| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | May 6-7, 2026 |
| Event Name | DMWF Global 2026 |
| Venue Location | ExCeL London, the United Kingdom |
| Event Theme | Digital marketing strategy, AI trends in marketing, martech, data & analytics, and customer experience |
About DMWF Global 2026
DMWF Global 2026 is back as the main event for the Digital Marketing World Forum series, taking place on May 6-7 at ExCeL London. This is the key annual gathering for top marketing experts. The event is shifting to ExCeL to meet increasing demand, indicating a move beyond its former home at Olympia London. DMWF Global has spent over 14 years bringing together more than 2,500 senior professionals from the marketing world. The conference connects big-picture strategies with practical tactics. Attendees see how AI is changing the way marketing teams work. They dive into the entire range of today’s digital expansion. The two-day hub stands out as a must-attend event for leaders who are crafting the future of marketing tech.
Logistics and Strategic Scale
This marketing conference in London is the largest annual meet-up for top professionals in the field. The move from Olympia to ExCeL shows how much the event has grown. DMWF Global runs a worldwide series featuring events in Amsterdam (24-25 November 2026) and New York (Fall 2026). The London flagship continues to be the main spot for attendees from Europe and beyond.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue Location | ExCeL London Royal Victoria Dock 1 Western Gateway E16 1XL |
| Expected Attendance | 2,500+ senior marketing professionals |
| Exhibitor Count | 100+ martech and marketing technology providers |
| Primary Audience Seniority | 58% Director level and above |
| Total Conference Tracks | 10 thematic tracks across 2 days |
| Keynote Speakers | 200+ industry practitioners from Fortune 500 brands |
| Session Formats | Keynotes panels fireside chats and workshops |
| Conference Stages | 5 concurrent stages for parallel programming |
| Registration Opens | 8 AM Day 1 and 8:30 AM Day 2 |
Who Gains Value at DMWF Global?
This event targets specific professionals. It provides real benefits for people working on their digital strategy. The content caters to sectors such as Retail, eCommerce, FMCG, and Finance:
- The Modern CMO: You get insights on balancing brand health and performance metrics in a data-driven world;
- Data & Analytics Leaders: You find ways to dismantle data silos and apply prescriptive analytics to improve ROI;
- Brand Storytellers: You discover how to keep creative integrity while using generative AI to scale content;
- Digital Transformation Heads: You seek out paths for organizational change and strong leadership in this automation era;
- eCommerce Directors: You dive into “discovery commerce” and cutting-edge personalization to boost sales;
- Social Media VPs: You reveal tactics to reach diverse audiences and thrive in the creator economy;
- MarTech Buyers: You look at over 100 options to fine-tune your marketing tech stack;
- Performance Marketers: You investigate effective attribution models that work without third-party cookies.
Ten Strategic Tracks for 2026
You may explore AI trends in marketing through ten specific paths. The organizers divided this across two days and five stages. This setup tears down the barriers separating technology from creativity. One area looks at the customer journey across different channels. Another aim is to bring together data. You’ll notice a clear emphasis on video, creators, and leadership. The sessions happen at the same time. You pick what’s really important for your role. The table below shows a detailed breakdown of these tracks.
| Track Name | Day | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Data, CRM & Customer Insights | Day 1 | Data strategies that work together, breaking down barriers, predicting trends, keeping customers |
| Search, Media & Performance Advertising | Day 1 | Optimizing paid searches, buying media, understanding results, targeting with privacy in mind |
| Brand, Creative & Communication Strategy | Day 1 | Defining brand identity in the age of AI, creative partnerships, cultural significance, planning communications |
| Social Media & Community Marketing | Day 1 | Building social ecosystems, growing communities, viral marketing strategies, evolution of paid social |
| AI-Powered Automation & Lifecycle Marketing | Day 1 | Creating email workflows, managing customer journeys, nurturing through AI, making automation effective |
| Digital Transformation & Strategic Leadership | Day 2 | Shifts in the C-suite, Revenue Operations, adapting to change, finding leadership balance, designing organizations |
| Omnichannel Marketing, CX & Loyalty | Day 2 | Creating cross-channel experiences, loyalty programs, improving customer experience beyond support, unifying interactions |
| Content, Video & Storytelling Marketing | Day 2 | Distributing video, crafting narrative strategies, measuring content ROI, innovating storytelling |
| AI, Agentic & Hyper-Personalisation | Day 2 | Using generative AI, systems that act, personalizing in real-time, targeting emotions |
| Influencer & Creator Economy | Day 2 | Collaborating with creators, scaling affiliate programs, co-creating user-generated content, impact of micro-influencers |
Cross-Functional Themes
Some themes resonate across all sessions. You hear people chatting about generative AI marketing in just about every place you go. Worries about data privacy keep popping up all the time. The organizers stitched together five main themes throughout the whole program:
- Agentic AI Integration: Tech talks are buzzing about systems that operate on their own to fine-tune campaigns and engage customers;
- First-Party Data Strategy: As cookies phase out, there’s a shift toward using owned data and nurturing direct customer ties;
- Sustainable Growth Models: Presenters emphasize making money in the long run instead of chasing short-term tricks or flashy statistics;
- Human-Centric Creativity: Balancing AI, there’s a fresh emphasis on connecting emotionally and weaving stories;
- Silo Destruction: There’s a movement toward bringing together teams, data, and channels for a smoother workflow.
