ATD Latin America Conference, online
ATD comes to Latin America for the first time with Latin America Conference: Transforming Learning into Organizational Impact. With over more than 30 educational sessions featuring global development and learning experts, the conference focuses on helping businesses and individuals to create tools to thrive.

April 23, 2021: CANeLearn 18th Annual Digital Learning Symposium, online
This event is prefaced by a series of online thematic facilitated workshops in February (exact dates TBA) and ends with a virtual symposium on April 23. More announcements to come.  

May 3–14, 2021: Learning Solutions Conference & Expo, Orlando, Florida ›› NOW AN ONLINE EVENT
Learning Solutions Conference & Expo is a high-energy event that explores the full spectrum of L&D, leaving participants with new ideas, inspiration, and solutions they can immediately use to transform their work. Now a two-week online event, it features 10 days of live content, 8 optional online workshops and 6 months of continued learning, all of which you can enjoy from the safety and comfort of your home office.

May 25–27, 2021: ATD Government Workforce 2021, online
The ATD Government Workforce 2021: Learning Innovations Training Summit is designed to share human capital and talent development best practices, with an emphasis on practical application and implementation across government agencies. The event features interactive and panel discussions with top learning leaders in the U.S. federal government.

June 9-10, 2021: The Learning Guild Conference, online
In this two-day online conference, Pushing the eLearning Envelope, you’ll learn from those who have pushed technology to the limit with innovative approaches, and you’ll discover new ways to use tools you already have or can easily pick up. Six speakers will share fresh perspectives on what’s possible with today’s learning technologies, how to use UX methods to meet your learners needs, how to use xAPI to personalize content, build branching scenarios with Twine, tips for inclusive design and much more.

June 10-11, 2021: Canadian eLearning Conference, online
The Canadian eLearning Conference was created in 2009 when a group of eLearning peers discovered they shared a passion for eLearning design and technology. Over the years the conference has evolved from a day of discussion about project proposals and elearning design to its current 2-day conference. Day One consists of 5 full-day Pre-Conference Workshops, and Day Two includes a Keynote, a wide selection of concurrent sessions to choose from and popular Show-and-Share presentations. Attendees are welcome to attend either or both days.

June 13–20, 2021: London EdTech Week ›› NOW AN ONLINE EVENT
A week-long celebration featuring 40+ event hosts showcasing education technology. This open and collaborative platform welcomes any member of the global learning ecosystem to take part.  

June 14–16, 2021: Digital Learning Annual Conference, Austin, Texas and online
DLAC 2021 is still in the planning stages and registering a maximum of 500 participants for face-to-face events, with a hybrid model in place to accommodate spillover and/or those who prefer to attend online. Session types include panels, workshops, tables talks and more.

June 17, 2021: LearnFest 2021, online
This half-day virtual conference arrives at a time of enormous disruption and uncertainty. Technological change has already impacted how we work, and the pandemic has accelerated these changes. Keynote speaker, Stephen Harrington, Director in Deloitte's workforce, will first discuss the Future of Work. Following this presentation, a panel of experts from across our profession will discuss how learning and performance in the workplace needs to adapt to these broader changes. After hearing from the keynote speaker and expert panel, join a first-ever I4PL crowdsourcing event to create an emerging point-of-view on where learning is going and how we need to drive change.

July 9, 2021: ‍Accessible & Inclusive Design Conference 2021, online
This event, hosted by The Training, Learning, and Development Community is focused on creating and building accessible and inclusive learning environments. What do you think when you encounter these terms: Accessibility? Universal Design? Inclusion? Join in to discuss these topics and more, and learn how L&D professionals can create learning experiences that are accessible to all and where everyone belongs.

August 29–September 1, 2021: ATD21 International Conference & Exposition ›› NOW IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, regional locations (TBA) and online
ATD21 has been redesigned with three attendance options:

• Face-to-face in Salt Lake City.

