Event And Venue Marketing Conference Unveils Its 2026 Award Winners

The Event and Venue Marketing Conference (EVMC) recently concluded its 11th anniversary celebration by honoring top marketing professionals and campaigns within the live entertainment industry. Held at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, the sold-out awards ceremony recognized excellence in categories ranging from social media content to grassroots campaigns and artist activations. This annual gathering serves as a critical benchmark for the sector, highlighting the creative strategies that drive venue engagement and fan experiences across North America.

The 2026 EVMC Awards, hosted by Ari Waller and presented by streaming platform Atmosphere TV, showcased a diverse array of successful venue-led initiatives and creative marketing strategies. Intrust Bank Arena took home the Marketing & Publicity Campaign of the Year for "Joe Walsh & Friends Present VetsAid," while Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum earned multiple honors, including Most Creative Artist Welcome for Alan Jackson’s "Last Call Honky Tonk" and the Artist Gift Over $500 award for its Shinedown & Bush Players Pins. Other notable winners included the Paycom Center for its "Concert Chemistry" grassroots campaign and the Target Center, which won Social Media Campaign of the Year for its "Minneapolis Goes Brat" series.

Individual achievement and venue-specific creativity were central themes of the evening, with several executives receiving top honors for their leadership. Kate Bean of the Bryce Jordan Center received the Gigi Award of Excellence, and Alyson Katz of CFG Bank Arena was named Breakthrough Professional of the Year. The conference also inducted Jeff Johnson, formerly of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, into the EVMC Hall of Fame to recognize his long-standing contributions to the field. Beyond commercial success, the Impact Award was presented to Miami’s Kaseya Center for its "Rescue a Reef" campaign, while Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center was recognized for its Kelsea Ballerini Fan Affirmation Tour Journal in the under-$500 artist gift category.

Looking ahead, the organization announced that the 2027 EVMC conference will be held from June 9-11 in Austin, Texas, with the Moody Center and H-E-B Center at Cedar Park serving as host venues. Incoming EVMC President Paul Hooper emphasized that the move to Austin is intended to showcase the city's vibrant culture while continuing the conference's mission of fostering education and forward-thinking leadership. These awards and the subsequent planning for future gatherings underscore the industry's commitment to collaborative growth and the evolution of marketing tactics in an increasingly competitive live entertainment landscape.