Metricool Is Bringing the Social Media Community Together IRL in 2026

From New York City to Austin, Metricool is hitting the road this year, and we’re bringing the social media community with us.

We believe some of the best conversations about social media happen off social media. That’s why we’ve been building out a series of in-person events throughout 2026: part education, part community, and part breathing room for an industry that rarely gets to slow down and connect face-to-face. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to, and what’s still ahead.

April: Kicking Off in New York City

We started the year strong with two events in New York City.

First, Metricool teamed up with The Marketing Groupe for The 2026 Social Playbook,  a mixer and panel at Arlo Williamsburg, bringing together the next generation of marketing leaders for an evening of conversation, connection, and a close look at what’s actually working in social media this year. The event sold out, with over 60 attendees joining for what turned out to be one of the more energizing nights we’ve had yet.

We also launched The Social Media Collective, a new monthly community series hosted by Metricool in New York City. The idea behind the Collective is simple: there’s a strange tension in working in social media — creating, connecting, and being part of something online, while also being a person who needs space away from it. The Collective is meant to be that space. Real conversations, real people, and a community that gets it.

May: The LinkedIn Playbook

In May, the Social Media Collective returned with a focused session: The LinkedIn Playbook, hosted on May 20th at Fabrik Tribeca in New York City.

With Metricool’s 2026 LinkedIn Study fresh off the press — revealing the rise of “invisible interactions,” carousels outpacing video for reach, and personal profiles driving 63% higher engagement than Company Pages — it felt like exactly the right moment to bring the community together around the platform that’s changing the most right now.

June: Sip, Stretch & Be Social — Austin, Texas

This month, Metricool heads to Austin for something a little different.

Sip, Stretch & Be Social is a morning event co-hosted with Freelancing Females, bringing together 25 women freelancers, founders, and creators for pilates, coffee, and real talk on growing online. The format is intentional: no awkward networking, just honest conversation about what’s actually working on social media right now — and the kind of genuine connection that’s hard to manufacture in a feed.

Space is limited, so if you’re in Austin and want to join, move fast.

July: The Social Media Collective Returns

The Social Media Collective will be back in New York City in July for another edition of the monthly meetup. This time we’re talking Instagram. On July 17th, The Instagram Playbook — What the Algorithm Actually Wants will be hosted at BrainStation in New York City.

Metricool’s latest Instagram Study is hot off the press, one of the largest benchmark reports on Instagram performance, based on data from millions of posts. We’ll present the findings live, then open the floor to two expert panels featuring practitioners who live this every day.

So far we have speakers from Arlo Hotels, Corporate Chocolate Collective, VP Televisa Univision, and Meta themselves. If you’re in the city, you definitely won’t want to miss this! 

Why We’re Doing This

At Metricool, we spend a lot of time in the data. And what the data keeps telling us — backed by our 2026 Social Media Study, our LinkedIn Study, and our Well-Being Report — is that the industry is craving something that reach metrics can’t measure: actual community.

Nearly half of social media professionals have considered leaving the field due to burnout. 73% work outside their scheduled hours. The people keeping brands alive online are often the least supported people in the room.

These events are our answer to that. A chance to get off the phone, get in a room together, and be reminded that the work we do is worth doing — and worth doing sustainably.

If you’re interested in attending a future Metricool community event, or want to bring the Social Media Collective to your city, reach out to us at [contact info].

Stay up to date on all Metricool community events at metricool.com/newsroom/ and luma.com/metricool.