Mastering the art of virtual events is key for marketers and experiential event producers. A well executed virtual event sparks connections and inspires attendees regardless of where they’re located. But to engage those attendees, you’ll need a combination of the right vision, professional video tools, and a collection of virtual event ideas to get started.
Putting together the perfect event can be a challenge. If you’ve joined a virtual event in the last year, you likely have a strong idea of what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d like to build on to make the best experience possible.
There are real concerns around digital fatigue and Zoom fatigue to keep in mind when hosting an online event. However, holding your audience’s attention doesn’t have to mean relying on the same old conference call type events.
Just remember: video and live streaming events can be a powerful medium to connect people. If you want to reach a broader audience, without stressing screen time commitments, we have some great virtual event ideas for you to try out.
What is a virtual event?
A virtual event is any type of event which takes place exclusively online. From conferences, festivals, award ceremonies, live sports, and faith-based live streams — virtual event ideas can range from brief webinar sessions to multi-day experiences.
There are a variety of virtual events, but the tools to properly plan one remain very much the same. We have a complete guide on how to plan and host a virtual event, but some basic steps include:
1. Determine your virtual event goals.
2. Identify your target audience.
3. Create stream-worthy content.
4. Gate event registration with ticketing.
5. Optimize your attendee experience.
The beauty of virtual events is they are cost-effective without the constraint of a physical space. Without max occupancy rules for conference rooms, marketers can stress less about tables, chairs, and astronomical bar tabs.
As long as you stay focused on engaging with your audience in a meaningful way, you have full creative license to make your digital experience perfectly tailored for your brand.
Internal and external virtual event ideas
Out of all the virtual event ideas floating out there, which one is right for you? Trust us, there are a lot of options to choose from as activities range from intimate online discussions to large virtual conferences. The scope of your event can be as broad as your imagination.
For the sake of this article, we’re going to divide our virtual event ideas into two distinct categories: internal events and external events.
Internal virtual events
For internal events we’re going to present 15 virtual event ideas relevant for remote work or hybrid work environments. We’ve got ideas from virtual award ceremonies, holiday parties, fireside chats, to virtual morning shows and happy hours.
The goal with any internal virtual event is to support employee engagement, promote corporate branding, internal communications and/or recruiting efforts.
External virtual events
External events are geared towards customers and prospects. Some examples include ticketed events, gated events for customers and the like. You can expand your arsenal of external event ideas with virtual performances, art conferences, summits and fitness classes.
The goal for these external virtual events is to attract and retain customers, raise awareness for your products, and reach a broader audience than a traditional in-person event.
So, now that we’ve set everything up, let’s dive into our 31 virtual event ideas.
15 internal virtual event ideas
When done right, an internal virtual event can engage employees, forge new cross-functional relationships, and help align the company. Here are some of the best virtual event ideas for a corporate environment.
1. Virtual employee awards ceremony
One of your best bets for a fun and rewarding experience is hosting a virtual employee awards ceremony. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love recognition and winning prizes?
Virtual awards ceremonies are a great way to recognize your hard working team members in a positive light.
Have fun with it! If you want to amp up the virtual experience, set a dress code in advance. Try rolling a virtual red carpet with employees dressed to the nines or stay casual with cocktail recipes or beer tastings to compliment the event.
2. Virtual holiday party
Holiday parties are a staple of corporate work life. From Halloween to New Years to your standard winter and spring holidays, it never hurts to find any excuse to have a party.
Live stream your event online and consider hiring some live entertainment. Bonus points for sending a swag bag or set of gifts to your employees the day of the event.
3. Virtual wellness party
Digital fatigue and employee burnout are an increasing concern in the remote working world. That’s why wellness programs are a popular trend for internal teams. It’s important to recognize that digital fatigue is real and taking breaks to focus on employee health is important.
One way to keep employees fresh and engaged is by throwing virtual wellness parties. Think lunch and learns, yoga or meditation classes, or fitness challenges. And while these don’t have to be specifically “wellness” themed to focus on reinvigorating your team, it never hurts to encourage team members to relax and take some time for themselves.
4. Fireside chat with a celebrity or industry thought leader
Here’s a good virtual event idea to host for employees: a fireside chat. This “fireside chat” format can be as easy as setting up a live stream broadcast to your internal team.
Some good host ideas include celebrities, industry thought leaders, or motivational presenters that can speak to a captivating topic.
