With vaccination campaigns accelerating around the world, in-person, live fintech events and conferences are coming back this year. Most of 2021’s biggest live fintech gatherings will take place in the second half of the year and will be held in key regional fintech hubs, including the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Switzerland and Singapore.

For fintech professionals looking to network and meet face-to-face with their peers, we’ve compiled a list of 26 major fintech events that are being held live and taking place in the coming months.

Intersekt 2021

May 19 – 20, 2021

Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Australia

Now in its 5^th year, Australia’s annual fintech Industry Conference, Intersekt, will bring together Australian fintechs, hubs, accelerators, policymakers, regulators, investors and advisors, to examine, discuss and unlock the potential of the local fintech market.

The program will bring together leading international and national speakers, free workshops, optional satellite events and extensive networking opportunities with multiple social functions.

Hosted by Fintech Australia and supported by the Victorian Government, Intersekt 2021 aims to serve as a melting pot between the banking sector and the fintech industry, aiding in overall collaboration in the industry.

Themes covered will include fintech and industry collaboration, growth pathways, customer experience, and Southeast Asia.

Fintech Summit

May 26, 2021

Grand Hyatt Hotel Amman, Jordan

Hosted in an intimate setting that’s ideal for networking, Fintech Summit (FTSummitME) is expected to bring together attendance of over 1,500 fintech professionals, in-person and virtual, who are shaping the current and future of digital banking, and financial products and services.

This event will be held in a hybrid format and will cover topics including digital payments, digital banking, open banking, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain technology.

ELEV8 Miami 2021

June 02 – 03, 2021

Miami, Florida, USA

ELEV8 Miami 2021 will take place on June 2 and 3, at the Wynwood Garage in Miami, and will address the latest trends and investment opportunities for digital assets including non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and altcoins, as well as blockchain adoption.

The conference will boast over 20 speakers and will include dynamic workshops, panel discussions, presentations, case studies, and networking events.

The initial lineup of speakers include senior executives and experts representing companies and organizations such as Transform Group, Celsius, BetaBlocks, Aspire, and GBA Global.

Global DeFi Investment Summit

June 02 – 03, 2021

Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai, UAE

The Global DeFi Investment Summit will explore the evolution of decentralized finance (DeFi) by showcasing live projects and examining business use cases. Topics covered will include blockchain, decentralized exchange, banking transformation, staking, regulation, and more.

The summit is expected to bring more than 200 delegates including emerging startups, global investors and DeFi experts. More than 25 visionary speakers will discuss how tech is impacting their businesses and provide insight and thought-provoking debate into what they see will redefine the industry in the future.

The summit will be held in a hybrid format and streamed online for those who cannot attend in person. It will include keynotes, case studies, panel discussions, spotlight talks, topic meetups, roundtables, and demos.

#TECHSUPERSHOW

June 22 – 25, 2021

Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida, USA

#TECHSUPERSHOW is a mega-event focused on enterprise communications, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), mobility and wireless, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and more.

#TECHSUPERSHOW will comprise 12 events, including:

• The ITExpro, which will provide participants with an in-depth look at the communications and technology solutions and trends that are shaping the future;
• The IoT Evolution Expo, where over 120 business and technologies sessions, workshops and keynotes will explore the industries and verticals where IoT is powering the most disruption and opportunity;
• The Smart City Event, during which participants will get to learn how connected solutions can drive city wide improvements, better quality of life for residents and business opportunity for enterprises; and
• The Blockchain Event, where entrepreneurs, developers, industry leaders and investors will discuss how blockchain is disrupting every market imaginable.

Fintech 2021: The Future of Embedded Finance

July 06, 2021

Gottlieb Duttweiler Institut, Rüschlikon, Switzerland

From the customer’s point of view, the best financial service is an uncomplicated, perfectly embedded or even invisible financial services. The future is moving towards embedded finance. What does this mean for young fintech companies and for long-established banks? What opportunities does embedded finance offer for business models that go beyond the low-margin core services of banks and insurance companies? What does it mean when financial institutions become little more than a part of ecosystems where they lose direct customer relationships? How do financial service providers have to rethink in order to seize the opportunities of this change?

