August 31, 2026 /3BL/ - Ragan Communications will bring hundreds of communications professionals together Nov. 11-13 in Austin, Texas, for its Future of Communications Conference, a flagship event of Communications Week 2026.
Held at the Hyatt Regency Austin, the three-day conference will convene communications executives and professionals from across internal communications, public relations, corporate communications, marketing, employee communications, public affairs and related disciplines to examine the forces reshaping the profession and prepare for 2027.
This year’s program arrives at a pivotal moment for communicators. Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from experimentation to everyday business operations. Organizations are navigating changing employee expectations, evolving media ecosystems, reputation risk, economic uncertainty and increased pressure to demonstrate the business value of communications.
The Future of Communications Conference is designed to help communicators turn those challenges into opportunities to lead.
Across more than 30 keynotes, workshops, case studies, fireside chats, panels and peer discussions, attendees will explore practical strategies for AI adoption and governance, executive communications, corporate reputation, crisis communications, employee engagement, organizational change, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), measurement and strategic communications.
Attendees will learn from more than 50 senior communications leaders, executives and industry experts while connecting with hundreds of peers facing many of the same challenges inside their organizations.
A major addition to the 2026 experience is the Center for AI Strategy Summit on Nov. 11. Attendees selecting the AI Summit as their pre-conference experience will take part in candid discussions focused on moving AI adoption forward responsibly and effectively.
The Summit will explore where AI adoption is gaining traction, what is preventing broader use and trust, and how communications teams are moving from scattered experimentation to repeatable workflows. Attendees will see AI workflows and use cases being put into practice, examine governance and brand safety concerns and discuss emerging issues including agentic AI, synthetic content, legal risk and the role human judgment must continue to play.
Participants selecting the Center for AI Strategy Summit will also receive a complimentary annual membership in Ragan’s Center for AI Strategy.
Those choosing Ragan’s conference workshop experience on Nov. 11 can dive into additional hands-on learning around issues including deepfakes and synthetic media, crisis preparedness, AI-powered search, GEO and AEO, AI-fluent communications teams and maintaining authentic, high-quality content as AI accelerates production.
The conference continues Nov. 12-13 with dedicated internal and external communications tracks, general sessions, interactive discussions, networking experiences and opportunities to exchange ideas with speakers and fellow attendees.
The Future of Communications Conference takes place at the center of Communications Week, Nov. 9-13, an annual celebration that connects communications professionals, organizations and industry leaders through educational programs, networking and conversations about the future of the profession.
For communications professionals looking ahead to 2027, the Austin gathering offers an opportunity to step away from day-to-day demands, learn what other organizations are doing, build relationships with peers and return to work with practical strategies they can immediately put into action.
The next registration pricing deadline is Sept. 4.
3BL Media readers can use code 3BL to save an additional $500 on registration.
Learn more about Ragan’s Future of Communications Conference, explore the agenda and register at Ragan.com.