5. Virtual happy hour
This is a pretty straightforward option that’s always a classic. Hosting a virtual happy hour is the most effective way to let your team virtually relax and hang out. Unlike every other Zoom call or virtual meeting, happy hours should be free flowing without a set agenda to cover.
It never hurts to plan out some fun games to try out while your team is unwinding. Here are some helpful virtual happy hour ideas to try out for your next online gathering.
6. Virtual recruiting event
Why not turn your team bonding occasion also into a recruiting one? Draw up a list of virtual team events to identify the most relevant ones to engage prospective employee. This could be a lunch and learn, hackathon, or panel discussion hosted by your team.
When setting up a recruiting event, encourage team members to bring friends or past colleagues. I’ve also found in the past that many companies like to invite prospective new employees out for a team gathering or two to help everyone get a feel if they’re a right fit for your company and culture.
7. Virtual morning show
Here’s a question: how do you support customers when the team is grappling with working in a new way? Zendesk, the beloved customer support brand, answered the call and created a live streaming series called the Zendesk Morning Show that aired every Tuesday morning to over 170,000+ global clients.
Virtual events can be a great way to level up your customer communications and retention strategy. Think of how to bring the most relevant content to your customers and use tools like private internal links and review tools in a video library to build out your comms.
8. Virtual training
While a lot of options on this list are meant to spark connections and engage employees, there are also some great ideas out there that can help you turn work-necessities — like training and onboarding — into more engaging and fun events.
A great example of this comes from the global coatings company Axalta. They wanted a modern way to reach their 13,000 technicians without relying on decade old in-classroom teaching practices.
By going virtual and streaming their training sessions, Axalta reached a much greater audience and presented information in a more fun and engaging manner than the standard classroom setups of the past. Use video to stream training content and help reach your global workforce.
9. Virtual video game streams
If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that there are more ways to have fun and engage with friends than you might think. While video games have been a popular pastime for both kids and adults, gaming has become more accessible and entertaining with the rise of streaming.
Hosting a virtual video game night, where team members can log on and play together is a great place to start. But you can also host streams with famous video game players where your clients and employees can watch along in real-time.
10. Social media challenges
While technically this is an event which you can participate in whenever and however you might like, following along with the latest social media challenges can still be a great way for teams to bond virtually.
While it might feel funny to copy the latest TikTok dances from teen influencers, there are plenty of great social media challenges which don’t require much more than a smartphone camera to participate in.
11. Virtual mixology class
Moving along, we have another fun internal virtual event idea that involves alcohol! (But, of course, it doesn’t have to.) Host a virtual mixology class where a trained bartender can teach your team how to make the perfect martini or bespoke cocktail.
A mixology class can be even more engaging as it challenges the brain while still satisfying your thirst. Plus, once you’ve completed the class you can of course have everyone virtually hang out and chat after.
If you’re looking for the perfect mixology experts, check out the BIPOC-owned Hella Cocktail Co which uses Vimeo Create to produce in-house their own recipe videos and content.
12. Virtual comedy roast
A word of caution to this idea — only attempt an internal virtual comedy roast if your team feels comfortable! Set ground rules, talk with your leadership and — if the organization agrees — open the floor to some appropriate jokes to lighten the mood.
Comedy roasts are quite popular and range from formal events with celebrity hosts to informal gatherings where employees lob a zinger or two at a willing participant.
13. Peloton bikeathon
This is one of the more active options on our list. Hosting an internal virtual bikeathon is a solid option made possible by the new streaming-friendly workout bike company. You can also host a marathon, fun-run, or other type of exercise or workout.
14. Virtual book club
If you’re looking for an event series for your team — a virtual book club is for you. Book clubs are great as they combine individual reading with more engaging collective discussions and commentary. A club can meet every week or month depending on the group’s preference.
Virtual book clubs don’t have to be rigid or restrictive as members can join at their preferred pace. Just leave it up to your bookworms to decide which books they want to read and how often they want to check in.
15. Virtual movie premiere/screening
Finally, host a virtual movie premiere or screening for your team. Everyone watches movies at home, but rarely do we get a chance to attend movie premieres with coworkers and friends.
Stream the film in a virtual group setting where people can watch the movie together. Make the experience interactive by hosting virtual gatherings before and after to discuss the film.
16 external virtual event ideas
External events help you build your brand and attract new customers. Unlike internal events, you’ll likely need a dedicated event or webinar registration to get people into the (virtual) door. Let’s explore the best ways to connect with customers with some creative, virtual ideas.
