The State of Hybrid and Virtual Events in 2026
About six years ago, we were all designing virtual and hybrid event strategies from scratch. Zoom was never more of a verb than in mid-2020!
As the years have progressed and we continue to innovate, it’s clear that some of the components of the virtual event experience are here to stay. Companies are continuing to invest in events with an in-person component, while working with content and marketing teams to create a multifaceted campaign from their content.
For a real-life example, I recently worked with a government organization that hosts a conference every two years and has been offering a virtual ticket since the pandemic. Since 2020, their conference attendance has grown—both the in-person and the virtual component. A full 2/3 of their attendees join the conference virtually, and some are tuning in during their typical remote work day. Thus, we needed to create a strategy whereby all of the attendees could attend sessions at the same time, whether they were in the building or not. Working with our audiovisual partners and production team, we ensured that each room was equipped with the proper video and audio equipment and a camera operator in each room. Not only could attendees submit their questions virtually and have them answered live, but because the sessions were recorded and distributed as a content library to attendees afterward, they didn’t have to worry about retaining and implementing everything on the same day they learned it.
Events as Content Engines
Think not “What can my content do for my event,” but “What can my event do for my content?” Well…maybe just this once, think of both. Work with your content design, marketing, and audiovisual teams early to set a strategy for what content needs to be captured, how and where it will be shared in the future, and whether it should be evergreen or focused specifically on that year’s celebration.
Events can, and should, have many structures in this era. Whether your attendees can attend live or virtually, ensuring that you capture relevant content and make it easy for them to refer back to it makes certain that the value of your event extends far beyond the in-person component and feeds into the pipeline for the next one.
Global Audience, Global Event Content Strategy
Designing virtual seminars and hybrid meetings for a global audience also means considering 24-hour live session programming, planning for asynchronous content, and creating online groups for post-session discussion. Remember, if you’re advertising to an audience, the event should feel designed for them. I’ve also worked with Clients who have hosted micro-events across the world where local-to-the-region attendees gather in person to discuss sessions that are streamed to them live or asynchronously. By bringing in local experts to facilitate the discussion, it creates an opportunity for an intimate connection in a global world.
AI-Assisted Experience
From AI Matchmaking tools to personalized content and session recommendations for each of your attendees, leaning into the benefits of AI-assisted event technology is a great way to increase participation and audience retention for your hybrid and virtual meetings. Planners can utilize AI tools in planning, designing the virtual experience, and offering attendees clear, purposeful suggestions driving them to the content that will be most impactful to them.