Virtual events are still relative newcomers to the events industry, having established themselves only in the last couple of years as a new type of experience. But being new, their formats and features are still evolving, and what can work as a virtual event is ever-changing. This opens up many possibilities but can also leave you wondering what virtual event ideas to pursue.

We’ve broken down our best virtual events into categories: themes such as music, food, and games, or occasions like social, corporate, and party. To refine your search for the perfect virtual event idea, look at the rating system underneath each idea, covering the following components:

Complexity from 1 (least complex) to 4 (most complex)

Cost from $ to $$$$

Popularity from ★ (least popular) to ★★★★ (most popular)

Table of contents

Virtual conference ideas

Virtual contest ideas

Virtual corporate event ideas

Virtual expo ideas

Virtual fundraiser ideas

Virtual party ideas

Online performance ideas

Virtual promotional event ideas

Virtual social event ideas

Virtual workshop & webinar ideas

Virtual conference ideas

Looking for virtual event ideas for your company? Take upcoming conferences online and allow speakers, presenters, and guests to participate worldwide. With less venue space required, you can reduce costs and expand your reach. Send swag and treats to attendees beforehand, and make recordings of sessions available to participants after the event.

1. ConfEx

A ConfEx is part conference, part exhibition. As you’d imagine, there’s a heavy emphasis on talks and learning, many exhibitors offering smaller presentations, and opportunities for connecting either in-person or online.

Doing it well: FluXPO hosted the 2nd edition of the Virtual NFT Confex, covering the future of non-fungible tokens in entertainment, business, and even the metaverse.

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2. Congress

Congresses generally refer to formal meetings between politicians, government representatives, and professional organisations. Many conferences also use the term “congress” to sound more official. Turn your conference of business professionals into a congress to underline the importance of decisions to be made.

Doing it well: The College of Animal Welfare held a virtual Nutrition Congress for veterinary nurses to advance their knowledge of animal nutrition.

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3. Unconference

Unlike conferences, unconferences focus on a specific theme but with no pre-formed agenda. Attendees usually decide the topics for discussion at the start of the day (or virtual session) and then self-regulate as the event progresses.

Doing it well: Check out Lean Portland’s “Lean for Social Good” Virtual Unconference, devoted to bringing NGOs, government agencies, and non-profits together for a “participant-driven” event where the topics and agenda are made by those who are there.

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Virtual contest ideas

Fun virtual events can happen over several days or months — especially challenges or competitions. Organise a virtual race or exercise challenge where participants log their activity for a certain number of days, with particular goals achieved by meeting defined thresholds. Create challenge merch, like t-shirts or exercise bands, that guests can use during the challenge.

4. Debate

Witnessing talented, passionate debaters can make a huge impression. Virtual debates lend credibility to causes and get spectators questioning their original assumptions.

Doing it well: Magnetic hosts a variety of debates on hot topics.

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5. Endurance race

Endurance events are normally individual feats of endurance where you race against yourself to complete the distance. The most common forms involve running, cycling, and swimming (or all three). They could also involve:

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6. Hackathon

When you bring together programmers, designers, and other digital professionals and ask them to build a prototype within a set period of time, you’ve got yourself a hackathon. The stereotype is that they’re fueled by pizza, caffeine, beer, and a little know-how.

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7. Pitch

The format is usually a rapid-fire session of startups or speakers pitching to the audience or a panel of experts, usually to win a prize. Try one of these formats:

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8. Talent or variety show

Entrants compete to demonstrate their unique talent in front of an audience and judging panel. Hold it through a virtual platform like Zoom or Vimeo. Talent can include:

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Virtual corporate event ideas

Many corporations have offices or employees across the globe, so virtual corporate experiences bring everyone together no matter where they are. Use them to reinforce company messaging, keep teams in communication, and offer a change of pace to the workday grind. We put together some fun virtual event ideas for work that feel more like play.

9. Breakfast briefing

Use a morning event when there’s an announcement or launch to present. It’s great for reaching a business audience that’s unavailable during office hours or after work.

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10. Forum

A forum works well for debates and airing opinions — it’s associated with legal and political proceedings, and often imbues a sense of importance. Corporate events that might fit a forum format include a discussion of corporate strategic goals among top executives or a “state of the industry” debate with outside experts.

