Top 10 Cannabis Events & Festivals To Check Out

Love weed? You're definitely not alone—there's a huge community of cannabis-loving individuals out there, and they'll jump at the opportunity to celebrate their appreciation for this ancient plant. From parties to business exhibitions, the world is teeming with cannabis festivals. Below, we'll shine a light on some of our favourites—check them out!

What to expect from a cannabis event

As the cannabis industry continues to expand, there's a growing number of both semi-casual and professional events taking place. Of course, seed shows and cups have long served as a way for people in the cannabis space to come together, enjoy some great weed, and celebrate the latest and greatest strains. California's Emerald Cup, for example, is a long-standing and renowned cannabis cup that regularly unites the world's best breeders and geneticists.

However, a recent influx in cannabis business conferences has opened up a huge networking platform for cannabis professionals. Some examples of formal B2B cannabis events include ICBC and Cannatrade.

Finally, there's no shortage of cannabis festivals that set out to be little more than a celebration of the plant. Spannabis is a great example of this; though it also serves as a super important opportunity for businesses and professionals to come together, Spannabis never stopped being an open celebration of the cannabis plant and everything it offers.

Regardless of the kind of event you attend, some of the things you'll likely find at a cannabis festival include:

• Like-minded people

• Great music

• Freebies and giveaways

• Speeches or presentations

• Countless opportunities to light up (or at least hit a vape)!

Top 10 cannabis events & festivals to check out

Ready to celebrate? Here are some of our top picks for cannabis events and festivals from around the world.

Spannabis - Barcelona, Spain

*Spannabis 2024

Next event: September 20–22, 2024 - Bilbao, Spain

Spannabis is the world's largest cannabis fair and is held annually in Spain—a country renowned for its love of weed. In fact, Spannabis has grown so exponentially that in 2024, there'll be two instalments of the event—one in Barcelona in March, and another in Bilbao in September. The event is currently in its 20th year and brings together cannabis-loving individuals from all over the world. Attend Spannabis and you can expect to:

• Connect with world-famous seed banks

• Browse the latest grow gear, nutrients, and extraction products

• Shop for paraphernalia

• Connect with thousands of professionals from countless different cannabis brands

ICBC - Berlin, Germany

*ICBC 2024

Next event: April 29 & 30, 2025 - Berlin, Germany

ICBC, or the International Cannabis Business Conference, is the place to be for both budding and legacy cannabis professionals. Renowned for being the largest B2B cannabis event in Europe, ICBC brings together the biggest brands and professionals from around the world. Whether you're already working in the cannabis space or looking for a foothold in this lively industry, ICBC is the place to be every year. Don't miss it. Here's what you can expect to do when you're there:

• Network

• Participate in educational workshops

• Listen to renowned speakers and presenters

• Browse hundreds of stands from the world's biggest cannabis companies

National Cannabis Festival - Washington DC, USA

*National Cannabis Festival 2024

Next event: TBA

It's no coincidence that the US' biggest national cannabis fair takes place in Washington DC—the place where national laws are shaped. Established in 2015, the National Cannabis Festival has since served as a hub for the legalization movement. Drawing ever-larger crowds and some of the country's biggest musical acts, the National Cannabis Festival is both a yearly celebration of cannabis and a place for weed-lovers to come together and make a stand for reform. If you're in The States, this is a great place to celebrate cannabis every year. Enjoy:

• Incredible music

• Hundreds of exhibitions

• Educational and networking opportunities

• Delicious food

Cannatrade - Zurich, Switzerland

*Cannatrade 2024

Next event: May 8–10, 2026 - Zurich, Switzerland

Though it might surprise you, little quiet Switzerland has a rich and long-standing cannabis culture. For centuries, Swiss farmers have been cultivating hemp, relying on its seeds to feed their livestock and its fibres to make the strongest rope and textiles. Since 2001, Switzerland's global banking and finance hub, Zurich, has been hosting the Cannatrade fair, which unites over 150 cannabis businesses every year. A bustling B2B event, Cannatrade is an important festival for European and global cannabis professionals alike, but, being a cannabis event, there are also plenty of chances to have fun, unwind, and get lit! Visit this event if you're looking for:

