Summer’s here, and with it comes a golden opportunity for brands and event planners to break out of the boardroom and into more creative, immersive spaces.
Whether you’re designing a festival-style experience or planning a standout corporate social, here are the top trends heating up the event world this season.
1. Outdoor venues with purpose
From rooftop terraces to countryside glamping sites, outdoor venues are more than just pretty backdrops—they’re an invitation to breathe, connect, and reimagine space. Clients are looking for venues that align with wellness, sustainability, or exclusivity. Think yoga at sunrise, open-air panels, or starlit networking sessions.
2. Festival-style activations
Say goodbye to rigid agendas. Festival-style formats, complete with live music, food trucks, immersive brand pop-ups and free-flowing schedule are becoming the go-to for internal staff events, consumer launches, and even conferences. It’s about creating choice, energy, and Instagrammable moments.
3. Sustainability that shows
Sustainable events aren’t a trend—they’re an expectation. But this summer, it’s not just about recyclable cups. Guests want visible, verifiable action: zero-waste catering, green travel options, digital-first experiences and local sourcing. Bonus points for giving back through carbon offsetting or community partnerships.
4. hybrid, but smarter
Hybrid isn’t dead—it’s evolved. While fewer events are fully hybrid, many are adopting digital layers: on-demand content, virtual networking lounges, or second-screen engagement for those who can’t attend in real life. It’s a great way to extend reach without the pressure of broadcasting everything live.
5. Wellness-centric programming
Expect demand for wellness add-ons to continue rising. Think sound baths, nutrition-led catering, fitness breaks and outdoor mindfulness moments. It’s no longer a “nice to have'”, wellbeing is now part of the ROI.
6. Bold brand experiences
Forget subtle. This season is about colour, texture, and interaction. Brands want to be remembered—through photo-worthy installations, interactive storytelling, AR moments, or tactile product engagement. Every element should be designed for discovery and shareability.
7. Shorter lead times, bigger expectations
One not-so-fun trend? Lead times keep shrinking but expectations aren’t. Agile event teams are winning by building strong supplier relationships, templating repeatable event assets and staying ready to scale up or pivot at short notice.
