What will define standout meetings and events in 2026? To help you stay ahead of the curve, we sat down with three seasoned industry leaders to uncover the trends, technologies and attendee expectations shaping the year ahead. From immersive design and personalization to sustainability, A/V best practices and budget‑savvy strategies, these experts share insights that help planners elevate every aspect of the event experience.

The Industry Pros

Meet the pros behind the predictions:

Pressed for time? Jump ahead to these questions:

  1. What are the top event trends you foresee dominating in 2026?
  2. What types of interactive or immersive elements are gaining popularity among attendees?
  3. What are some creative ways planners can manage tight budgets while delivering high-impact events?
  4. What are some ways planners can track attendee engagement beyond registration numbers?
  5. How can event planners enhance networking opportunities to make them authentic and engaging for attendees?
  6. What guidance would you share with meeting planners navigating unpredictable external pressures—such as shrinking budgets, shifting political landscapes and other disruptive forces?
  7. What’s your best technical practice or A/V team tip to ensure smooth presentations?
  8. How can meeting planners leverage personalization to create more memorable attendee experiences?
  9. What food and beverage trends do you think will resonate most with attendees in 2026?
  10. What are the latest trends in sustainable materials and options for event decor, signage and giveaways?

1. What are the top event trends you foresee dominating in 2026?

Sarah Davidson (SD): Nostalgia is everywhere these days, whether in pop culture remakes, styling or gifts, and the event world is no exception. Theming and activations that transport attendees back to beloved eras continue to thrive, creating that warm, fuzzy feeling while lending themselves to playful décor, food, beverages and attire. This trend even extends to celebrity appearances that spark excitement among fans of a specific time period.

At the same time, inclusivity is front and center. Hosts are working harder to create environments where every guest feels comfortable being themselves. This might mean offering a creative nonalcoholic menu at the bar or designing versatile spaces that cater to both introverts and extroverts. Everyone’s time is valuable, and the fewer friction points an event has, the more likely guests are to attend and stay.

Korrine Engelke (KE): Authentic connections will continue to hold valuable space in events. In an atmosphere that is saturated with so much information, distractions and the rise of AI, creating events that leverage connection will take priority this year. No matter the year or the type of event, building an experience with clear intention and purpose will carry the most benefit. Think simple, direct messaging, intimate spaces and personalization.

Rebecca Ramsey (RR): This is really a continuation from 2025, but experiential meeting design continues to be a trend because it works. Most organizations want to engage their members and attendees, and this is a great way to do it. A/V and the creative that goes along with it, can be used in a manner that elicits emotions from your attendees, even for subject matter that may seem dry to the rest of the world. Here is an example from an opening video for a day one general session at AGU.

Sarah Davidson of FPC Live

2. What types of interactive or immersive elements are gaining popularity among attendees?

SD: Across both events and concerts, VIP experiences continue to dominate. People are willing to pay a premium for exclusivity, whether that is a meet and greet and prime seating at a show or early access to a private cocktail hour with commemorative merchandise at an event. We often incorporate private whiskey tastings in our lounge spaces, and they are always a hit. If there is a VIP experience to be had, someone wants it!

Food and beverage activations are another area where you can have the most fun. There is something unforgettable about grabbing your champagne flute from a mermaid or ordering an adult happy meal from a food truck. I have been lucky enough to do both! Moments like this stick with guests long after the event ends.

3. What are some creative ways planners can manage tight budgets while delivering high-impact events?

SD: Events do not need to deliver high impact experiences from start to finish. What matters most are the memorable moments. Think about the surprise and delight performer greeting guests at the entryway. How many attendees will discover the hidden speakeasy? What is the bold, unexpected activation they have never seen before? These fleeting experiences create buzz and keep people talking long after the event ends without requiring a massive budget.

4. What are some ways planners can track attendee engagement beyond registration numbers?

SD: The social media game is real, and every planner should pair a well-promoted hashtag with Instagrammable moments throughout the event. Creating your own professional photo and video content is equally critical for growing an audience of future attendees as well as attracting sponsors and partners.