At this year’s Fintech Forum, experts and industry leaders will use specific examples to explore the most successful kinds of alliances, business models and strategies for embedded finance.

Fintech 2021 will also include the grand finale and awards ceremony of this year’s Swiss Fintech Awards.

Asia Tech x Singapore

July 13 – 16, 2021

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Organized by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Informa Tech, and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the inaugural Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) event promises the largest industry tech event since the start of the pandemic that features both physical and virtual components.

Spanning over several days, ATxSG will host conferences as well as exhibition markets places, providing deeper insight into today’s hottest topics in business, technology and social impact.

At the physical event on July 14 and 15 at Marina Bay Sands, participants will be able to:

• Hear from industry leaders in person and discover new technology they employ, and discuss challenges and how to overcome them;
• View products and attend face-to-face meetings with exhibitors;
• Network with peers in person;
• Gain access to live startup pitches; and
• View live exhibitor demos on stage.

Featured events at ATxSG will include ATxEnterprise, an industry event that will bring together telecommunications, broadcast and media, satellite and enterprise solutions into exhibition marketplaces and conferences; and ATxImpact, a collection of events fostering social impact.

Fintech Nexus

September 01 – 02, 2021

Miami

LendIt Fintech, one of the leading event series dedicated to financial services innovation, will be launching its inaugural dealmakers event, Fintech Nexus, taking place in Miami as a live event in September.

Fintech Nexus will be an exclusive, invite-only partnering event for fintech decision-makers. The focus of the event will be to facilitate high-quality one-on-one meetings between banks and solutions providers, and fintechs and investors.

Finnovex Middle East

September 07 – 08, 2021

Conrad Dubai, UAE

The Middle Eastern banking industry is currently focusing on putting the needs of the customers at the forefront, rethinking the definition of digital banking with the application of data, analytics, technology and innovation.

The 3^rd edition of Finnovex Middle East will take place from September 7 to 8, 2021 and feature more than 40 expert speakers who will discuss the latest trends in the space including open banking, customer experience, cybersecurity, data integration and more.

The event will be held as a hybrid event at the Conrad Dubai in the UAE and available virtually. Confirmed speakers include experts representing organizations and companies such as the Dubai Financial Services Authority, Dubai International Financial Center, HSBC, Citi, National Bank of Oman, and more.

Swiss Fintech Fair 2021

September 08, 2021

SIX ConventionPoint, Zurich, Switzerland

After last year’s Swiss Fintech Fair has been successfully moved to an online platform due to the COVID-19 situation, in 2021 the flagship event of fintech in Switzerland will be hosted in-person according to the motto #backtogether21.

Like previous years, the Swiss Fintech Fair 2021 will combine an event mix of trade fair, conference, and networking.

In the exhibitor section, startups as well as established providers of all fintech clusters, will be able to present and showcase their products and solutions. The accompanying stage agenda will feature innovation pitches, keynotes, panel discussions as well as expert talks. Networking lounges will also be made available for attendees to exchange.

FinovateFall

September 13 – 15, 2021

New York Marriott Marquis, New York, USA

After a year of remote events, FinovateFall will return in 2021 for an in-person event. This year’s edition will provide participants with the chance to reconnect face-to-face with the fintech community and plot a course for the future.

The event will feature live demos of innovative fintech solutions and networking opportunities. Participants will also get to hear expert advice from key influencers.

Finovate Awards

Edison Ballroom, New York, USA

September 14, 2021

The Finovate Awards will recognize the companies driving fintech innovation forward and the individuals bringing new ideas to life. The awards will bring leading banks, fintech firms, accelerators, and individuals together to compete against each other in 25 different categories like consumer lending, digital banking, SMB/SME, ID management, and crown a grand winner in each.

