Connecting Language Professionals at 2025's Translation Conferences

Selecting which translation and localization conferences to attend can be challenging. There are so many things to consider: the quality of the speakers, the networking opportunities, the relevance of topics, and, of course, whether it is in a convenient location. This post will help you sort through all your options and decide which event(s) to attend this year. 

What do these events offer?

• Networking Opportunities
  These events are great for meeting new people and growing your professional network. You can share advice and find supportive contacts.
• Insights into the Latest Industry Trends and Technology
  Attending these conferences, forums, and meetup language exchange events is a great way to hear about what’s going on in your sector. You might even discover new areas of interest that you didn’t know existed before!
• Inspiration from Expert Talks
  Listening to others' stories is helpful. Even if they work in a different area, their experiences can inspire and provide valuable lessons for your career growth.

Top language events in 2025:

If you're looking to network with other translators and localization specialists or to learn more about the industry and new research in it, there are a few upcoming language events you should consider attending this year.

• ELIA Together 2025

Barcelona, Spain, 20-21 February 2025

The European Language Industry Association, known as ELIA, is a leading trade association for the language services industry in Europe. Their primary commitment is to deliver benefits, events, and initiatives to support the growth of companies in this field.

This year’s theme, "Shaping the Future of Translation Together," focuses on integrating artificial intelligence with human expertise to address the evolving needs of the translation industry.  More info: https://elia-association.org/event/together-2025/

• GALA 2025

Montreal, Canada, 13-15 April 2025

The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the study, research, and development of global localization strategies, as well as encouraging international collaboration among professionals working in this area.

The GALA Annual Conference is an opportunity to connect with language industry professionals from around the globe who represent diverse companies, sectors, and specialties. More info: www.gala-global.org

• NLP 6th International Conference and Natural Language Processing 

Guangzhou, China, 21-23 March 2025

The International Conference on Natural Language Processing is the premier translation forum for the presentation of new research and development results in all aspects of natural language processing. This covers a range of inputs, including speech processing, machine translation, and translation aids, information extraction and text mining, computational linguistics and computational semantics, multimodal interfaces in NLP, and machine learning for NLP. More info: http://www.icnlp.net/

• BP25 Translation Conference

Kraków, Poland​ 12-14 May 2025

his event is a major gathering for translators focusing on freelancing, offering a comprehensive program that spans two full days of conferences, dinners, workshops, and additional fringe events. Since its inception in 2014, it has become one of the most popular training events for translators.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in sessions and workshops led by experienced interpreters, covering topics such as AI, content creation, productivity, and various language tools. More info: https://bpconf.com/

• ATA 66 2025 Annual Conference- American Translators Association

Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 22-25 October, 2025 

The American Translators Association (ATA) is the largest professional organization for translators, interpreters, and localization professionals in the United States. It has more than 10,000 members worldwide who come from over 100 countries and work in more than 160 languages. The ATA's annual conference is designed to be an opportunity for translators from around the world to come together, learn from one another, share ideas, network, and have fun. More info: https://www.atanet.org/ata-events/annual-conference/

• The LocWorld53 Conference

Malmö, Sweden​, 3-5 June 2025 

LocWorld, since its inception in 2003, has been facilitating important gatherings for the language and localization industry. It provides a space where industry participants can network, share insights, and explore business opportunities. The conference is well-regarded for its valuable sessions, extensive exhibition area, and robust networking platforms.

The upcoming LocWorld53 Conference will focus on the theme "What’s Next?" examining the sector’s response to the fast-paced developments in artificial intelligence and forecasting future industry directions. More info: https://locworld.com/events/locworld53-malmo-2025/

• ALC 23rd Annual Conference

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 10-12 September 2025

This event gathers industry leaders from the language services sector to network, share insights, and explore the latest trends and technologies. The conference features workshops, panel discussions, and exhibits focused on innovations in language services, providing attendees with valuable opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. More info: https://www.alcus.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1890023