Connection, clarity and purpose.

As 2025 draws to a close, one thing is clear: the way organisations bring people together is continuing to evolve. Not through trends or technology alone, but through a deeper shift in what teams and leaders value when they meet in person.

2026 is already shaping up to be a year where clarity, purpose and meaningful connection take centre stage. The demands on teams are increasing, internal capacity remains stretched, and hybrid routines are now fully ingrained in how companies operate.

Here’s what we see coming next and how it will shape the events industry in the year ahead.

Smaller, High-Intent Gatherings Will Continue to Rise

Large-scale events still have their place, but organisations are increasingly choosing curated, intimate formats that prioritise impact over volume.

In 2026, we expect:

• Leadership circles instead of broad leadership conferences

• Targeted client experiences instead of mass hospitality

• Team offsites focused on clarity, alignment and flow

• Smaller festivals with more meaning and less spectacle

Focus on designing experiences where every moment has purpose.

Hybrid Work Will Intensify the Need for Meaningful In-Person Moments

Hybrid routines are no longer the exception they have become the infrastructure.

This means:

• People show up wanting depth, not distraction

• Passive attendance won’t cut it

• Teams need facilitated space to connect, discuss and think

• Events must justify time away from regular work and personal commitments

In 2026, connection becomes the currency and events become one of the most effective tools leaders have to build it.

Outdoor & Seasonal Events Will Become Strategic, Not Occasional

The shift towards outdoor experiences isn’t slowing down.

Companies have seen the benefits through higher engagement, more natural connection, better energy, and a sense of openness and movement.

2026 will see:

• More outdoor leadership days

• Multi-day corporate retreats

• Team festivals

• Purpose-led summer and winter seasons

The outdoors stops being “the fun option” and becomes “the strategic option.”

Creative Ideas Will Depend More on Operational Clarity

Big ideas will mean less in 2026 if they aren’t paired with strong planning.

Organisations are demanding:

• Clear run sheets

• Frictionless flow

• Warm hosting

• Precise logistics

• Moments that feel effortless

Creativity still matters but it’s only as good as the structure supporting it.

We’re already seeing that clients want concepts grounded in reality, not concepts that create chaos.

Technology Will Support Personalisation, Not Production

2025 brought huge steps forward in AI and event tech but 2026 will be the year teams use it more intentionally.

We expect tech that:

• Reduces admin for stretched internal teams

• Streamlines communication around events

• Creates personalised guest experiences

• Improves attendee flow, not overwhelms it

• Supports connection, not distracts from it

The future of event tech is quiet, thoughtful and supportive, not flashy.

The Season of ‘Doing More with Less’ Will Reset Event Design

Budgets are under pressure. Teams are leaner. Diaries are fuller. This forces a reset that actually benefits event design.

We’ll see more:

• Purposeful formats

• Smarter layouts

• Smaller builds

• Curated menus

• Intentional programming

• Meaningful hospitality

2026 won’t be about excess. It will be about precision, care and value. Which almost always produces a better guest experience.

Internal Teams Will Need More Support Than Ever

One of the biggest shifts ahead isn’t about guests, we think it’s about the teams behind the scenes.

Companies are dealing with reduced support staff, heavy workloads, competing priorities, and limited planning bandwidth.

This creates a bigger need for agencies and partners who can:

• Take pressure off internal teams

• Manage diaries and timelines

• Source venues and travel

• Shape formats and flow

• Reduce complexity

• Make planning easier, not heavier

The best partnerships in 2026 will be those that help leaders and internal teams breathe again.

So What’s Next? Purpose, Clarity and Connection.

2026 won’t be defined by what’s new, it will be defined by what’s necessary.

The organisations who thrive in 2026 will be the ones who plan early, think clearly, and design events that honour people’s time and attention.

And we’re excited to be at the forefront and help shape what comes next.