MEBIS+

September 15 – 16, 2021

Le Méridien Dubai Conference Centre, UAE

MEBIS+, a sequel event to the Middle East Banking Innovation Summit, will take place in Dubai on September 15 and 16, 2021, and explore the latest technological advancements that are supercharging the banking industry.

MEBIS+ will consist of two knowledge-packed days filled with in-depth fireside chats, roundtable discussions, panels, keynotes and much more. This new and improved summit will also include the MEBIS+ Bank Awards, which will celebrate the institutions that are going above and beyond for their employees and clients.

MEBIS+ will delve into how factors such as automation, AI, machine learning, data analytics and digital transformation are pushing the industry into the future and creating a dynamic, growth-focused banking culture. With hundreds of delegates attending, MEBIS+ is set to be the largest and most influential banking technology event in the MENA region.

Seamless Middle East 2021

September 29 – 30, 2021

Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE

Built on 21 years of history, Seamless Middle East brings together the regional payments, banking and fintech ecosystem for two days of creative exchange, networking, inspiring talks. It is about the big ideas, market disruptors, top industry trends and technologies on which the future marketplace will operate.

This year’s event will focus on payments, e-commerce, retail, identity, fintech, insurtech, banking and cards, and will feature more than 300 speakers representing companies and organizations such as Standard Chartered Bank, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, DIFC Fintech Hive, Revolut, Kabbage, Amazon UAE, and Noon.

For more information: Seamless Middle East

Money 20/20 Europe

September 21 – 23, 2021

Amsterdam

Money20/20 is the premier show on the payment and fintech industry’s calendar where C-level executives, renowned speakers, innovators and disruptors from across the world drive change in the future of money.

In Amsterdam, Money20/20 Europe offers three remarkable days of the right conversations, the right connections and the right discoveries which enable individuals and organizations of all sizes to achieve their goals and grow.

The 2021 US Fintech Symposium

September 23 – 24, 2021

University of Illinois at Chicago conference center, Chicago, USA

The 2021 US Fintech Symposium is a two-day fintech conference that will discuss the practical uses of advanced enterprise technologies within the finance and financial services industries. Attendees will hear presentations and panel discussions from fintech industry experts pertaining to blockchain, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, banking APIs and more.

​​The event will provide finance, banking, technology and other executives an opportunity to learn about the latest fintech developments. Furthermore, there will be extensive opportunities to network with other fintech professionals.

One of the goals of the US Fintech Symposium is to enable attendees to learn, discuss and evaluate fintech topics with a greater degree of certainty and industry insight.

Lend360

October 04 – 06, 2021

The Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas, USA

Lend360 is an annual summit for the leaders in online lending that explores fintech industry trends and new technologies impacting consumer lenders, small business lenders, service partners, investors, bank representatives, and more.

After holding our 2020 event virtually, this year’s event will provide participants with the option of joining virtually or in-person at its first ever hybrid event.

The 3-Day Hybrid Conference – Africa Fintech Festival

October 13 – 15, 2021

Caudan Arts Center, Mauritius

The 3-Day Hybrid Conference, the closing part of the Africa Fintech Festival running through several events from May 4 to October 15, will take place at the prestigious Caudan Arts Center situated in the capital of Mauritius.

The event will cater for both audiences online and on-site with exciting keynotes, workshops, activities, and panel discussions amongst others. Topics will include fintech regulations, investment and deal flow, skills and capacity building, and innovation and incubation.

Fintech Surge 2021

October 17 – 20, 2021

Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE

Shining a light on the intersection between technology and finance, Fintech Surge will take place from October 17 to 20, 2021 and provide attendees with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with fintech investors, corporate and government buyers, banks and financial institutions and insurance companies.

