If you’re planning events in 2026, you’re not just competing with other organizers. You’re competing with people’s calendars, budgets, attention spans, and the “I’ll decide later” mindset that never really went away.
The good news: people still want to show up. They want experiences they can feel—music, community, learning, celebration, being part of something bigger than a screen.
The tougher part: they also expect the logistics to be clear, mobile-friendly, and forgiving when life happens.
Below are the event trends in 2026 that are likely to shape how you plan, market, and run events this year—and what to do about them if you sell tickets through WooCommerce met FooEvents.
Trend 1: Community-first events keep winning
Big flagship events aren’t going anywhere—but the momentum behind smaller, more personal gatherings is hard to ignore. Think workshops, meet-ups, niche conferences, local markets, tasting nights, community fitness, and “micro-festivals” that feel curated rather than massive.
Why it matters: community-first events tend to convert better because they’re specific. People know exactly what they’re signing up for. They’re also easier to repeat—monthly, quarterly, seasonal—so you’re building an event brand, not a one-and-done project.
What to do in 2026: plan for repeatability. Create event formats you can run again with small improvements each time. And make the buying experience feel consistent—same tone, same ticket delivery, same expectations.
Trend 2: Hybride is minder “grote productie”, meer “slimme optie”.”
In 2026, “hybrid” is often practical, not flashy. Some attendees can’t travel. Others want to sample an event before committing. Sponsors may want sessions recorded. And organizers want flexibility when weather, travel, or schedules change.
Instead of trying to make online attendance identical to in-person, more organizers are designing hybrid with clear boundaries: live attendance gets the full experience; virtual attendance gets access to selected sessions, recordings, Q&A, or companion content.
What to do in 2026: sell hybrid honestly. Don’t pretend it’s the same ticket in a different wrapper. Describe what virtual attendees will get, when they’ll get it, and how it will work. Clarity beats cleverness.
Trend 3: Late decisions are normal—so your ticketing needs to be calm about it
Attendees are still buying closer to the date than they used to. That doesn’t mean your marketing is failing. It means people are juggling more uncertainty and leaving decisions later.
Dit heeft twee domino-effecten:
- Organizers need better “last-mile” communication (what to bring, where to go, what time doors open, parking, accessibility, etc.).
- Ticketing needs to reduce friction for late buyers and reduce support load for you.
What to do in 2026: invest in simple, reliable communication. A clear confirmation email and a mobile-friendly ticket do more for attendee confidence than another Instagram post. If you’re using WooCommerce + FooEvents, keep the ticket delivery experience consistent across events, so returning attendees know what to expect.
Trend 4: Price sensitivity is real—value needs to be obvious
It’s not that people don’t spend on experiences. It’s that they want to feel good about the decision. That means value has to be clear, early.
In practice, organizers are leaning into:
- Gedifferentieerde ticketing voor verschillende budgetten
- Groepstickets die “neem een vriend mee”-gedrag aanmoedigen
- Add-ons die echt nuttig zijn (geen pluisjes)
- Betere transparantie over wat is inbegrepen
What to do in 2026: write like a human. Explain what the attendee walks away with. If it’s a workshop, what skills do they gain? If it’s entertainment, what’s unique about the experience? If it’s a conference, what kinds of connections or takeaways are realistic?
Trend 5: First-party data matters more (and you’ll need to treat it with respect)
Organizers want to build direct relationships with attendees—because that’s how you sell the next event, fill your email list, and learn what your audience actually wants.
At the same time, people are more alert to privacy and “why are you asking me this?” energy.
What to do in 2026: collect only what you’ll use. If you ask for phone numbers, dietary preferences, or job titles, be ready to explain why. Keep forms short unless the event truly requires detail (like accredited training or complex seating).
Trend 6: Sustainability moves from “nice idea” to practical decisions
In 2026, sustainability is less about grand statements and more about operational choices: digital tickets, less printed waste, smarter shipping, local suppliers, reusable signage, and venues that make low-impact attendance easier.
Attendees notice the basics. Not because they’re grading you—but because the experience feels more thoughtful. And thoughtful experiences are easier to recommend.
What to do in 2026: Kies twee of drie veranderingen die je kunt volhouden. Een kleine reeks herhaalbare verbeteringen is beter dan een grote eenmalige inspanning die volgend seizoen weer verdwijnt.
Trend 7: Veerkracht wordt onderdeel van “professionaliteit”
Iedereen heeft wel een verhaal: de locatie veranderde, de spreker zegde af, het weer sloeg om, het internet viel weg, de rij voor de deur werd vreemd. In 2026 lijkt professionaliteit op kalm blijven als het plan verandert.
What to do in 2026: design a fallback plan for three moments:
- Voor het evenement: een duidelijk updateproces (één pagina op je site, één e-mailsjabloon, één sociale post)
- Bij de deur: een check-in flow die niet instort als Wi-Fi stottert
- Na het evenement: a simple “thanks + next steps” message while the good feeling is still fresh
Wat deze evenemententrends in 2026 betekenen als je tickets verkoopt met WooCommerce
If you’re using WooCommerce for your store, the 2026 trendline points to one big advantage: you can keep the ticketing experience connected to the rest of your business—your branding, your customer history, your email list, your analytics.
FooEvents is built for that exact approach: ticketing that lives on your WooCommerce site (instead of sending buyers off to a third-party platform). When the goal is long-term audience building, that matters.
Als je nu je kalender voor 2026 aan het plannen bent, begin dan met één vraag: Wat ga je herhalen? Then build the most boringly reliable foundation possible—clear pages, consistent ticket delivery, and a check-in flow you trust.
Meer informatie over FooEvents
Conclusie
In 2026, “good events” aren’t defined by size. They’re defined by how they feel—clear, welcoming, worth it, and thoughtfully run. The event trends above aren’t about chasing shiny ideas. They’re about meeting attendees where they are and building event formats you can run again and again.
FAQ
Q. Do I need to run hybrid events in 2026?
A. No. But having a practical hybrid option can help you serve people who can’t attend in person and protect your event if plans change.
Q. Are smaller events really better for growth?
A. They can be—especially if you repeat them. Repeatable formats often build a more loyal audience than one large annual event.
Q. Hoe kan ik supportvragen over tickets verminderen?
A. Start with clarity: what happens after purchase, where the ticket lives, and what to do if someone can’t find it. Consistent messaging helps a lot.
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