Cvent Connect Heads to Nashville in 2026 After Two-Year San Antonio Run
Cvent will bring its flagship user conference, Cvent Connect, to Nashville in 2026, from July 13 to 16.
Discussions to bring Cvent Connect to Nashville began at IMEX Las Vegas two years ago, said Rachel Andrews, Cvent’s senior director of meetings and events. “Its convention center, walkability, and entertainment offerings make for a standout attendee experience. And the other big thing is the airlift into the city is great.”
The city has long been a top performer on Cvent’s list of Top Meeting Destinations in North America, often surpassing much bigger cities. It ranked third last year, behind Orlando and Las Vegas.
“We’ve always strived to be a top-tier destination that plays with the A list,” said Deana Ivey, president and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC).
Before the Music City debut, Cvent Connect 2025 returns to the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio from June 9 to 12. Last year’s event at the same venue drew approximately 4,000 in-person attendees and 6,000 virtual participants.
Visit San Antonio estimates the 2024 conference generated $6.3 million in economic impact and expects that figure to rise to $6.8 million this year.
Navigating Geopolitical Uncertainty
Despite global uncertainty affecting the meetings industry, registrations for Cvent Connect 2025 remain strong.
“We are being flexible, open-minded with things to come, especially in the government association space. And I know it’s a tough time for nonprofits as well as the education sector. All of those industries are getting hit,” said Andrews. “When we’re talking to customers about coming, we stress there’s no greater time to meet in person so that we can talk about these challenges together.”
While fewer than 100 Canadian attendees joined last year, Andrews doesn’t expect the U.S.-Canada dispute to have a significant impact.
“The exhibitors that are coming from Canada, they’re still coming. My thought is that we all want to be together to discuss how to navigate this. We drive a lot of change in the industry, so the best way to navigate it is together,” said Andrews.
Price increases due to tariffs are also being monitored by Andrews. “I anticipate a 5-10% impact of some sort,” said Andrews. “Visit San Antonio is committed to making sure that we’re not gouged; they’re going to work with us.”