At our venues, we also track detailed event data to inform future decisions. This might include how many signature cocktails were poured or how many guests used coat check. After each event, we complete internal reports outlining successes and areas for improvement. Paying attention to these micro details year over year helps us continually elevate the guest experience.

Rebecca Ramsey of Projection

5. How can event planners enhance networking opportunities to make them authentic and engaging for attendees?

RR: Making the networking experiential will involve attendees and engage them far more than a standard reception. For example, having some sort of community service project like packing amenity bags for a homeless shelter, having a unique wine tasting or a craft project like making wreaths or a paint night are all activities that can be done even with a larger group.

I’ve planned receptions where everyone made custom candles or we taught line dancing or we had a wine tasting station that attendees had to guess which one was the expensive wine ($100 per bottle vs. $20 per bottle).

6. What guidance would you share with meeting planners navigating unpredictable external pressures—such as shrinking budgets, shifting political landscapes and other disruptive forces?

RR: Stay flexible! Don’t get caught up in the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. This will automatically eliminate some solutions that could be successful for your event. And use your vendors as partners to help you solve these problems. Vendors see so many different situations that they will have ready-made solutions that have already been successful, or they can work on something custom for you that pulls from a variety of ideas. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

7. What’s your best technical practice or A/V team tip to ensure smooth presentations?

RR: REHEARSALS! I can’t emphasize this enough: rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals. Getting your speakers on stage with the tech crew to make sure everyone is comfortable and that videos and PowerPoints are working is so important to make sure your session is polished. Make sure the speakers are comfortable with the confidence monitors, stage layout and other A/V. This should be a requirement by any organization and added to the speaker contract.

If your CEO or other C-suite speakers are not comfortable with public speaking to large crowds, I would recommend hiring a public speaking coach. Many times, the skill sets that make leaders great don’t translate on the stage. Coaching can help someone tell the story that will keep audiences interested, engaged and invested in the organization.

Korrine Engelke of Event Essentials

8. How can meeting planners leverage personalization to create more memorable attendee experiences?

KE: There are many ways that an event host can bring personalized components to the attendee experience. The more granular one pays attention to the touchpoints, the more memorable the experience will be. Start first with the invitation: How is the invite addressed? Is the invite delivered via mass communication, emailed, mailed or in-person? Doing what you can to help the invitee feel like they are personally wanted, rather than just another body to fill the room, is a great place to start.

Once they’re at the event, are there other touchpoints to help them feel seen? Is it a note at their place setting or a customized take-away from the festivities? Is there room for personal choice in drinks or food? Can you follow up with a personal thank you after the event?

9. What food and beverage trends do you think will resonate most with attendees in 2026?

KE: All things local always seem to be a good choice. What can best support the local purveyors of the area? Keeping your food options as clean and healthy as possible, while full of flavor and excitement, is a great priority. Long gone are the days of the same old “cut and paste” choices. What flavor profiles can best support your intentional experience? And don’t forget about those mocktail options; not everyone cares to drink alcohol and there are a lot of great refreshing options.

10. What are the latest trends in sustainable materials and options for event decor, signage and giveaways?

KE: Speaking specifically to sustainable materials in event decor, your local event rental companies, such as Event Essentials, are a great resource for sustainable options. Add accent and texture to your event through specialized linens, accent table chargers or intimate lounge groupings—all items that can be rented for the short term and returned for the next event. This is a great way to lean into sustainable choices.

2026 Is Here: How Are You Stepping Into It?

The challenges facing our industry are real, but this volatility can be leveraged as an opportunity to innovate, reinvent your programs and deliver meaningful experiences that resonate with attendees long after the event ends.

By staying curious, embracing new tools and leaning into creativity, meeting and event planners can continue doing what they do best—shaping the future of connection and community in powerful ways.


Enjoying this content?
You'll love the Madison Meetings Insider e-news!

Get quarterly updates on what’s new in our destination and the events world, from direct flights and unique venues to media rankings and hot tips for meeting planners.

SIGN ME UP!