The language industry is set for an exciting 2025, with a calendar full of events happening across the globe — from Mexico City to Malmö. As we kick off 2025, we’re excited about these opportunities to learn, connect, and innovate. Here’s a look at some of the must-attend events hosted by organizations leading innovation and shaping the future of translation and language technologies.
(These 11 events are just a glimpse of what’s in store this year; don’t forget to check our calendar to stay up to date on all upcoming events. If you know about a new event that we haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to send it our way — let’s keep the community in the loop together!)
Date(s): March 12 – 13 (Pre-Conference), March 14 – 15 (Main Conference)
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
More than 200 attendees are expected, including company owners and leaders, project managers, linguists, engineers, thinkers, academics, authors, and tool manufacturers. Confirmed speakers include Renato Beninatto, Ewandro Magalhaes, Anne-Marie Colliander Lind, Andrzej Nedoma, Karen Decker, Jan Hinrichs, El Javi, Adam Wooten, Nora Diaz, Luis Miguel, and Dieter Runge. Enjoy the fabulous local restaurant scene and check out the amazing Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera art museums; Mexico City is an amazing, easy-to-access destination.
2. GALA 2025
Date(s): April 13 – 15
Location: Montreal, Canada
GALA‘s signature event for the globalization and localization industry is a dose of inspiration and motivation. Join the language industry’s most invested professionals for open, collaborative exchanges on best practices, trends, and challenges, plus a healthy dose of culture, networking, and fun. Whether you work in language services, technology, global enterprise, or academia, GALA 2025 offers tailored content and networking opportunities to help you grow, innovate, and tackle your business challenges.
3. Southern European Translation & Interpretation Forum (SETIF)
Date(s): May 9
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Don’t miss this brand-new one-day conference that brings together language professionals from across the Southern European region for an unforgettable event. SETIF is an offshoot of the Nordic Translation & Interpretation Forum (NTIF), known for its warm and heartfelt atmosphere. It aims to carry the same spirit and community feel into the “NTIF spring edition.” Whether you’re a translator, interpreter, language service provider, or simply passionate about languages, SETIF promises to offer a welcoming environment filled with engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and insightful presentations.
4. LocWorld 53
Date(s): June 3 – 5
Location: Malmö, Sweden
LocWorld organizes impactful and independent language industry events where clients and language vendors can meet and conduct business in a friendly atmosphere. LocWorld 53 will explore the incredibly fast-changing landscape of AI affecting our work, information, and leisure experiences. Its omnipresence is accepted and will be a part of our life — both professional and personal — for the foreseeable future. So, what’s next?
5. MT Summit
Date(s): June 23 – 27
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
The 20th edition of the MT Summit brings together researchers, developers, and language industry professionals to focus on machine translation and related technologies. The conference will span five days, including two days dedicated to workshops and tutorials (June 23–24). The main conference will feature four tracks: research/technical, research/translators and users, implementations and case studies, and products and projects.
Date(s): September 10 – 12
Location: New Orleans, USA
The Association of Language Companies (ALC) event brings together language professionals to share knowledge, network, and advance the industry. The three-day conference is a once-a-year opportunity for attendees to gain experience and strengthen their business through presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Presenters are experts in their field and represent a wide variety of backgrounds. The event’s content will cover a variety of topics representing all levels, from beginner to advanced. Over 200 language service company decision-makers are expected to attend this year. Join us at the Westin New Orleans!
7. ELIA’s Networking Days
Date(s): October 2 – 3 (tentative)
Location: To be announced
Networking Days is the flagship event that marked the inception of the European Language Industry Association (ELIA) back in 2007. Designed to bring together key decision-makers and innovators, the conference maintains its position as a market-leading event and a catalyst for learning, knowledge-sharing, and networking. The new “un-conference style” approach fosters even greater exchange and interaction. The revamped structure offers a dynamic blend of keynote presentations, engaging discussion groups, and a vibrant community — all geared towards facilitating the sharing of valuable information and experiences amongst industry experts.
8. ATA 66
Date(s): October 22 – 25
Location: Boston, USA
The American Translators Association (ATA) event is the industry’s premier event for professional translators, interpreters, language technology experts, and industry professionals. Attendees will experience four days of dynamic educational sessions, networking opportunities, and exhibits showcasing cutting-edge tools and resources. It’s the ideal venue to build expertise, grow professional networks, and stay at the forefront of multilingual communication trends. Discover ways to enhance your skills, grow your business, and advance in the booming industry of language services and localization.
Date(s): October 22 – 23
Location: Manchester, UK
The Association of Translation Companies (ATC)’s conference is about sales success and business development. Attending will help your company not only survive, but also grow and thrive! You’ll learn the tools to manage a business underpinned by solid financial, technological, and commercial foundations — ready for whatever comes next.
10. SAMVĀD
Date(s): October 30 – 31
Location: New Delhi, India
SAMVĀD aims to open up the multitude of opportunities that South Asia offers, especially in the language and technology sectors. This annual conference, organized by CITLoB (Confederation of Interpreting, Translation, and Localization Businesses), brings together industry professionals, academics, entrepreneurs, and buyers from South Asia. SAMVĀD is dedicated to empowering the language industry with the latest trends and update(s) in the field. Through insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and knowledge-sharing, SAMVĀD plays a crucial role in fostering growth and innovation within the language sector.
11. 5th International Translation Forum
Date(s): November 7 – 8
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Returning for its fifth year, the International Translation Forum (ITF) is set to continue its mission to bridge cultures and advance the translation industry. Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, ITF 2025 builds on past success with a focus on key trends like AI, cultural localization, and specialized translation. The event will feature expert-led workshops, engaging discussions, and an exhibition showcasing the latest industry innovations. With its hybrid format, ITF 2025 ensures accessibility for participants worldwide. Attendees will also enjoy cultural experiences in Riyadh.