Doing it well: FIU Global’s “Global Learning Forum,” unites educators and administrators to discuss internal education initiatives.

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11. Interview or fireside chat

For those who want a keynote speaker but can’t invest the time in creating a presentation, organise a simple chat or interview. Set up a microphone and camera, and ask questions you and your audience want to know the answers to.

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12. Panel discussion with industry experts

Bring together a group of influencers or experts to discuss a contemporary topic. Throw in a moderator and a series of questions from the audience, and you’ve got yourself a panel.

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13. Q&A with an industry influencer

Invite an expert in an interesting field, join up with an influencer your guests would love, or host a celebrity for a Q&A. Booking big-name talent for online events is easier than ever, no matter where you’re located.

Doing it well: Theatre-focused creator Play Cafe recently featured a Q&A with The Kibanes — a theatrical rock band and Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award finalists — to discuss their creative process in depth. By putting the spotlight on how they work, the session reflected the interests of Play Cafe’s target audience of theatre and playwrighting aficionados.

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14. Roundtable

Similar to a panel discussion but typically including audience participation, a roundtable gathers field or industry leaders to discuss current hot topics. Before you host, though, make sure you know how to run a successful roundtable discussion.

Doing it well: The ECR French Nineteenth-Century Art Network recently hosted a roundtable focused on how nineteenth-century art is exhibited and curated. The roundtable was led by curators and researchers at institutions including the Museum of Fashion in Paris, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. A network of Ph.D. students, researchers, and recent graduates were invited to ask questions and partake in the conversation.

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Virtual expo ideas

A virtual expo is much like an in-person expo, with a focus on introducing and showcasing new products in a particular industry or sector. These events tend to center on the latest trends and developments and often include product premieres, thought-leader Q&As, and teasers of upcoming attractions.

15. Consumer show or fair

These are usually big events featuring vendors selling their products or services, all linked by a specific theme or related to the same industry. Online shows are perfect for marketing homeware, travel opportunities, or electronics.

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16. Fandom gathering

This type of event focuses on fans of a particular part of popular culture — usually referring to subcultures such as science fiction, anime, gaming, or cult TV series.

Doing it well: The Guardian Live’s recent Book Club featured Neil Gaiman, author of the groundbreaking graphic novel “The Sandman”.

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17. Digital tour

Share historical sites, museums, or other attractions with a virtual audience through an online tour. Put together a slideshow with high-quality photos, stream a live video tour, or pre-record a tour video you can reuse and repurpose. Give attendees the option to donate to your organisation or tip their virtual tour guide.

Doing it well: World Virtual Tour has explored such destinations as the Salvador Dali Museum, Nairobi National Park, and the Tomb of the Pharaonic Queen Meresankh III outside Cairo, among a host of other tours.

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18. Exhibition or trade show

Trade shows are similar to consumer fairs, but are directed toward professionals selling high-value B2B goods or services. These can vary in size and complexity, depending on the industry.

Doing it well:

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19. Fashion show

Showcase the latest styles and trends. Recreate a runway with music and flashing lights, or lean into the intimacy of an online event with a quieter, closer look at what’s new. How about putting the spotlight on historical fashion?

Doing it well: The trio of women known as History Wardrobe celebrated the teamwork of painter Gustav Klimt and dress designer Emily Flöger with historical dressmaker Meridith Towne.

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Virtual fundraiser ideas

Plan a fun virtual event that also raises funds for your non-profit organisation. You can incorporate many different virtual event ideas into a fundraising event, whether it’s interactive, informational, or for pure entertainment. If your organisation isn’t a non-profit, why not donate a portion of your profits to the cause of your choice, or give attendees the option to donate?

20. Silent auction

Virtual or in-person bids are placed in a closed box, with no one knowing how much anyone has bid. The box is unlocked, and the highest bid wins. These events can be stand-alone but are commonly part of larger fundraising and celebratory events.

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21. Charity awareness webinar

Teach guests about your non-profit organisation and cause with an informational webinar. Tailor your content to educate attendees about what your organisation does and how they can support you with their time or donations. Remember to include a post-event suggestion to donate to your cause, helping to raise funds.

