Intro
Let’s be honest.
Most “best PPC conferences in the UK” lists are written by people who:
- haven’t been to half of them
- are trying not to offend anyone
- and somehow make every event sound exactly the same
This isn’t that.
This is a straight-up, honest guide to PPC and performance marketing conferences in the UK based on:
- real attendee feedback
- actual experience
- and what you’ll genuinely get out of each one
Because if you’re spending your own money (or trying to convince your boss it’s “essential learning”), you deserve better than vague agendas and a tote bag you’ll never use.
BrightonSEO + Hero Conf (Brighton)
BrightonSEO and Hero Conf are two of the largest search and PPC conferences in the UK, running side by side in Brighton and attracting global speakers and attendees.
These two basically merge into one big “Brighton week”.
Between them, you’ll get one of the highest concentrations of SEO and PPC content anywhere in Europe.
What it’s good for:
- Huge range of talks across SEO, PPC, analytics and more
- First time speakers and global brands
- Loads of choice – you’ll never be short of something to attend
Where it falls short (sometimes):
- It’s a lot – easy to feel overwhelmed
- Some talks can be less relevant to PPCers because it is such a blend of topics
- If you don’t manage to secure one of the free ballot tickets, it can be quite pricey for the full 2 day ticket!
Best for:
👉 Marketers who want scale, variety, and a big-event experience (and an ice-cream down the pier 😉 )
Performance MCR (Manchester)
Performance MCR is a UK-based performance marketing conference focused on practitioner-led, case study-driven PPC content and community-led networking.
Alright, fess up, this is ours.
But we’re not doing the fake modesty thing. If it’s in the list, it’s getting the same treatment as everything else.
Performance MCR was built because a lot of PPC conferences felt:
- too expensive
- too vague
- too far away
- or too focused on selling rather than actually helping
What makes it different:
- Talks are case study-led and practitioner-first (no sales pitches)
- Focus on real-world execution, not theory or recycled slides
- The biggest feedback from 2025 wasn’t just the talks – it was the community vibe and how easy it was to actually talk to people.
- Attendees genuinely loved how most of the talks provided clean, actionable takeaways rather than “insight”.
What’s improved for 2026:
- More structured networking moments
- Cleaner stage flow and scheduling, making it easier to get around
- Even tighter focus on practical takeaways you can use immediately
Best for:
👉 PPC practitioners, freelancers, and in-house teams who want to actually get better at performance marketing, not just attend something for a nice day out.
Performance Marketing World (London)
Performance Marketing World is a UK conference focused on broader performance marketing, including affiliate, partnerships, and multi-channel growth.
This one’s a bit broader than pure PPC.
It leans more into:
- affiliate
- partnerships
- and general performance marketing
So depending on your role, that’s either ideal… or not that relevant.
What it’s good for:
- Big-picture view of performance marketing
- Useful for multi-channel roles
- Strong commercial and partnership focus
Where it can fall short:
- Less depth on hands-on PPC execution
- Not as useful if you’re deep in Google Ads/Meta/Microsoft/TikTok/GA4 every day
Best for:
👉 Marketers working across affiliate, partnerships, and wider performance
SEM Stories (Edinburgh)
SEM Stories is a community-led search marketing event focused on storytelling, real experiences, and honest conversations within PPC and SEO.
This one’s a bit different – less “conference”, more shared experience.
It leans heavily into:
- storytelling
- real journeys
What it’s good for:
- Honest, relatable talks from industry experts
- Strong community feel
- Different perspective vs traditional conference formats
Where it can fall short:
- Less focused on step-by-step execution
- Mixture of people delivering talks (not always practitioners doing the hands-on work)
Best for:
👉 Marketers who want perspective, inspiration, and connection – not just tactics.
Search ‘n Stuff (London)
Search ‘n Stuff is a smaller UK conference blending SEO and PPC, with a strong focus on community and accessible learning.
One of the newer events and a very different feel to the bigger conferences.
Smaller rooms, more conversations, less chaos.
What it’s good for:
- Relaxed, community-led atmosphere
- Easier to actually speak to people (not just brush shoulders awkwardly)
- Mix of SEO and PPC content
Where it can fall short:
- Smaller scale – fewer talks and speakers for similar pricing to larger events
- Less of a “big conference” feel
Best for:
👉 Marketers who prefer smaller events and proper conversations over packed schedules, especially if they’re based near London.
PPC London (Launching 2026)
PPC London is a new UK-based PPC conference launching in 2026, focused purely on paid media.
This one hasn’t happened yet – so it’s firmly in “watch this space” territory. But you can bet your bottom $ our pal Ayisha at MyMarketingEvents will be reviewing it as soon as she can!
What it could be good for:
- Fresh format and new ideas
- Potential to challenge the usual conference structure
What to be aware of:
- No track record yet
- Hard to judge quality until the first event runs
Best for:
👉 Early adopters who like getting involved from the start
Smaller Community Events (Across the UK)
Not everything worth going to has a massive stage and a conference title.
Smaller, community-led events (meetups, workshops, things like The Performance Academy & PPC Live) often offer:
What they’re good for:
- Greater sense of community and belonging than an annual event
- Lower cost (sometimes free)
- Gathering of regional experts
- Always quite reactive to industry updates
Best for:
👉 Juniors through to seniors, freelancers, and anyone building confidence or connections in the industry
Which PPC Conference Should You Choose?
Well… it depends what you actually want.
If you want:
- Scale and variety → BrightonSEO + Hero Conf
- Practical, hands-on learning → Performance MCR
- Broader performance marketing view → Performance Marketing World/ Search ‘n Stuff / SEM Stories & More
- Smaller, community feel → PPC Live / Performance Academy meetups
| Conference | Focus | Best For | Size |
| BrightonSEO + Hero Conf | SEO + PPC | Variety & scale | Large |
| Performance MCR | Practical PPC & case studies | Practitioners | Mid-large |
| Performance Marketing World | Affiliate + performance | Multi-channel marketers | Large |
| Search ‘n Stuff | SEO + PPC | Community & networking | Small |
| SEM Stories | Storytelling & community | Inspiration & connection | Small |
| PPC London | PPC (new) | Early adopters | TBD |
What to Look for Before You Book a PPC Conference
Before you drop £100–£1,000 on a ticket, ask yourself:
- Are the talks case studies or just opinions?
- Will I leave with something I can actually use?
- Is there real opportunity to meet people – or just sit and listen all day?
- Is this built for marketers… or sponsors?
Because that’s where the difference is.
FAQs About PPC Conferences in the UK
What is the best PPC conference in the UK?
It depends on your goals. Larger events like BrightonSEO and Hero Conf offer scale and variety, while events like Performance MCR focus on practical, case study-led learning and community. Performance MCR is also fully-practitioner led and crafted, as opposed to agency led like a lot of events are.
Are PPC conferences worth attending?
Yes – if they focus on real-world case studies and provide opportunities to network with other practitioners. The best events combine both learning and meaningful connections.
Which PPC conference is best for beginners?
Smaller community-led events and meetups are often best for beginners due to their accessibility and more relaxed environment.
Final Thought
The best PPC conference isn’t the biggest.
It’s the one that:
- teaches you something useful
- introduces you to the right people
- and makes you feel like you’re meant to be there
Pick based on that – not just who’s on the stage.
Explore Performance MCR
If you’re looking for a practical, community-led performance marketing conference in the UK, you can check out Performance MCR here
Or don’t.
But if you hear people talking about “that Manchester one”… now you know.