Best cities for conferences: see the top U.S. 2026 event locations.

Looking for the best cities to host a conference? 

There are many things to consider as you choose your destination, from cost to convenience to the attractiveness of each location.

The location of your conference directly impacts the success of your event, so it's vital to choose the right spot.

In this blog post, we will guide you through the top conference cities, while providing valuable tips on selecting the perfect destination for your next event.

Short summary.

• Choose a conference destination that meets attendee needs, fits your budget and amenities, and leverages local attractions.

• Also consider global accessibility, availability of hotel rooms & meeting spaces, cost-effectiveness & travel convenience when selecting the location.

• Popular U.S. destinations include Las Vegas NV, Orlando FL, San Diego CA, Dallas TX, Washington DC, Nashville OH, etc.

The importance of location in conference planning.

Location plays a crucial role in the success of any conference. It directly influences attendee experience, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.

When selecting a location, as event planners, you'll want to consider how attractive of a place it is to your attendees. This will heavily depend on who your target audience is - something that might be exciting for a certain demographic may not be quite so thrilling to another. Do ample research on who you're inviting and their interests before selecting your location, because it can directly impact your attendance rates. Things to consider here include:

• Ease of travel

• Big city vs small city

• Attractiveness of hotel accommodations and venue

• Access to local attractions

• Access to convention centers

Location is also important when it comes to your budget. Event organizers may want to spring for that expensive convention center in Las Vegas, but will your budget allow it? Consider other affordable major convention cities before you decide to book one that might be a stretch on your money.

What are the best conference locations in the U.S.?

In the United States, some of the most popular conference locales include Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, Dallas, Washington D.C., and Chicago.

Each of these cities offers unique amenities and attractions that make them sought-after locations for hosting events.

Let's take a look which cities made the full list:

Ready to hand off your next big meeting to a team who knows what they’re doing? Read this article about the 15 best event management companies.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas offers a dazzling array of hotel and convention center options for convention organizers. The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) was ranked number one among The Wall Street Journal’s list of the 30 best convention centers in the U.S., with rankings based on the quality of the facility.

With countless hotels and meeting spaces to choose from, Vegas delivers everything you need for a large conference. Its accessibility, with a high volume of daily direct flights, makes it an easy choice for attendees traveling from anywhere in the country.

Plus, Vegas is just fun. Celebrity chefs, incredible shows, and fun venues to explore make it the ultimate destination for party-goers and foodies alike.

The downside to Vegas? Cost. Since Las Vegas is a popular and well-established convention location, it can be difficult to find availability and it may not suit everyone's budgets.

Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida, is a popular conference destination thanks to its close proximity to world-famous attractions like Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. These attractions, combined with cost-effective hotel rates and venues, make Orlando a great option for conferences of all sizes.

The Orange County Convention Center alone attracts around 1.5 million attendees each year and is consistently ranked as the No. 1 meeting destination in the U.S. by Cvent, highlighting the city’s strong reputation for hosting successful large-scale events.

With warm weather year-round and plenty of hotel options to choose from, Orlando continues to be a favorite for many conference hosts. The only challenge can be the weather—summer months often bring heat and afternoon thunderstorms that some guests may find uncomfortable.

San Diego, California

We love San Diego (and not just because we're from there). The city offers an incredible mix of weather, culture, and fun, making it an attractive destination for enticing people to sign up for your conference, especially those interested in leisure travel. The convention center sits just on the edge of downtown, providing quick access to areas like the Gaslamp District and Petco Park.

Plus, San Diego's airport provides convenient access to the city's attractions, restaurants, and hotels. With its beautiful beaches, outdoor activities, and vibrant art and music scenes, San Diego offers a diverse array of experiences for conference attendees to explore and enjoy.

San Diego, however, can be difficult to travel to, as not all cities offer direct flights (unlike Los Angeles). The city is also extremely popular for events and tourism, a popular vacation destination, making it a costly option for conference organizers.

Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas, is one of our favorite places to host conventions. As a major transportation hub, Dallas offers easy access for travelers from all over the country. The city features a wide selection of hotels and event venues, including the Gaylord Texan and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, which is undergoing a major expansion set to debut in 2029.

Once complete, the facility will total 2.1 million square feet, featuring 750,000 square feet of exhibit space and 105,000 square feet of ballroom space—further enhancing its capacity and appeal for large conventions and diverse events.

Dallas can face severe weather, so choosing the right time of year to host your conference is key. Thunderstorms and ice storms can occasionally disrupt travel, which might impact attendance.

A Texas alternative to Dallas is San Antonio, which also offers a variety of attractions and hotel options for conferences.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is a sought-after location for conferences and conventions. The city offers several unique venues such as museums and monuments for hosting events. Plus, travel around the city is made relatively simple with public transportation options and easy walking availability.

In addition to its rich history and cultural attractions, Washington, D.C. provides state-of-the-art, LEED-certified meeting spaces and tech-friendly venues with in-house catering services.

As with other options on this list, Washington, D.C. can also be an expensive option for your events, similar to hosting in New York, so it's important to analyze venue options.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, is famous for its lively music scene. It's often seen as a top destination for bachelorette parties, but Nashville also offers a variety of venues that make it an appealing conference destination.

The city's unique blend of music and culture ensures a memorable experience for attendees. Excursions to nearby locales like bourbon distilleries can make for fun additions to your conference.

