Whether you’re a seasoned L&D pro or trying to break into the field, continuous learning is the name of the game in the instructional design world.
That’s why attending instructional design conferences can be an excellent way to network, deepen your industry knowledge, and gain new insights.
As the industry continues to grow, 2024 is full of unmissable instructional design conferences and events! To ensure you don’t miss out, we’ve compiled a list of the top events you absolutely must add to your agenda.
Keep scrolling to discover more about each conference, including location, dates, and agenda.
Table of contents:
- ATD TechKnowledge 2024
- Learning Guild: The ID: From Analysis to Evaluation
- Digital Learning Annual Conference
- People Development Summit
- Learning Technologies
- EdTech World Forum 2024
- Learning & Development Executive Summit 2024
- Ninth Annual Learning Experience Design Conference (LXDCON’24)
- World of Learning Summit
- DevLearn
10 ID conferences to add to your calendar in 2024
Below are the best instructional design conferences to elevate your career this year. For each event, you’ll find an overview of what’s covered and the target audience:
ATD TechKnowledge 2024
During the immersive three-day event, attendees can participate in demos, active and hands-on learning sessions, and community conversations. There are also interactive sessions with keynote speakers, diving into the latest learning technologies, industry trends, and L&D innovations.
Location:
JW Marriott, Los Angeles, US
Date:
February 7–9, 2024
Best for:
Professionals interested in emerging technologies, the impact of AI, and innovation within the instructional design space.
Learning Guild: The ID: From Analysis to Evaluation
Guild Master Jane Bozarth leads this event, drawing on her wealth of expertise and topics from her book From Analysis to Evaluation: Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Trainers.
She will lead attendees through eight sessions that cover how to develop an elearning course, from analysis to evaluation. During each session, Jane will provide practical strategies and key insights into elearning development.
Location:
Online
Date:
February 13–14, 2024
Best for:
Professionals looking to develop their elearning skills and create compelling courses.
Digital Learning Annual Conference
You can choose a personalized pathway to ensure you get the knowledge you came for. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in immersive learning experiences and network with industry professionals from across the globe.
The focus of this event is instructional strategy and professional development.
Location:
Austin, TX
Date:
February 26–28, 2024
Best for:
Professionals who are directly involved in training strategy, such as chief learning officers (CLOs), L&D VPs, directors, and training managers.
People Development Summit
The conference creates a space for L&D professionals to connect with solution providers that can help with business needs and development goals. There is a varied programme of sessions with different suppliers, so you can personalize your experience.
As such, it’s free for anyone who holds the position of head of L&D to attend.
Location:
InterContinental, Madrid, Spain
Date:
March 13–15, 2024
Best for:
Professionals who lead L&D, talent development, and HR teams, as well as senior L&D delegates.
Learning Technologies
The program focuses on emerging learning technologies, the role of AI, content design, and skill development.
It’s a great way for L&D professionals to stay ahead of the latest trends, best practices, and learning strategies.
Location:
London, UK
Date:
April 17–18, 2024
Best for:
Instructional designers, elearning developers, and L&D managers.
EdTech World Forum 2024
What’s more, there will be keynote feature speakers from Microsoft, UCL Bournemouth University, and Cambridge Assessment, amongst others.
As well as keynote speeches, there will be panel discussions, talks on a range of online learning topics, and networking opportunities.
Location:
London, UK
Date:
May 13–14, 2024
Best for:
L&D, elearning, curriculum management, and education professionals.
Learning & Development Executive Summit 2024
Throughout the two-day conference, attendees will enjoy interactive sessions, panel discussions with industry thought leaders, 121 meetings with solution providers, and networking opportunities.
This summit is ideal for leaders from Fortune 1000 to network and benchmark learning strategy best practices.
Location:
Seattle, WA
Date:
June 9–11, 2024
Best for:
Chief learning officers (CLOs), chief talent officers (CTOs), and leaders of L&D, talent management, and HR teams.
Ninth Annual Learning Experience Design Conference (LXDCON’24)
The key themes include gamification in learning, theoretical and practical aspects of using play in LXD, and talks related to this year’s theme, “Let’s Play.”
Location:
Online
Date:
June 11–14, 2024
Best for:
Professionals interested in the innovative use of gaming in educational design.
World of Learning Summit
Attendees can enjoy talks by key industry figures and a varied agenda that tackles relevant instructional design topics.
This includes high-profile case studies, interactive seminars, panel debates, and networking opportunities.
As such, it’s an excellent event for L&D professionals to look ahead to the future of workplace learning and gain insights from leading thinkers in the space.
Location:
Date:
October 8–9, 2024
Best for:
Senior L&D professionals and training managers.
DevLearn
Attendees will have an opportunity to attend 150 sessions covering key topics related to technology-based learning.
In addition, there’s a selection of pre-conference workshops, certificates, and co-located events that attendees can participate in.
Location:
Las Vegas, Nevada
Date:
November 6–8, 2024
Best for:
Professionals with a keen interest in emerging learning technologies and innovation, including instructional designers, developers, and CLOs.
Wrapping up
2024 looks set to be another exciting year for the L&D industry, with big events all over the globe. As you put together your schedule for the year, make strategic decisions about the instructional design conferences you attend.
After all, you can’t attend every event. Start by outlining your goals and narrowing your list down to the conferences that align with those objectives. Then, filter your list further by choosing the conferences that are particularly relevant to your niche or industry. Finally, don’t forget to capture the highlights to share with your team. Enjoy!
Get more insights into all things learning on our blog.
By Nicola Wylie
Nicola Wylie is a learning industry expert who loves sharing in-depth insights into the latest trends, challenges, and technologies.