About State of Social

What is #StateofSocial26 all about?

Friction.

And yes, we mean that in every possible way.
Marketing is no longer neat. It is not linear. It does not reward playing it safe or following yesterday’s best practice. Growth now comes from pressure. From disagreement. From ideas rubbing up against each other until something new sparks.

Friction is the tension between what worked and what works now. Between speed and strategy. Between comfort and relevance. Between doing what is easy and doing what actually delivers results.

Friction is what State of Social is built on.

Ready to feel the friction?

Welcome, it’s about to get heated.

A room full of people who take this work seriously. Speakers who have scars as well as slides. Conversations that push, provoke, and force you to think harder about the decisions you make every day.

This is not a trend parade. It is not theory dressed up as insight. And it is definitely not a sales pitch.

Every session is designed to apply pressure. To test assumptions. To challenge habits. To sharpen instinct. Because friction is where progress happens, and marketing without resistance goes nowhere.

Do it! Grab your tax-deductible ticket.

When and where is State of Social ’26?

State of Social ’26 is on 25 & 26 August 2026 at Optus Stadium, the home of State of Social and one of Australia’s most iconic event venues.

  • Tuesday 25 August – Day One: Fire up your imagination. Positively jam-packed with the hottest of hot takes, with keynotes and your choice of breakouts from our industry’s trailblazers.
  • Wednesday 26 August – Day Two: Hone your skills and knowledge. Your choice of deep-dive education sessions and practical lessons covering strategy, creativity, technology and so much more.
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Check out our latest Instagram posts 👇👇

No shortcuts. No hype. Just sharper thinking under pressure. Where smarter decisions start taking shape. Marketing is shifting fast. The people paying attention now will lead next. Surface-level thinking will not survive what marketing is becoming. This is deeper. Not every voice belongs on this stage. Only the ones shaped by pressure, judgement and real work.

Why does State of Social exist?

State of Social has always been built differently. It began as #SMPerth, Western Australia’s first dedicated social media community, created to support marketers navigating a fast-changing digital landscape.

In 2018, that community became the launchpad for a conference to raise the standard of digital and social marketing across Australia. Since then, State of Social has grown from a local idea into one of the country’s most respected marketing events, attracting speakers and delegates from across the globe. And we’ve won a few awards while we were at it.

Content Marketing Awards - Best Event Content Marketing Strategy – 2024 Finalist

Best Event Content Marketing Strategy – 2024 Finalist

2025 National Nominee - Best Achievement in Event Marketing or Communication

Best Achievement in Event Marketing or Communication

2025 State Nominee Australian Event Awards - Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

2024 State Nominee Australian Event Awards - Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

2022 State Nominee Australian Event Awards - Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

The ambition has never changed: Make marketers better at what they do. Not louder. Not busier. Better.

Founded by Meg Coffey, State of Social is built on the belief that strong marketing comes from informed decisions, tested ideas, and the willingness to sit in discomfort long enough to get it right.

Who is State of Social for?

State of Social is for marketers who feel the pressure and do not shy away from it.

For people responsible for outcomes, not just output. For teams navigating change, scrutiny, and expectation. For those who know that staying relevant requires friction, not comfort.

If you are looking for shortcuts, this is not your room. If you are ready to be challenged, it probably is.

What are people saying about State of Social?

  • “Such a well run, fun and interactive event.”

    I left both days feeling so inspired and full of ideas. Each session was valuable in its own right and the two days were such an incredible experience.
    – Amy Duplex

  • “As a first timer, it was very well organised, with great presenters and engaging and relevant content.”

    Optus was a great location and the food, snacks, drinks and merch made it great value.
    – Tamara E.

  • “I will definitely be coming back!”

    I really appreciated the effort put into getting a high calibre of speakers, particularly the mix of local and international. This really highlighted that this is a value add event for the attendees and not an event to line the pockets of the event creators.
    – Amy C.

  • “Well worth the money to attend!”

    Such a well run, fun, and interactive event. I flew in from Tasmania, and I would do it again and again for this event. I’ve never attended or had colleagues attend a conference which was so highly spoken of upon return. Great speakers, great venue, great experience.
    – Kirsten D.

  • “Lots of energy and inspiration!”

    “It was an awesome event, I really enjoyed it. Great food and refreshments, merch game was strong. Love the location and that we have something so awesome in Perth.
    – Rachel C.

  • “There is nothing else like it and it is great that we have it here in Perth.”

    I love this event. The whole experience is fantastic. It is not just a work conference, it is a treat, spending a couple of days with a community of marketers whilst enjoying all the extras.
    – Claire B.

  • “I came away feeling refreshed and that I had learnt something.”

    Such a great event and experience. This was my first experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering going. The speakers were exceptional, the food was amazing, it was well organised and overall a fantastic event.
    – Phoebe S.

  • “This is one of the best and most engaging industry events I’ve attended.”

    Really well designed and thought out and brilliantly executed. The range of speakers in the breakout sessions and deep dives offered so much choice that it was hard to pick one, but so great to be able to watch them later via the electronic link. Overall five stars!
    – Julie H.

  • “An EPIC event. ” 

    Very well done. Worthy of any city in the world. Already looking forward to next year.
    -Ben D.

  • “Amazing conference.”

    The best social and digital conference I’ve attended in Australia.
    – Eliza T.

  • “So good!!”

    Definitely the best marketing and or social media conference I’ve been to. Thank you so much for bringing such valuable speakers to Perth.
    – Sarah B.

  • “Loved it!”

    Absolutely 100% best experience, so worth the money!
    – Amelia N.

Wonder what we’ve been up to over the years? Check out this playlist 👇

Step away from the noise, the hot takes, and the endless scroll. Step into a space where ideas collide, assumptions are tested, and sharper thinking is forged.

Ready to buy your ticket?

Still have a question about State of Social? We’ve got most of the answers here…