SMX Advanced Will Run Two Coast-to-Coast Events in 2027, Adding San Diego and Boston
SMX Advanced is expanding from its prior single-event format to two in-person conferences in 2027, with dates set for San Diego in March and Boston in September.
SMX Advanced will hold two in-person conferences in 2027, expanding the advanced search marketing event to the West Coast and East Coast for the first time in a single year. The conference is scheduled for San Diego from March 17 to 19, followed by Boston from September 20 to 22.
The expansion gives the SMX Advanced community two distinct opportunities to convene around advanced SEO, PPC, AI, and GEO topics. Search Engine Land confirmed the plan in its official SMX Advanced 2027 announcement, describing it as the first year the event will run twice.
For a conference long associated with practitioner-focused search marketing education, the change is significant because it turns SMX Advanced into a two-city annual schedule rather than a one-off gathering. The development also arrives as SMX Advanced marks its ongoing 20th anniversary.
A two-city schedule for advanced search marketers
The announced 2027 program consists of two separate events, not duplicate dates running at the same time. San Diego opens the schedule in March, while Boston follows roughly six months later in September.
| SMX Advanced 2027 event | Location | Dates | Role in the expanded schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast event | San Diego | March 17 to 19, 2027 | First of two in-person SMX Advanced events |
| East Coast event | Boston | September 20 to 22, 2027 | Second of two in-person SMX Advanced events |
The two-event structure expands the calendar without changing the core identity described for SMX Advanced. The conference programming is positioned around expert-led sessions, deeper discussions, and enhanced networking for professionals working across search and adjacent areas of marketing technology.
The stated subject areas matter because search marketing teams are increasingly dealing with an overlapping set of disciplines. SEO and paid search remain central, while AI and generative engine optimization, or GEO, have become relevant parts of the broader conversation about how businesses are discovered and represented in search experiences. SMX Advanced is framing its two-coast schedule around that combined landscape.
For attendees, the practical takeaway is straightforward: 2027 will offer a choice between a March event in San Diego and a September event in Boston. For speakers, sponsors, and technology vendors, two events create two moments in the year to participate in the SMX Advanced community. The announcement does not position the locations as competing conferences. They are part of one expanded SMX Advanced schedule.
What the expansion means for the conference calendar
A second annual SMX Advanced event can give search marketing professionals more than one opportunity to take part in advanced discussions during the year. That is especially relevant for teams whose work spans organic search, paid search, AI-enabled workflows, and the emerging discipline of GEO.
The expansion also gives the event a clearer national footprint. San Diego and Boston place the 2027 program on opposite coasts, creating two regional settings for the same practitioner-oriented conference brand. The March and September timing separates the events across the year rather than concentrating the programming in a single period.
The value of that schedule will ultimately depend on how SMX Advanced develops each event's programming and community experience. Based on the announced scope, readers should expect the conference to continue emphasizing the areas that have defined its advanced positioning:
- SEO and PPC strategy for experienced search marketers.
- AI-related search marketing discussions as the technology changes workflows and discovery.
- GEO topics tied to visibility in generative search experiences.
- Peer networking and deeper sessions aimed at practitioners rather than introductory audiences.
This does not mean every topic or session will be identical across San Diego and Boston. The confirmed information establishes the dates, locations, and broad focus of the expanded program, while detailed agendas are not part of the supplied announcement.
For organizations planning their 2027 marketing calendars, the main decision is likely to be which event best fits their team, timing, and travel plans. Teams that work on search strategy across technical SEO, paid media, content, and AI visibility may also view the two dates as separate opportunities to track developments across the year.
Organizations assessing how AI search and GEO affect their broader digital presence can work with Scalevise on AI visibility strategy, workflow automation, and implementation planning alongside their established search marketing efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing for SMX Advanced in 2027?
SMX Advanced will run twice in 2027 for the first time, with one in-person event in San Diego and another in Boston.
When and where is SMX Advanced 2027?
The San Diego event is scheduled for March 17 to 19, 2027. The Boston event is scheduled for September 20 to 22, 2027.
Are the San Diego and Boston dates part of the same SMX Advanced program?
Yes. Search Engine Land describes the two locations as a single expanded SMX Advanced schedule for 2027.
What topics will SMX Advanced cover?
The announced focus includes advanced SEO, PPC, AI, and GEO, alongside expert-led sessions, deeper discussions, and networking.
Conclusion
SMX Advanced's 2027 expansion is a clear change to the conference's annual format: two in-person events, two coasts, and two points in the year for advanced search marketing discussion. With San Diego scheduled for March and Boston for September, the event is broadening access to its established SEO, PPC, AI, and GEO-focused community while retaining its practitioner-oriented positioning.