Event Trends 2026 - How an App Is Changing Event Management

What is changing in events in 2026

The event industry enters 2026 with a clear shift in priorities. According to Bizzabo’s “2026 State of Events” report, 95% of organisers plan to increase the use of artificial intelligence at their events. Budgets remain stable — 40% of organisers expect growth, another 40% are maintaining last year’s level.

The market is maturing. Organisers are no longer looking for yet another presentation about “innovation” — they need concrete tools that boost attendee engagement, cut costs, and deliver measurable results. All the trends described below share one thing: the need for a good event app that turns ideas into action.

Hyper-personalisation — every attendee, a different path

40% of organisers name content personalisation as the most important factor affecting the attendee experience (Bizzabo, 2026). This is not a whim — it is an expectation that grows every year.

As Rafał Nowicki, Event Director at *Bespoke agency, put it in an interview for Marketer+: “every conference or incentive trip attendee wants to feel as if the agenda was tailored just for them.”

In practice, event personalisation means:

• Individual schedule — the attendee picks the sessions they are interested in and builds their own day plan.
• Multilingual support — at international conferences, everyone sees content in their own language.
• Branding matched to the event — colours, logo, and communication style consistent with the organiser’s visual identity.

An event app like EventApp lets you configure each of these elements from the admin panel, with no developers needed. The attendee opens the app and from the very first moment sees an event tailored to them.

Real-time engagement

Live voting, surveys, and quizzes

Passive lectures are losing relevance. In 2026, organisers increasingly opt for interactive formats — voting, surveys, and quizzes that turn the audience from passive listeners into active participants.

Live voting during a session gives the speaker instant feedback: what resonates with the room, where it’s worth pausing, which topics spark controversy. Results displayed on screen build energy and engage even those who would otherwise sit with their phone in hand.

In EventApp, the voting and survey module works without any extra configuration. The organiser creates a question, attendees respond from their phones, and results appear in seconds. We covered how voting and surveys boost engagement in a separate article.

Gallery and shared content

Attendee photos, live reports, a shared gallery — this is not just a marketing element but a way to build a sense of community during the event. After it ends, the gallery becomes an archive that attendees return to and that organisers can use to promote the next edition.

EventApp offers a built-in photo gallery and a file download section — speaker presentations, certificates, and training materials. Everything accessible from one place.

ESG and sustainability — an event without stacks of paper

Mariusz Nowak, CEO of Ministry of Creativity, summed it up in an interview for Marketer+: “ESG will stop being an add-on and become the standard expected by brands and attendees.”

For event organisers, the maths is simple: if the agenda, venue map, presentations, and surveys can be shared digitally — why print?

• Digital agenda instead of a printed programme — always up to date, with instant changes.
• Interactive maps instead of paper floor plans — with navigation and travel information.
• Downloadable files instead of binders full of materials — presentations, certificates, and guides in one place.

An event app eliminates printing not as an ecological gesture but as a practical solution that simultaneously lowers costs and the event’s carbon footprint.

Data and ROI — sponsors want hard numbers

According to Bizzabo’s report, 40% of organisers still struggle to demonstrate the ROI of their events — though this is a significant improvement compared to 70% in 2025. Sponsors and boards expect concrete data: how many people attended, which sessions drew the most interest, how attendees rated the event.

An event app is a natural source of this data. QR codes at the entrance, in-app activity, voting results, post-session surveys — all of this creates a picture that is hard to achieve without technology.

EventApp provides a feedback and evaluation survey module that attendees fill out directly in the app. The organiser gets data immediately after the session ends, not a week later from a spreadsheet.

Next-generation hybrid events

The hybrid format is no longer a pandemic compromise. In 2026, it is a deliberate choice that extends an event’s reach without geographical limitations.

Marcin Morawski from Dell Technologies aptly described this trend in a summary for aboutmarketing.pl: “Instead of one stage and one narrative, we increasingly see multiple parallel tracks.” Online and on-site attendees use the same agenda, the same voting, and the same materials.

The key is a tool that connects both groups with no barrier to entry. A PWA app like EventApp works in the browser on any device — no store download, no account creation. A remote attendee clicks a link and is immediately part of the event. We covered PWA technology for events in a separate article.

AI as support, not replacement

95% of organisers expect greater use of AI at their events (Bizzabo, 2026). But the event industry approaches the topic with measured caution. As experts noted in an analysis by primespeakers.pl, the key question is: “who does it help, who does it take control from, where does automation end.”

Practical AI applications at events that are already working or entering use:

• Session recommendations — an algorithm suggests which talks may interest an attendee based on their profile.
• Attendee matchmaking — automatically connecting people with similar interests or complementary skills.
• Real-time translations — AI supports multilingual events without hiring translators for every session.

EventApp is a platform that is actively being developed with intelligent features. A solid foundation — agenda, voting, feedback, personalisation — provides the base on which AI can deliver real value.

How to implement these trends at your event

Each of these trends requires the right tool. The good news: you don’t need seven different platforms. A single event app can cover personalisation, engagement, sustainability, analytics, hybrid format, and AI readiness.

EventApp is a ready-made platform that delivers these trends from day one:

• Agenda personalisation, multilingual support, and event branding
• Live voting, surveys, and quizzes
• Photo gallery and file downloads
• Digital maps and accommodation information
• Feedback and organiser contact module
• PWA — works in the browser, no installation, on every device

Pricing starts at 4,500 PLN as a one-time fee, no subscription. Configuration through the visual panel takes a few hours.

Want to see how it works? Try the demo or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

What features should an event app have in 2026?

Key features include agenda personalisation, live voting and surveys, a photo gallery, venue maps, file downloads, push notifications, a feedback module, and multilingual support. A platform like EventApp offers all of these in a single tool.

Does an event app help with sustainability?

Yes. A digital agenda, interactive maps, and downloadable materials eliminate the need to print programmes, flyers, and floor plans. Attendees have everything on their phone, which genuinely reduces paper consumption and the event’s carbon footprint.

How does an event app support hybrid events?

A PWA app works in the browser on any device, with no store installation. Online and on-site attendees share the same agenda, voting, and materials. All it takes is a link or QR code.

How much does an event app cost?

EventApp starts at 4,500 PLN as a one-time fee, no subscription. The price includes full setup, branding, and access to all modules. Got questions? Get in touch.