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22. Film screening

Virtual screenings can be a surprisingly diverse and flexible way to raise money for charity, from “Saturday nights at the movies” events to exclusive documentary screenings.

Doing it well: The reforestation-focused group ForestPlanet, Inc.’s innovative streaming of the films “From Seed to Seed” and “Farming the Sky” meant 50 trees could be planted, providing habitat for wildlife and income for locals.

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23. Virtual gala

Raise funds for your charity or cause by letting attendees bid on auction items or shop. Consider adjusting your ticket prices to account for the fact the event isn’t in person, and organise an online auction for donated products and experiences.

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Virtual party ideas

Bring friends or strangers together to have fun, relax, and celebrate. Attendees don’t even need to leave their homes — they can party virtually. Try something similar to the following or explore more party ideas.

24. Dance, ball, or disco

Ballroom dancing or clubbing? The number of events revolving around a dance floor is limitless.

Doing it well:

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25. Festival

Festivals are often music-focused but can be on any topic. An organised concert series, screenings, or plays can happen over several days.

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26. Masquerade

Most common around Halloween, masquerade parties are a great excuse to get dressed up — less Michael Myers gore and more Renaissance-era mystique. Revel with others in equally outrageous, amusing, and esoteric clothing.

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27. Prom

A movie classic, a prom gives attendees the chance to relive their high school experience — with (legal) drinks. Go online by providing attendees with home decorations and asking them to dress up.

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28. Rave

Feel-good vibes, dayglo necklaces, electronic sounds, and trippy light shows. Invite virtual ravers to turn off the lights to set the mood and include lighting effects along with a setlist of the best house, acid, and techno beats.

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29. Silent disco

Hold a virtual house party with no complaints about the music volume! Instead of blaring out dope beats from speakers, each attendee uses headphones and dances to the tunes only they can hear.

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Online performance ideas

Here we mean ballet, musicals, opera, theater, and literature. Yes, we’ve lumped five major types of events into one, because they share a common factor — a center stage occupied by talented artists, appreciated by an attentive online audience.

30. Book reading

Choose an author or book and host a virtual read-along. Remind attendees to bring a copy of the book to read along with.

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31. Cabaret

Cabaret is a stage performance that combines music, song, dance, and drama with an overarching theme. It’s normally more suited to adult audiences. Stream the performance live to the online audience — and use more than one camera so you can mix up the visual compositions.

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32. Immersive

Immersive events normally follow a tight narrative, leading the participant through the story with the help of actors who always stay in character and settings you might find on a movie set. Fans of zombies and apocalypse scenarios love these events. How about livestreaming a handheld video feed of the experience for a “found footage” vibe?

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33. Improv show

Improvisational comedy is where the performers have no set script and instead develop ideas from the audience into jokes and sketches on the fly. For a livestream, make a few adaptations to instill the same sense of immediacy:

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34. Open mic

Let attendees be the star of the show. Open mics usually focus on poetry, music, and comedy and allow aspiring artists to showcase their skills and get comfortable performing in front of people (even if they’re virtual). Keep the focus on one particular art or open it up to any and all performers.

Doing it well: At Open Mic NYC’s “At Your Service, Isolation Be Gone!,” the mic is open to poets, rappers, comics, and others — the feeling is, if you’ve got something to say, come say it! To recreate the feel of a live audience, participants are asked to keep their cameras on, so everyone can see the performance as well as hear it.

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35. Paint jam

Grab some brushes, paint, and a canvas, and hop online. People love watching amazing art come to life.

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36. Virtual comedy night

Host a curated comedy night online and introduce a roster of comedians to a broad audience. Sell merch as an add-on during the ticket-buying process, or offer it for purchase during the event itself. Keep track of up-and-coming comedians to showcase via comedy streams on YouTube and by checking out performances at local clubs and college campuses.

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37. Virtual concert

Organise a virtual concert that lets attendees be close to their favourite musical artists, no matter how many people are attending. Add behind-the-scenes or VIP options to create a truly memorable experience

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Virtual promotional event ideas

Find a ready audience online, where retail shopping and browsing come together. Whether you’re offering unique experiences or looking to introduce a new product to the marketplace, an online promotional event can get the word out.

