During the Michigan Sisters in Crime meeting this month the subject of conferences came up: was anyone going to a conference this year? Had anyone been to (different conferences name)? Was it worth it?

Over the years, I’ve been to most of the major romance and mystery conferences. Some were better than others, but none was a total waste of my time or money. With some conferences, it was fun getting to see a well known writer and hear what she or he had to say. In most conferences, I felt it was what was discussed between sessions, either during meals, in the lobby, or in the bar. I always liked it if they had agents and editor present and if they gave presentations on what they were looking for or not looking for. With the Writers Police Academy conferences it was getting first hand information from police, FBI, lawyers, etc. One side benefit from a conference is if you get to know a popular author, that author might be willing to give you an endorsement.

If you’re on a limited budget or work at a job where you can’t take three-day weekends off, it’s important to pick a conference that will meet your needs and finances. Those decisions will be personal, but often belonging to a writers’ group helps if you can share rides or rooms with other members. I’m going to list some of the well known mystery writer and romance writer conferences. Look them up on line, read what’s offered. Don’t forget there are conferences that focus on certain genres, such as Christian or Fantasy or Sci-Fi.

Top 2026 mystery writers conferences.These events focus on crime fiction, offering panels, workshops, and networking with agents and authors

Left Coast Crime in San Francisco (Feb 26-Mar 1),

Malice Domestic in Bethesda (Apr 24-26),

ThrillerFest in NYC (May 5-9)

Book Passage in Corte Madera (July 17-19)

Killer Nashville: Fun and Focused on Mystery, Thriller and Suspense. It is an international writing conference focused on the genres of mystery, thriller and suspense. Plenty of industry pros and topic experts sharing their wealth of information so you’ll get both educational and networking opportunities. It’s a supportive community event with breakout workshops and master classes, as well as agent and editor roundtables. Nashville, TN COST: $244 and up, plus add-ons   DATES: Aug 20-23 LINK: Killer Nashville

There’s also:

Writers Digest University (WDU):The First of the 2026 Writers Conferences Happening Online! Focuses on education and opportunity and covers everything from the craft of writing to the business of publishing. January 30th-February 1st 2026: Online/Virtual COST: $199 LINK: WDU

IPNE Conference: This online 2026 writers conference put on by the IPNE (Independent Publishers of New England) focuses on education for authors and publishers in the industry. It offers workshops on marketing, industry trends, agent pitching and more. It’s also a chance to connect with service providers and booksellers. February 20th-21st Online/Virtual COST $145 LINK: IPNE

The San Diego Writers Festival: A Free Day of Community Storytelling Founded in 2019 to bring writers and book lovers together in a community setting to celebrate the power of storytelling. This event is free and open to the public! There are vendor booths, panels, entertainment, and food trucks. It’s an all day event focused on networking, learning, and hearing people’s stories. There are also a whole line up of writers and speakers every year. DATES: March 28th 2026 LOCATION: Coronado Public Library, Coronado, CA COST: Free! LINK: San Diego Writers Festival

Spring Fling Writers Conference: For Romance Writers of All Subgenres Hosted by Chicago-North Romance Writers, the Spring Fling is specifically for romance writers of any subgenre. It features keynote speakers, master classes, and workshops. It also offers the opportunity to pitch to agents and editors. There’s even the opportunity for published writers to host book signings. All romance writers, both established and aspiring, are welcome. They also have online options available for those who can’t make it to Chicago to attend this 2026 writers conference.  DATES: April 16–18, 2026 LOCATION: Chicago, IL and Online options COST: $299 and up LINK: Spring Fling

IBPA Publishing University: One of the Biggest and Longest Running Indie Industry Conferences Focused on the indie publishing industry as a whole, it’s also for indie authors. There are opportunities to network with industry insiders, invaluable marketing education, and knowledgeable keynote speakers. It’s a huge conference that provides a valuable experience to anyone involved in the business of book publishing. DATES: Thursday, May 14 – Saturday, May 16, 2026 Portland, OR COST: $99-934 (see details on registration page) LINK: IBPA Publishing University

Story Makers Guild: A 2026 Writers Conference for Aspiring and Established Fiction Authors: Focused on fiction writing. Whether you’re an established or aspiring author, you’ll have the chance to network and participate in workshops on everything from craft to the business side of things. Mentors and agents are there to give strategy advice and guide you in the right direction so you can build a stronger writing career and become a better writer. DATES: May 14th-16th 2026 LOCATION: Provo, UT COST: $65-$305                        LINK: Story Makers Guild

WriterCon: The aim of WriterCon is building skills and achieving writing dreams. It offers pitch sessions, manuscript reviews and agent meetings as well as workshops, panels and speaking events on everything from the craft of writing to book and author marketing. It takes place every Labor Day weekend in Oklahoma City, OK. DATES: September 4th-7th 2026  COST: $399 and up LINK: WriterCon

Self-Pub Con: The Self-Pub con is an annual writers conference that is both free and online!  It’s put on by ALLi( the Alliance of Independent Authors), which is an organization focused on supporting indie authors and fostering ethical self-publishing practices and excellence in self-published works. The conference itself is focused on education and networking to support authors of every level to help them succeed in their goals. DATES: October TBA LOCATION: Online/Virtual COST: Free! LINK: Self-Pub Con

Author Nation: The World’s Largest Conference for Indie and Hybrid Authors Author Nation is another one of the largest indie author events out there. This upcoming 2026 writers conference is open to both published and unpublished authors and offers opportunities for each. Because it’s all about helping indie authors succeed, there’s a focus on marketing and sustainable success strategies. There’s also opportunity for networking with industry experts, peers and mentors and exhibitors range from best selling authors to service providers and publishers. DATES November 10th–14th 2026 LOCATION: Las Vegas, NV COST: $599 and up with installment plans available  LINK: Author Nation

2026 conferences for romance writers

Romance Writers of America (RWA) Annual Conference in Albuquerque (July 15–18)

 Spring Fling Writers Conference in Chicago (April 16–18), Also online

WDU Romance Writing Virtual Conference (Feb 20–22). These events offer workshops, pitching,

Traditional Author Weekend (Virtual): Jan 24, 2026. Focuses on traditional publishing for romance authors.

Dumas Bay Winter Writers Retreat (WA): Feb 7–8, 2026. Hosted by Emerald City Romance Writers.

League of Romance Writers Virtual Conference: Feb 28, 2026. Includes the 2026 Emily Awards League of Romance Writers.

San Diego Writers Festival (CA): March 28, 2026. San Diego Writers Festival.

Romance Atlanta Writers and Readers (Georgia): June 27, 2026. Eventbrite.

RomanceLahoma / Red Dirt Romance (Oklahoma City, OK): July 31 – Aug 1, 2026. Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild.

Specialized & Local Events:

• Wicked Readers Event (WA): Spring 2026, focused on dark romance Facebook.
• League of Romance Writers Special Workshops: May 9 (Romantasy), June

The above conferences were taken from a Google search. If you’re interested in going to a conference, do your own checking

OR

If you know of a good one not listed, add it in the comments section.