How to Find a List of International Conferences (A Researcher's Guide to Vetting Quality)

Searching for a "list of international conferences" is one of the most common yet challenging tasks a researcher faces. A simple Google search returns millions of results, but it offers almost no clarity. You're faced with a sea of noise: niche workshops, regional symposiums, and, most dangerously, predatory conferences disguised as legitimate events.

You don't just need a list; you need a strategy to find the right list for you.

This guide is not a list itself. Instead, it’s a professional strategy for how to find and build a targeted list of high-quality, legitimate international conferences in your specific field.

Why a Single "List" Is Useless (And Dangerous)

The problem with a generic "list of international conferences" is twofold:

It's Not Relevant: An event's "international" status is far less important than its topical relevance. A massive "International Conference on Everything" is useless. You need a list of conferences for your specific niche (e.g., "Natural Language Processing," "18th-Century History," "Renewable Energy").
It's Full of Traps: Predatory conferences exist only to take your registration fees. They create impressive-sounding names (e.g., "The World Congress on...") and spam researchers with invitations. Relying on a random list is the fastest way to fall for one of these scams.

You must build your list from sources that have a built-in "quality filter."

Where to Find Lists of Good International Conferences

The best lists are not static web pages; they are dynamic, searchable databases maintained by trusted organizations. Here are the "gold standard" places to start your search.

1. Professional Societies & Associations (The Gold Standard)

This is the most reliable method. Every major academic field has a governing body or professional society that sponsors, organizes, and lists the premier events in that field.

Engineering/Computer Science: Start with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery). Their conference calendars are the definitive lists for their fields.
Humanities: Look to the MLA (Modern Language Association) or the AHA (American Historical Association).
Sciences: Check with the ACS (American Chemical Society), APS (American Physical Society), or equivalent national bodies.
Social Sciences: The APA (American Psychological Association) or ASA (American Sociological Association) are key resources.

2. Academic Databases (Scopus & Web of Science)

Instead of looking for future conferences, look at past ones. Where are the top researchers in your field publishing their conference papers?

Use databases like Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) to search for your topic. See which conference proceedings (the published paper collections) appear most often. If a conference's proceedings are consistently indexed in Scopus or WoS, it is a strong signal of its legitimacy and impact.

3. Curated Publisher & Library Databases

Many universities and major publishers maintain their own verified lists.

University Library Guides: Check your own university library's website. Librarians often curate "call for papers" lists and guides to high-quality events.
Publisher Websites: Major academic publishers like Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis have their own "conference calendars" where you can search for events they are sponsoring or publishing.

How to Vet Your List: 5 Questions to Ask

Once you've built a potential list, you must vet each conference.

Who is on the Committee? Look at the organizing committee and keynote speakers. Are they real, established professors from reputable universities? (Beware: predatory conferences often list "kidnapped" experts who have no idea their name is being used).
Is it Indexed? Does the conference website clearly state which database (Scopus, SCIE, Ei Compendex) will index the proceedings? Be skeptical of vague promises.
Is the Scope Clear? A good conference has a highly specific "Call for Papers" (CFP) with clear topics. A predatory conference will have a topic list that includes everything from astrophysics to zoology.
Is the Website Professional? Look for obvious red flags like spelling errors, generic stock photos of cities (e.g., an Eiffel Tower for a conference in Dubai), and generic email addresses (e.g., @gmail.com).
What is the Review Process? A legitimate conference has a rigorous, double-blind peer-review process. A predatory conference will promise "Guaranteed Acceptance" or a review time of "24-48 hours."

Conclusion: Build Your List, Don't Find One

The most effective "list of international conferences" is the one you build yourself. Stop searching for a generic, all-in-one list. Instead, start your search from a place of authority—your professional society, your university library, and the high-impact databases in your field. By focusing on relevance and vetting for quality, you will create a targeted list of events that will actually advance your research and your career.