38. Flash

A flash event is typified by a sudden announcement of your event, usually the night or two before, to create excitement and anticipation. These work well for businesses and social media accounts with large followings, influencing a crowd to turn up and generating additional excitement to trigger impulse buying. Because the performance is virtual, record it before time, then promote it on social media. Consider these flash possibilities:

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39. Launch your new product

Organise a party to showcase your company’s latest release. Don’t forget to involve a demo, lots of cool branding, and VIPs such as company executives and celebrity spokespersons. Offer guests a discount or special gift with purchase, or set up a giveaway for customers to enter and potentially win the product. Tip: encourage participants to post about the event on social media, using your event hashtag to enter the giveaway.

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Virtual social event ideas

Offer a virtual venue for people of similar interests to come together when an in-person event isn’t possible. A variety of formats are adaptable to a virtual setting. Try one of the following ideas:

40. Online games

Gaming is a big industry to penetrate. Some gamers gather socially, while others play for cash prizes. Online gaming events can help you target a niche audience. And since video games already involve the use of a digital screen, they work well as virtual events. Make sure your technology is up to date and working smoothly — nothing ruins an online gaming event like tech issues. Popular online games include:

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41. Meetup

Whatever your interest — punk rock, property investment, book club — it’s great to connect and enjoy conversation with those who share your passion. Keep the event moving by providing a point of discussion or topic of conversation.

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42. Networking evening

Gear this event towards professionals and bring like-minded people together to chat, share experiences, and find common ground — this can lead to mutually beneficial business relationships. They can be as simple as eating pizza and having a drink together — even if virtually.

Doing it well: Alicia Beatrice’s Black Family Business organisation, which focuses on assisting POC entrepreneurs, hosts a monthly meetup where those who might sometimes have “felt out of place in other spaces” come together and provide support moving forward.

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43. Puzzle or escape room

Solve puzzles in a group, within a certain amount of time, creating the right mix of excitement, curiosity, and agitation to make this event a stand-out success.

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44. Quiz

Bring teams together to compete against each other with a “quizmaster” posing questions. Don’t forget a prize for the team with the most correct answers!

Doing it well: The TanSuo Cultural Travel group, dedicated to travel in China with an emphasis on culture and traditions, first opened its Christmas Quiz event with a discussion of Yuletide customs in China. Then it held a quiz competition on general knowledge of China. Each round grew in difficulty, reinforcing the organization’s mission of expanding cultural knowledge.

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45. Scavenger hunt or treasure hunt

Virtual scavenger hunts are an enjoyable way to get people working together.

Doing it well: Check out the New-York Historical Society’s “Virtual Museum Scavenger Hunt Across the US”.

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46. Virtual tastings

Introduce new brands or flavours to your audience. For a virtual event, either send the drink or food to attendees or make sure they know what’s on the menu beforehand so that everyone can follow along at home.

Doing it well: The Virtual Tasting Society changes things up; one event may feature bourbon, another may put rum in the spotlight.

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Virtual workshop & webinar ideas

Workshops and webinars let us build skills and expand our knowledge — and they rely on engaging instructors. Make sure there’s proper lighting, clear sound, and any supplies the instructor needs (follow our virtual event production checklist to help). And stay up-to-date on the latest tools and features; streaming platforms frequently upgrade their services.

47. Cocktail-making class

A mixology class is one of the most popular online event ideas that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Send participants a list of ingredients and equipment they’ll need before the event. Or consider offering a kit as an add-on when they purchase their tickets — and send it right to their home. Teach participants to mix up a refreshing, fragrant, or classic cocktail, then let them socialize while they sip.

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48. Digital crafts class

Online crafting classes engage both children and adults — parents and children can even work on something together. The presenter demonstrates how to make the craft and provides tips to the virtual crafters along the way.

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49. Educational workshop

Teach participants a skill and have a clear value proposition. How about a leadership seminar for a corporate event or a virtual guided meditation for a wellness event? Workshops are engaging because the audience is focused on learning something they’re interested in.

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50. Health and well-being classes

Many yoga studios, personal trainers, and other health and wellness professionals have successfully launched virtual classes and offerings. One sports-medicine practice brought all its wellness classes online so patients can stay fit and take care of their health in the comfort of their own homes.

