This year, I have visited a few conferences, two of them as a speaker.
Conferences are not just a place to get new information. It's a place to feel the "industry vibe" and most importantly, meet people.
The "in-person" conferences have a lot more value. I encourage you to personally attend at least one event.
I prepared a list of QA conferences, along with my thoughts on each. It's mainly in the US, but an online option is available.
Start planning your 2026 events calendar.
Let’s dive in.
STARWEST/STAREAST
The biggest QA conference in the US.
STAREAST will be on April 26th - May 1st in Orlando, Florida.
STARWEST will be on Sep 20th - 25th in Los Angeles, California.
Great conference with many speakers and parallel tracks. A bunch of vendors presenting their solutions and services. Everything is great except one thing - the price.
The 2-day ticket will cost you almost $2000. Yeah… It's a lot. Plus, staying in the hotel and Ubering from the airport will also be costly.
I recommend this conference only if your company is sponsoring your trip.
Talk to your manager! Ask them to sponsor.
I attended STARWEST this year and paid for my ticket, but I doubt I will return if I need to pay full price 😃
This conference is a great place to build connections, meet interesting people, and hear from speakers in person. Also, get a sense of the QA industry vibe.
An online option is also available.
QA or the Highway
One-day conference in Columbus, Ohio. No online option.
June 12th, 2026.
I attended this conference this year, and I LOVED IT!
For the one-day event, it’s just the right size. Around 300 people, six different speaker tracks. Lots of networking, coffee breaks, snacks, and lunch provided. This conference felt very "cozy" and had the right pace.
Also, the price! It's just $99. No brainer at all!
Hosted at the Ohio State University, close to downtown, 15 minutes from the airport, and with affordable hotels.
So if you are in the US, put this one in your calendar for sure.
I’ll be there next year 100%.
TESTINGMIND
This company organizes one-day QA conferences worldwide. Check their website to see if they have a planned event near you. No online option.
Usually, it's a small event, up to 50-80 people in one conference room. There are no multiple speaker tracks like you typically have at bigger conferences.
I attended it last year in Austin, TX, as a speaker. I think it's a good event for one day, especially if it’s in your hometown. Pricing may vary, so check their website.
I have documented my entire trip. You can check it on my YouTube channel.
CAST (Association for Software Testing)
3-day event in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
This year it was in August, so next year should be about the same time
I didn't visit this conference, but heard good feedback about it.
Quite pricy. Not as STARWEST off-course. But considering that it's a 3-day event, the price seems reasonable.
Mark your calendar. If it's not far from you and your company wants to sponsor, it's a good choice.
TESTCON
The biggest QA conference in Europe. Offline and Online options available.
October 20th-23rd, 2026
It’s organized in Vilnius, Lithuania..
I have never been there, but I have heard many good reviews from friends who have been there multiple times.
This conference is definitely on my bucket list. I'll try to plan it for 2026.
TestMu Conference
The largest online QA conference, LambdaTest. And it's completely free!
August 19th-21st, 2026
3 days. More than 100 speakers. If you missed something, speaker sessions will be available to watch later.
Register today.
CommitYourCode (CYC2026)
This is not a QA conference, but a must-visit conference in 2026.
Here is why.
Price: it’s only $49 for two days!
Size: This conference is new, but growing quickly. In 2024, the first conference gathered around 300 people. In 2025, it was around 800 people. And for 2026, they are already looking for a new venue because they expect to have close to 2000 people.
Vibe: A lot of networking, great speakers, multiple speaker tracks with quick 30-minute sessions. You will not get bored.
Hosted in Dallas, TX.
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