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio, is not always seen as the most preferred city to travel to, but it's an excellent location for conferences. Not only is Cleveland an affordable option among major cities, it offers a wide array of things to do and hotels to stay in.

Located along Lake Erie, Cleveland offers beautiful views of the lake, access to attractions like the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, and excellent venues for hosting events. Similar to Chicago, Cleveland is an easy Midwest travel destination, making it attractive to companies looking to host events for guests located on the East Coast and Midwest.

Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado, is renowned for its abundant sunshine, vibrant art and music scenes, esteemed craft breweries, and numerous outdoor activities, making it a fun conference destination. The Colorado Convention Center (the city's convention center) and hotels are also known for their eco-friendly design and modern technology.

Denver's advantageous location in the heart of the nation, combined with its convenient transportation options, such as the airport's rail service to downtown, make it an attractive option for conference organizers and attendees alike. Downtown Denver is walkable (or scooterable), and offers a variety of restaurants, nightlife venues, art galleries, and shopping options.

We like Denver for its outdoor offerings. As the city with the most days of sunshine in the U.S., Denver offers adventure-seeking conference-goers an incredible array of things to do.

Tips for choosing the perfect conference destination.

There are several areas to consider when choosing your conference location, from travel accessibility to venue availability. By taking these factors into account, organizers can ensure a successful, memorable, and enjoyable event for all attendees.

Ease of travel.

Choosing your location should heavily depend on the places your attendees are traveling from. There are several things to balance here:

• Average travel time -- this includes ground travel. If the flight is short but it takes 2 hours to get to your location from the airport, does the location really make sense?

• Distance for your guests -- if most of your guests are coming from California, does it make sense to host your event in Orlando? Maybe, maybe not. Traveling across the country may be difficult and a turn off for people to attend.

• Attractiveness of the location -- in a counter to the previous point, if you want to attract your guests to a location they may not normally travel to (e.g. Hawaii), it may not matter so much to them how far they have to travel.

• Cost of travel -- this is another lever to balance with the previous points. If your guests have to spend a lot to travel to your location (on top of spending for accommodations and tickets), it may not make sense for them to attend.

Climate and year-round appeal.

Selecting a convention destination with a desirable climate can result in higher attendance and offer opportunities for outdoor activities and sightseeing. In recent years, cities with a mild average year-round temperature, like Vancouver, have seen an increase in the number of international meetings they host.

This may also just impact when you host your event. Orlando may be cheaper in the summer months, but is the hot, humid weather attractive to your guests?

Availability of resources.

From venues to attractions in the city, it's important to research what is available in each place you're considering.

Do you need a large convention center? Maybe just a top-tier hotel? What about offsite dinners or events? Do you prefer walkability or will your guests receive transportation? These are all important questions to ask as you're looking at locations.

Balancing budget and amenities.

Budget is always important when choosing your event location. This is an area that can severely impact how well your event performs, and how badly your budget takes a hit. The best cities for events balance attractiveness and cost-effectiveness.

If you're looking for ways to stay on budget, check out our article on how to stay on budget while facing inflation. 

Try not to have your heart stuck on a particular locale and try to make your budget fit into it by cutting corners. It may be worth considering a new city that has attractive meeting venues, convention centers, and hotels, but doesn't break the bank. Especially if you're paying for rooms and transportation, you'll want to consider all facets of your location beyond just whether the location is fun for your guests.

Just remember that you can get amazing amenities for your corporate events without breaking the bank. It will just take some extra research.

And if you're looking for destinations for other types of events, check out our top choices for incentive travel.

Summary.

Selecting the perfect conference destination requires a careful consideration of factors such as location, amenities, attractions, and attendee needs. By exploring an array of conference cities, assessing attendee needs, balancing budget and amenities, and leveraging local attractions, organizers can create a memorable and successful event that leaves a lasting impression on attendees.

Let's talk about how GoGather can help you plan the ultimate conference in your preferred city.

Frequently asked questions.

Where are conferences held?

Conferences are usually held in conference halls, conference rooms, or meeting rooms which are specially designed for single events such as business conferences and meetings.

What factors are important when choosing a conference destination?

When choosing a conference destination, it’s important to consider travel logistics, cost, accessibility, and the amenities of the venue. You’ll also want to think about the destination’s attractions, activities, and overall cultural appeal to make sure attendees enjoy their time both in and out of sessions.

Another important factor is finding a destination that fits the vibe and personality of your industry.

• A trucking & transportation logistics event might feel right in a central hub city with strong connections to major routes.
• A technology or SaaS conference could thrive in a modern, innovation-focused destination with great infrastructure and nightlife.
• Home services events often work best in approachable, welcoming cities with hands-on experiences.
• Franchise gatherings tend to shine in energizing, brand-friendly locations that inspire connection and celebration.

If you’re unsure whether to work with an event management company or a destination management company (DMC), check out our article on the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Ultimately, the goal is to strike a balance between meeting requirements and providing a memorable experience for your attendees.

And if you’re exploring international options, take a look at our list of top 10 destinations for hosting your next corporate event abroad.

What other cities are good for hosting conferences?

Notable cities not mentioned in this article that could be considered the best cities for conferences include Salt Lake City, South Carolina, San Fransisco, and New York City.

If you're curious about what are the best cities for small conferences, check out our article here.