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51. Virtual bake-along

Host a bake-along virtual cooking workshop with specialty ingredients or tools included in the ticket price. Send these items to your guests before the event or provide ticket buyers with a list of the ingredients and tools they’ll need. Cooking classes are fun virtual events that appeal to both adults and children.

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52. Wine-tasting workshop

Food and drink events work well virtually. Host a wine-tasting workshop to teach attendees about the wines while they sip at home. Provide them with a list of wines they can buy or offer packages as part of the ticket price.

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53. Webinars

For anyone looking to spread knowledge, try a webinar. Online seminars feature an instructor or lecturer who covers a particular topic with support from presentations, videos, and other visual content. Webinars can cover any topic. The more mainstream the subject, the more engagement you’ll likely see.

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Virtual event best practices

No matter what kind of virtual event you’re organizing, some best practices are helpful during your planning. These apply to all virtual event ideas, whether for clients or companies or for something more social.

Create a meaningful virtual event

To grab people’s attention, make sure the content you’re delivering is useful for your target audience. What do participants want from a virtual event? What will they spend money on? And what will make them want to turn on their video app after a long day of remote work? Learn exactly what your audience wants from your webinar or online workshop. We asked them for you.

Pick the perfect platform

The platform you use to stream your event will rely entirely on what you’re providing. If you’re hosting a webinar and want to moderate attendee participation, Zoom might be a good option. Looking to livestream a film? Vimeo offers password-protected streams, so you can ensure only ticket holders can attend.

If neither of those options is right for your event, there are dozens more virtual event platforms to choose from. Check out our advice on selecting a livestream platform.

Price it right

Online events often have fewer overhead costs than traditional events, but that doesn’t mean you should undervalue the experience you’re providing. Ticket prices for online events vary widely between categories. Music events average $17, while the average professional-development event is $91. You can even offer donation-based or sliding-scale pricing so more people can attend. To help you decide how much to charge, we spoke with some Eventbrite creators about how they priced their events.

Promote your virtual event

Marketing is different for an online event compared to an in-person event. Eventbrite data shows that stepping up your marketing efforts one week before an event sells 47% more paid tickets than starting marketing a month early.

It’s easier than ever to promote virtual happenings through social media and our simplified marketing tools. Make sure you’re marketing the right way for your customer with our guide to marketing online events.

Be inclusive

Making your event diverse and inclusive doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re hiring speakers, find experts of different genders, races, ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Add subtitles to your film, or provide an ASL translator for a seminar or workshop. Offer scholarship tickets for professional-development classes or networking events so people from a variety of socioeconomic levels can attend.

Remember to add all of this information to your event listing so guests feel welcome from the start.

Keep your attendees safe

Guests expect their financial information to be safe when they purchase a ticket, and they expect to be safe socially as well. Using your platform’s highest security options will ensure your guests’ personal information isn’t at risk. Make your event password protected, set participation guidelines for your attendees and personnel, and have staff moderate chats and interactions during the event.

Ask for feedback

Getting feedback from attendees is like getting free business advice from the people who matter most: your customers. Take advantage of your guests’ fresh points of view and send out a survey shortly after your event. We’ve compiled 21 survey questions to ask after an event. Your attendees’ genuine feedback will help you make your next event even better.

Online events FAQs

How do you host a virtual event?

When hosting a virtual event, engaging your guests and having the right technology are key. Think about your audience and what kind of event will appeal to them. Choose the right platform for hosting or streaming the event, and take technological limitations into account. Most importantly, provide value to attendees.

How do you make a virtual event interesting?

Don’t overcomplicate your virtual event. If you try to cram too many topics or activities into one event, it can be difficult logistically and may be overwhelming for participants. Offer an event that’s interactive for all guests. Rehearse for your presentations and test your technology to avoid glitches on the day.

What’s the best day to host a virtual event?

There’s no perfect date or time that will work for every virtual event. Consider your audience and demographics when planning, and take any major holidays or religious celebrations into account. Track engagement and attendance across all your events to get a sense of what days work best for your audience, or ask potential attendees what their preference is in a survey.