The event will cover trending and cutting-edge topics, deliver dedicated training sessions and offer personalized networking opportunities. Participants will get to hear from the world’s fintech regulators, investors, banks, associations and innovators who will discuss the latest tech innovations, products and regulatory developments driving the transformation of the banking and financial services sectors.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3fQHuqA

New York Fintech Week 2021

October 18 – 22, 2021

New York

New York Fintech Week was designed to be an inclusive collaboration of the entire startup ecosystem. It’s a series of events highlighting different fintech initiatives and range from conferences and invitation-only roundtables to events free to the community.

This year’s New York Fintech Week will include the Empire Fintech Conference that’s set to bring together over 600 attendees for product demos, keynotes, live podcasts, and networking opportunities, as well as the Banking Innovation Roundtable, which will feature a curated group discussion covering data privacy, innovation, diversity, and the regulatory landscape.

Blockchain Financial Services 2021

October 19, 2021

Gottlieb Duttweiler Institut, Rüschlikon, Switzerland

Startups, established companies, states and central banks are testing and developing new applications with the blockchain.

At the Blockchain Financial Services 2021 event, participants will get to hear from experts representing companies, organizations and governmental bodies such as Switzerland’s State Secretariats for International Financial Matters, the Canton of Zug, the University of Basel, SEBA Bank, Sygnum Bank, Oesterreichische Nationalbank OeNB, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. They will discuss the latest fintech developments, regulations, crypto markets, central bank digital currencies, and more.

2^nd Annual Financial Innovation Forum

October 21 – 22, 2021

Limassol, Cyprus

The Financial Innovation Forum is an annual event that brings together international industry experts to engage discussions on the latest developments, trends, best practices, compliance and regulatory considerations in the use of technology, digital advances and innovative solutions.

This year’s event will be themed “A new era of customer-focused innovation,” and will feature targeted keynote presentations, interactive sessions, speed networking, and panel discussions, as well as workshops and dedicated focus groups to delve deeper into some of today’s most pressing issues and biggest opportunities.

Money 20/20 USA

October 24 – 27, 2021

Las Vegas

Money20/20 is the fintech industry’s premier content, sales and networking platform, and the go-to source for in-depth analysis and insight.

After a year of lackluster meetings and stilted conversations, this year’s event will be held in-person in Dallas, and promises to offer participants more catalysts for spontaneity and serendipitous moments than ever before.

IFN Middle East Forum 2021

October 31, 2021

Dubai, UAE

Islamic finance is deeply rooted in the Middle East, a region which continues to shape the modern Islamic finance industry globally.

Covering the region since 2004 and organizing industry-leading conferences in the Middle East since 2008, IFN will return in 2021 with a new brand in tow: IFN Middle East, a culmination of the various localized and global Islamic finance events under the IFN umbrella, with a specific yet wide-ranging regional focus.

IFN Middle East will gather industry thought leaders and mover shakers from across the region to discuss and identify the sector’s most pressing issues as well as emerging opportunities. From latest innovations, to rising trends and hurdles, IFN Middle East will trace the evolution of the Islamic finance sector in the region through the lens of market practitioners and experts.

Register here: IFN Middle East

Web Summit

November 01 – 04, 2021

Lisbon

Commerce has gone through more major upheavals in the past two decades than almost any other industry. The last few months have tested these changes and, with another global recession on the way, the decisions we make in the near future will shape the years to come.

At Web Summit in Lisbon this November, industry leaders, founders and CEOs of technology companies, fast-growing startups, policymakers and heads of state will discuss what’s next for finance and commerce.

Middle East Investment Summit 2021

November 10 – 11, 2021

The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai, UAE

In its 22^nd year, Middle East Investment Summit continues to be the conference of choice for regional and global sovereign wealth funds, family offices, private and institutional investors, high-level fund managers, economists and tech providers.

It is the ultimate annual platform for industry professionals to network, strategize and learn from the industry’s prominent global leaders.

Each year, the summit surveys the region’s top institutional and private investors on industry-wide concerns, challenges and opportunities, and considers their allocation strategies and investment vehicles of choice for the coming year.

 

Featured image credit: edited from Unsplash