The SEO conferences that will influence 2026: MozCon, Ahrefs Evolve, BrightonSEO, and others | TNW

      One of the sessions confirmed for MozCon in New York is titled “Preparing for the Death of the Open Web,” presented by Mike King, the founder of the digital marketing agency iPullRank. This title may not be the most shocking on the 2026 conference agenda, but it is certainly one of the most candid.

      The context is hard to overlook. At Google I/O 2026, the company unveiled the most significant changes to its search product in over twenty years, transitioning from the traditional search box to AI-driven information agents, which focus on generative responses instead of ranked links.

      A recent analysis from TNW indicates that zero-click searches now make up 60 percent of all Google queries, with organic traffic from searches to publishers declining by 33 percent worldwide. Some publishers have reported a complete loss of 70 to 80 percent of their search-driven visits.

      For marketing and SEO experts, this is not a trend to observe from a distance; it represents a structural shift that must be navigated in real time, with no established guidelines to follow. The conference circuit has developed into one of the fastest ways to receive feedback in the industry, bridging the gap between those who have recently found solutions and those needing them now.

      In 2026, every major event on the schedule revolves around the same key question.

      **Disclosure:** The links to MozCon in this article are affiliate links. TNW may receive a commission if you purchase tickets through these links.

      **Conference Schedule from June to November**

      The season begins in Boston with SMX Advanced, organized by Search Engine Land, taking place from June 3 to 5 at the Westin Boston Seaport District. This conference is one of the longest-standing expert-level search conferences in the industry. This year, it includes dedicated programming for generative engine optimization (GEO) and AI-driven search, in addition to its traditional SEO and paid search tracks.

      The opening keynote will be delivered by Purna Virji from LinkedIn, titled “Your AI ROI story is broken,” highlighting the disparity between AI investments by organizations and their capacity to exhibit measurable business outcomes. All-access passes are priced from $1,445 to $1,795, with a free expo pass available for keynotes and the exhibition floor.

      MozCon will take place in New York on July 14 at The Glasshouse, 660 12th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Now in its second year as a traveling event after a previous run in both cities in 2025, it is a one-day, single-track conference: no competing sessions or room choices to be made.

      The confirmed speaker list for New York features eight individuals, showcasing a cross-section of current industry interests. Tom Capper from Moz will commence with “Billboard SEO: How to Win Google’s Visual Real Estate,” focusing on the changing significance of ranking first organically. Meanwhile, Crystal Carter, Head of AI Search and SEO Communications at Wix, will conclude the agenda with “How to Get Your Website Ready for AI Agents.”

      Additionally, Eric Siu will discuss AI workflows that generate measurable revenue, and Debbie Chew will examine the role of digital PR in citations from large language models (LLMs). A panel discussion will explore “Top Strategies to Dominate Answer Engines,” referencing tools like AI Mode, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Mike King’s talk about the open web will take place in the afternoon. Early-bird tickets for New York are available starting at $649; further details and registration can be found on the MozCon NYC page.

      September sees BrightonSEO making its way to the United States. The UK conference attracts over 4,000 attendees during its biannual Brighton events, and has moved its San Diego date to the expansive San Diego Convention Center, scheduled for September 15 and 16. Historically, BrightonSEO has been one of the most accessible events in the industry, with single-day passes available for free via a request process. Two-day passes begin at $865 before escalating prices in July. A Hero Conf PPC track will accompany the SEO sessions on both days.

      The UK autumn edition will follow on October 8 and 9 at the Brighton Centre, with two-day passes starting from £300 plus VAT.

      Ahrefs Evolve returns to the InterContinental San Diego on October 12 and 13, expecting over 600 marketers from various countries. Ahrefs has designed the event specifically around answer engine optimization (AEO), focusing on optimizing content for visibility in AI-generated responses rather than conventional ranked entries.

      Confirmed speakers include Rand Fishkin from SparkToro, Ann Handley of MarketingProfs, international SEO consultant Aleyda Solis, and Austin Lau from Anthropic’s growth marketing team. Patrick Stox, Ahrefs’ technical SEO brand ambassador, will also be present, though the specifics of his session were pending at the time of writing. Tickets begin at $899 for the standard two-day entry, while all