Entering the final quarter of the year, executives in the payments and fintech industries may be looking ahead to the networking and learning opportunities to come in 2026. 

Trade shows, conferences and industry events offer professionals “a chance to step back from day-to-day demands, see what’s ahead for the industry, and exchange ideas that help shape strategy for the future,” said Brian Tate, president and CEO of the Innovative Payments Association, which will host its annual event in late April. 

While payments leaders remain focused on compliance, risk management and fraud prevention, “what’s changing is the context,” Tate said. These payments fundamentals now intersect with emerging issues, such as evolving regulations and advancing technology.

One such change is the growing number of use cases for artificial intelligence. Ken Musante, president of Napa Payments and Consulting, expects AI and its payments applications to be a hot topic at next year’s conferences. 

AI is quickly gaining steam in the industry, with credit card firms and processors enabling AI agents for shopping, and tech giants jumping in to address online commerce challenges related to agentic AI.

Musante also expects discussions around open banking. While the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rule is slated to take effect for large banks by mid-2026, it has come under fire from banking associations, which sued the CFPB last year to block the rule. Now, the bureau is seeking comments on a revised rule.

Aside from sessions discussing news and trends in payments, Musante said networking is one of the biggest benefits for industry executives attending shows. 

“It is helpful to get the perspectives of the speakers and even more helpful to have access to the presenters and deep thinkers on topics,” Musante said. “To truly benefit from shows, you need to leverage those people.”

Below is a look at the biggest payments and fintech conferences coming up in 2026.

Feb. 4-5 Boston

The regional association’s yearly event brings together "the smartest minds, the newest tech, and the biggest ideas in merchant acquiring,” according to its website. More than 900 payments professionals are expected to attend.

Feb. 26-27 Washington, D.C.

Each year, the symposium features female leaders in the payments industry and works to support diversity and gender parity. The theme for 2026 is "Unstoppable: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures."

March 2-4 Houston

The annual summit, hosted by the Secure Technology Alliance, brings together leaders from companies focused on identity, access and payments. The 2025 lineup had speakers from Bank of America, Rebel Payments, Visa, Walmart and more.

March 16-19 Las Vegas

The MRC’s event focuses on technology, emerging threats and the future of commerce. Registration for next year’s conference opens in November. 

March 18-20 Atlanta

The event includes three days of networking, education, and keynote sessions. ETA anticipates more than 3,000 attendees and 140 speakers. 

March 30-April 1 Las Vegas

More than 700 financial institutions converge for Fintech Meetup. This year’s event included attendees from Citi, Chime and TD Bank, and the 2026 meetup will focus on partnerships and scalable technologies in banking and fintech.

April 20-22 Las Vegas

The 3-day conference features keynote speakers, receptions, and networking events alongside coffee or trivia. The sessions provide valuable insights into risk and fraud, Musante said.

April 26-29 San Diego

Nacha’s conference offers “cutting edge” insights on ACH and real-time payments, Musante said. Sessions during the 2026 conference will also focus on AI strategies, cybersecurity, legal issues and stablecoins. In addition, the event provides an exhibit hall and networking opportunities. 

April 29-May 1 Washington, D.C.

The conference, hosted by the Innovative Payments Association, focuses on the next generation of payment solutions and making sense of payments in a changing world. The event provides professionals with “direct access to the regulators shaping policy and the peers driving innovation,” Tate said.

May Charlotte, North Carolina

The event is geared toward senior retail banking and payments leaders focused on customer experience and product or service delivery. This year’s conference featured speakers from Samsung, Truist and U.S. Bank, among others.

June 8-10 Miami

Regional shows, like the one hosted by SEAA, are affordable, accessible and “great for folks working directly with merchants,” Musante said. 

July 22-23 Chicago

This will be MWAA’s 24th annual conference, a two-day event with educational and networking opportunities, speakers and an exhibit hall that showcases the latest payments products.

Sept. 14-15 Chicago

About 800 people are expected to attend MoneyLive next year, with 70% at the C-level, director, vice president or head-of level. This year’s speakers included executives from Barclays, JPMorgan Chase and Santander. 

Sept. 27-30 Nashville, Tennessee

MAG’s event aims to focus on the latest industry topics as well as provide an outlook on the future of payments. 

September New York

The event focuses on innovation and collaboration in financial services. Previous events have featured speakers from Klarna, Microsoft and Morgan Stanley.