How can I participate in design and technology conferences in Chicago?

You can attend as a guest, submit a talk through a call for speakers, volunteer with a local design organization, or sponsor an event. Attending once is the easiest start, and submitting a speaking proposal is the highest leverage way to build a reputation in the local scene.

What design and technology conferences are held in Chicago?

Chicago hosts a range of events including Nivan, AIGA Chicago programming, TECHSPO Chicago, DrupalCon Chicago, The Data Science Conference, the Chicago stop of the Oracle AI World Tour, and Adobe's Create Now series. They span design, UX, web development, data, and AI.

How do I become a speaker at a Chicago design conference?

Watch for each event's call for speakers, which usually opens months before the conference, and submit a short proposal with a clear topic and takeaway. First time speakers are welcome at most local events.

Are there AI focused conferences in Chicago?

Yes. The Data Science Conference and the Oracle AI World Tour center on data and applied AI, and Nivan covers AI alongside UX and design as part of its Tech, AI, UX, and Design focus.

How do I connect with the Chicago design community year round?

Join AIGA Chicago and your local UX and interaction design groups, attend their regular events, and follow conferences like Nivan to stay close to the wider community between larger gatherings.

Upcoming AI & UX Conferences 2026 to 2027

Upcoming AI and UX Innovation Conferences

The best ideas rarely stay inside one company or one discipline. Conferences are where the AI, UX, and design community comes together to share what is working, what is next, and what still needs to be built. We curated this list of upcoming AI and UX innovation conferences so you can plan your learning, your speaking submissions, and your travel with intention. This guide is maintained by the Nivan team and updated regularly.

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Should we design for humans to act, or for agents to act for them? Watch the argument play out live and leave with a clearer stance for your next product decision.

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Conferences and events worth knowing

Conference	Date	City	Format	Link
Second Half of 2026
Nivan Creative Duel Seattle	November 3, 2026	Seattle, USA	In person	Learn more
Nivan Creative Duel Chicago	September 24, 2026	Chicago, USA	In person	Learn more
Future Product Days 2026	September 22 to 24, 2026	Copenhagen, Denmark	In person	Learn more
UXPALOOZA 2026	September 25, 2026	Online	Virtual	Learn more
The AI Conference 2026	September 29 to October 1, 2026	San Francisco, USA	In person	Learn more
UXCON26	October 8, 2026	Silver Spring, USA	In person	Learn more
FuseCon 2026	October 14 to 15, 2026	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	In person	Learn more
PUSH UX 2026	October 22 to 23, 2026	Munich, Germany	In person	Learn more
EPIC2026	October 26 to 28, 2026	Chicago, USA	In person	Learn more
UX Sofia 2026	November 11 to 13, 2026	Sofia, Bulgaria	In person	Learn more
Looking Ahead to 2027
Nivan 2027	Dates to be announced	Chicago, USA	In person	Learn more
SXSW 2027	March 2027	Austin, USA	In person	Learn more
CHI 2027	2027	Pittsburgh, USA	In person	Learn more
UX London 2027	Early June 2027	London, UK	In person	Learn more

How to find what is on next

Conference dates move year to year, so the most reliable approach is to follow the organizers directly. Subscribe to the mailing lists or follow the social accounts of the events above, and watch for their calls for speakers if you want to present. Local design and UX communities also share upcoming events with their members, which is often where you hear about smaller gatherings before they fill up.

A futuristic cityscape with silhouettes of people in business attire engaging and networking, with a digital grid, icons, and holographic elements over a night skyline of skyscrapers, illuminated in blue and purple hues.

That stage is waiting for a story. Maybe yours.

Every Nivan talk lives somewhere on the timeline: lessons from the past, judgment calls happening right now, or the future we should be designing toward. If your work sits at the intersection of Tech, AI, UX, and Design, there is a place in our program with your name on it. Apply Now!

Apply to be Nivan Speaker