2026 Speaker Line-Up
The lineup showcases real power players. You’ll explore speakers from leading global brands at DMWF. These specialists share real-world marketing case studies from fields such as FMCG, banking, and major tech companies. You’ll connect with thinkers from PepsiCo and Unilever and get insights from the VPs at Warner Music and Visa.
The table below showcases a glimpse of this remarkable lineup.
| Speaker Name | Job Title & Company | Session / Topic Teaser |
|---|---|---|
| Marek Tomalak | Global CMO, Sodastream (PepsiCo) | “The Identities We Build”: How brands shape consumer self-perception |
| Frank Ravanelli | VP Affiliates & AI Marketing, FOREO | Affiliate marketing evolution in the creator era |
| Ruby Ktori | VP Content & Viral Marketing, Warner Music Group | “From Customers to Co-Creators”: Leveraging UGC and fandoms |
| Theo Ricketts | VP Global Sales & Marketing, Kimberly-Clark | Digital transformation and balancing C-suite priorities |
| Stephanie Gordon | Head of Global CX, Wayfair | “Next Era Personalisation”: Agentic AI and anticipatory service |
| Sunando Das | Global Head Predictive Analytics, Unilever | Moving from descriptive to prescriptive analytics for growth |
| Doruk Cuhadar | Head Strategy & Business Performance, Visa Europe | “Future of B2B Leadership”: Scaling impact through RevOps |
| Abbie Edwards | VP Social Media EMEA, J.P. Morgan Chase | Captivating stories in tightly regulated sectors |
| Elena Streltsova | Data & Analytics Lead, Asahi Europe | Turning data into insight: Fueling growth through predictive models |
| Emily Eldridge | Head of Top Creators, TikTok Shop UK | Strategies that span platforms and mastering influencer marketing |
Networking ROI
You’re here to build connections. The event really creates marketing networking gatherings. It helps businesses find leads using clever tools, discover others dealing with the same hurdles you are, and find partners that can grow your operations:
- Matchmaking App: You can use the app to filter attendees by their roles and set up 1-2-1 meetings before you get there;
- Networking Party: You take part in the evening mixer to create casual connections with speakers and VIPs in a laid-back atmosphere;
- Exhibition Hall Exploration: You check out over 100 booths to discover new MarTech solutions and catch live product demos;
- Workshops at the Learning Hub: You engage in small-group sessions designed to tackle specific challenges with fellow attendees;
- Track-Specific Lounges: You chat with speakers right after their sessions in special areas meant for follow-up questions.
Pass Tiers and Pricing
You need to pick the right pass. DMWF tickets follow a tiered setup. The price of the conference pass goes up as the event gets closer. So, booking ahead gets you some nice discounts. You can choose between two main options: Day Passes or All-Access.
| Feature | 2-Day Pass (£699) | Day 1 Pass (£549) | Day 2 Pass (£549) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media & Community Marketing | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Search, Media & Performance Advertising | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Data, CRM & Customer Insights | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI-Powered Automation & Lifecycle Marketing | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brand, Creative & Communication Strategy | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Influencer & Creator Economy | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Digital Transformation & Strategic Leadership | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Omnichannel Marketing, CX & Loyalty | ✓ | ✓ | |
| AI, Agentic & Hyper-Personalisation | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Content, Video & Storytelling Marketing | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Exhibition floor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lunch & refreshments | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Networking drinks | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Networking app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
ExCeL London Guide
Planning your trip in advance will save time once you arrive. Hotels near the venue fill up quickly during major events, so it helps to sort out travel and accommodation early. The venue is well connected, and the area around the docks has several convenient places to stay within walking distance.
- The fastest route is the Elizabeth Line. Take it to Custom House station, which connects directly to ExCeL London via a short covered walk;
- Travel time from central London is about 15 minutes, which makes daily commuting simple even if you stay outside the Docklands area;
- Book accommodation as early as possible. Official partner EventBeds usually offers reserved room blocks and better rates for attendees;
- Nearby hotels include Hampton by Hilton and the Sunborn Yacht Hotel. Both sit close to the venue and allow quick access to the exhibition halls;
- Choose a hotel within walking distance to avoid morning queues on public transport and have more time for networking after sessions.