• Important networking opportunities

• Opportunities to hear special guest speakers/presentations

• Educational seminars

The Emerald Cup - California, USA

*The Emerald Cup 2024

Next event: TBA - Oakland, CA, USA

The Emerald Cup is the #1 US cannabis cup and takes place every year in Oakland, California—one of the USA's most important weed hubs. Whether you live in the US or are visiting, the Emerald Cup is a must-visit destination for both weed connoisseurs and cannabis professionals. Every year the event is a little different and features a unique schedule, but some things that usually make the bill at Oakland's Emerald Cup include:

• A cannabis genetics fair highlighting the best strains from both new and legacy breeders

• Mixers and networking events

• Meet-and-greets

• Speakers and educational opportunities

• Live music and dope after-parties

Cannabis Europa - London, England

*Cannabis Europa 2024

Next event: June 2025 - London, England

Cannabis Europa brings together leaders of thriving cannabis companies, investors, policymakers, and the press—all the people needed to push Europe's cannabis industry in the right direction. Every year, the expo serves as a sort of boutique fair that showcases Europe's best cannabis companies and professionals, and is practically obligatory for anyone looking to properly position themselves in the industry. Cannabis Europa features:

• Presentations from key business people and policymakers

• Exhibitions from thriving companies

• Important networking opportunities

Asia International Hemp Expo, Bangkok, Thailand

*Asia International Hemp Expo 2024

Next event: November 27–30, 2024 - Bangkok, Thailand

Asia is the New World of cannabis. For decades, it's been notorious for its strict anti-drug policies and hard stance on psychotropic substances. In 2022, however, that all changed with Thailand's abrupt decision to legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes. Actively in the gaze of the rest of the world, particularly that of other Asian countries looking to adapt to the growth of the global cannabis market, Thailand now hosts the annual Asia International Hemp Expo, which promises to be a nucleus for all things hemp in the region. Visit this expo to:

• Connect with people and businesses in the region

• Get insight into the latest cannabis-related developments in Asia

Mary Jane - Berlin, Germany

Next event: June 20–22, 2025 - Berlin, Germany

Recognised as Germany's top cannabis fair, Mary Jane has been in existence since 2016. Like Spannabis, it achieves a perfect balance between business and pleasure, making it a fun destination for people from all walks of life. Cannabis professionals come here to network, elaborate opportunities, and catch up on the latest industry developments, while non-professionals love Mary Jane for its fun vibe, great music, excellent food, and over 400 exhibitors. Whether you browse the massive exhibition, partake in the professional conference, party at the festival, or do all three, Berlin's Mary Jane festival won't disappoint. Some highlights of the festival include:

• A massive expo of retailers

• A large, multifaceted business conference

• Three days of great live music from a variety of acts

Product Earth - London, England

*Product Earth 2024

Next event: September 7 & 8, 2024 - London, England

For almost 10 years, Product Earth has been one of the UK's best events for connecting with cannabis professionals from across the industry. Hit up Product Earth and you'll form part of the UK's longest-standing and largest cannabis event that brings together thousands of people every year, all with a desire to benefit “the planet and all its inhabitants”. Like some of the other festivals on this list, it combines three must-have ingredients for a successful cannabis fair:

• A big expo combining world-renowned seed banks, paraphernalia companies, and more

• A seminar zone with high-profile speakers

• An exceptional selection of live music

Cannafest - Prague, Czech Republic

*Cannafest 2024

Next event: November 1–3, 2024 - Prague, Czech Republic

Currently in its 14th year, Cannafest is one of the world's largest fairs of cannabis and medicinal herbs. Held in the beautiful city of Prague, the show is renowned for its large, ever-growing exhibition, which features stands from seed banks, fertiliser companies, grow equipment manufacturers, smoking supplies and paraphernalia companies, and much more. Every year, the fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors as well as hundreds of international companies and some of the globe's most important media reps, making it a must-attend event for anyone with a love for weed. Visit Cannafest in Prague for:

• A bustling expo
• Presentations by well-known guest speakers
• Educational opportunities
• Networking

Explore cannabis events around the world

Ready to explore the world's vibrant and growing cannabis scene? Book your ticket for one (or more) of the events above, and enjoy a celebration of the cannabis plant, its countless benefits, and the budding industry built around it.

Steven Voser

Steven Voser is an independent cannabis journalist with over 6 years of experience writing about all things weed; how to grow it, how best to enjoy it, and the booming industry and murky legal landscape surrounding it.

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