• At a regional location in a more intimate setting.

• At home — fully virtual.

The event features three keynotes, 45+ sessions from industry luminaries, 250+ live sessions and 80+ demos, plus access to solutions providers and customized networking, regardless of attendance option.

September 13–16, 2021: Learning DevCamp 2021 ›› POSTPONED UNTIL 2022
Learning DevCamp 2021 Online is moving back to Salt Lake City in June 2022 with in-person standard, hands-on sessions, and collaboration at its best. The website will be updated soon and registration will reopen in September 2021.

October 5–6, 2021: CLO Symposium 2021 ›› MOVED FROM APRIL — NOW AN ONLINE EVENT
Dedicated to learning and development within organizations and the challenges faced by chief learning officers to bring development to employees and create a new learning environment that feels like home, this event brings together senior VPs, VPs of learning and CLOs.

October 12–13, 2021: ATD SELL Conference ›› NOW IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
ATD SELL is an annual sales enablement leadership and learning conference that focuses on bringing together the best practices and strategies across sales training, tools and technology, and processes needed to drive incremental sales performance. During two days of sessions, you’ll learn, network, and collaborate with fellow practitioners and some of the industry’s best thought leaders.

October 20–22, 2021: DevLearn Conference & Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada
Explore innovative technologies, engage with new approaches, and elevate your work at DevLearn, the home base for our community to shape what’s next for learning. The powerhouse lineup of keynote speakers will inspire you with relevant stories of technology, resilience, and growth. The DevLearn program will include eight tracks and 150+ sessions hand-selected to support your needs, today and tomorrow.

October 25–29, 2021: Training Magazine’s TechLearn 2021 Conference ›› MOVED FROM SEPTEMBER ›› NOW AN ONLINE EVENT
YOU are in the driver’s seat at the ALL-LIVE TechLearn 2021 Virtual Conference! Develop projects at the Adobe Maker Lab. Learn with experts and your peers in 90 breakouts. Be inspired in 5 fresh keynotes. Mix it up in Training Technology Test Kitchen sessions. Explore new possibilities in interactive tours. Check out 16 solution demos. Get hands-on at the all-new Camp GamiCon. Join unique social events. Skill up in 5 Certificate Programs.

November 15–16, 2021: ATD Core 4 ›› NOW IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
ATD Core 4 is a foundational training and development conference where participants can learn the fundamentals of instructional design, training delivery and facilitation, impact evaluation and technology application. The event features over 200 talent development professionals and 24+ education sessions.

November 15–19, 2021: Learning 2021, online ›› NEW ADDITION
The premier event for learning leaders, is moving online for five energizing days, packed with thought-provoking sessions diving into the issues facing today's learning leaders in our rapidly changing world. Get deeply engaged in a wide variety of discussions and experiences examining the strategies, skills, and solutions that matter most to our work and the organizations we serve.

November 16–18, 2021: I4PL 2021 Conference ›› NEW ADDITION
I4PL’s annual conference is the premier event for performance and learning professionals to build their networks and develop new skills. It will once again connect L&D professionals from across Canada, while this year’s online format will allow their international colleagues to participate, virtually connecting the global L&D community for the common goals of learning, sharing and networking. This year’s conference theme is United Through Performance and Learning.

November 17, 2021: The EdTech & Digital Learning Conference, London, UK and online ›› NEW ADDITION
Drive innovation, impact teaching quality, inspire collaboration and power the student experience with cutting-edge educational technology and engaging digital learning strategies at this one-day, industry-led conference & networking event. Explore the future of blended learning, inspire students and enhance teaching quality with innovative digital strategies, pedagogy and programme designs, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) immersive learning experiences, data and learning analytics, accessible and inclusive strategies, and authentic assessments.

Remember to bookmark this post and/or follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the year! 

If you know of a valuable L&D/T&D/elearning/instructional design conference or online/virtual event happening in 2021 (or 2022), let us know!