1. Virtual music concert
Translate the electrifying experience of in-person concerts online. When shows came to a halt in March 2020, The Apollo Theater pivoted to the digital stage and launched a lineup of virtual performances.
While the Apollo might be one of the biggest examples to follow, the concept of hosting a show — whether that be at a rented out theater or in-house at your own studios or offices — shouldn’t be difficult. Learning how to live stream a music concert is much more accessible than you might think.
2. Virtual theater performance
Similar to a music concert, you could also opt to host virtual theater performances. Theatrical performances can be both entertaining as well as invigorating for the mind and soul. There’s also a great range of diversity to choose from including small, one-act plays to full-blown musical productions.
Like many industries hit by the pandemic, theaters everywhere have adopted ways to live stream their shows for audiences to enjoy across the globe. Opera Philadelphia, Ballet Idaho, and Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts all embraced video to make the arts more accessible to their global audience.
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Read more3. Virtual Summit
Virtual summits are a great way to promote your brand and build a greater audience. We’ve seen great examples of these types of events from Facebook’s F8 Refresh event to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
These virtual events have become global phenomenons as fans of the brands loyally turn in year after year. However, it’s not just all talking heads and PowerPoints. Look for ways to leverage break-out sessions, group networking, and other activities to excite your streaming audience.
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Watch now4. Virtual fitness class
Just because you’re joining a virtual event from your home office doesn’t mean you can’t break a sweat. Virtual fitness classes inject wellness and fun into your content programming to entertain your clients and customers.
Virtual fitness classes run the gamut from yoga to pilates to kickboxing. Since many of these virtual fitness classes already exist in the world, consider reaching out to your favorite host to sponsor an event tailored for your audience.
5. Virtual art conference
It’s been imperative to keep communities connected in the last 12 – 16 months. Clayshare, a popular online pottery studio, pivoted from a physical conference to producing an online event called ClayShareCon in 10 days.
It all goes to show that with the right idea, the right tools and experts behind you, any virtual event is truly possible.
6. Virtual trivia
Another slam dunk idea clients and customers might love: online trivia! This is a staple game for parties at home and friends at a bar. Plus, as far as group events go, hosting a virtual trivia night isn’t much harder than hosting one in-person.
Attendees have the option to join virtual trivia games alone, with a team, or even with groups of people scattered across the globe. If you’d like to find out more about hosting some virtual trivia nights for your customers, check out Geeks Who Drink as they offer plenty of virtual options.
7. Virtual cooking class
Hosting a virtual cooking class might be just the trick to engage customers while adding a little spice to their day.
Send a recipe to your attendees in advance or send a box of ingredients to their door. Stream the class and leverage Q&A, chats, and polls to engage your chefs. Bonus points for sharing the final results via social.
8. Virtual photography contest
Instagram has inspired a whole new generation of photographers as you can shoot, edit, and post some truly breathtaking pictures from a mobile device.
Try opening up submissions for your own virtual photography contest. Host a virtual gallery and have an awards ceremony to top off the event.
9. Virtual museum visit
While we’d all prefer to travel the world to check out famous museums, it’s still great to view a collections of art from afar. As streaming services have improved, the ability to remotely visit museums has become a real possibility.
Hosting a virtual museum visit for your audience can be a truly life changing experience at this point. And there are great museums which offer virtual experiences all over the world.
10. Virtual scavenger hunt
Feeling competitive? Invite your clients and customers to a virtual scavenger hunt.
There are two ways your can approach the concept. If you want to create a hybrid event where participants have to physically travel from place to place as they follow your clues, try adding location-based clues. If you’re going virtual, can also do an internet scavenger hunt of sorts as you ask your attendees to become online sleuths as they crawl the web for clues.
11. Virtual murder mystery party
If you’d like to take another approach to stimulating your audience’s minds, launch a murder mystery party. These games translate well for online events as they’re very casual and don’t require many pieces besides communication between players.
Along with murder mysteries, there are plenty of other games which your customers and clients can join in on to play together online.
12. Virtual sports watching party
There are several key dates every year which all sports fans have circled on their calendars. From the Super Bowl to the World Cup, if you can’t attend them in person these types of important matches are best enjoyed with friends and fellow fans to cheer along with.
If you know your audience might be disconnected and looking to watch the big game with other fans, then hosting a virtual sports watching party can be a great way to let fans enjoy the camaraderie of rooting for their favorite teams in a virtual setting.
13. Host your own Ted Talk or thought leadership event
While hosting a virtual event for your prospective clients is a great way to keep them engaged with your brand, it can also be the perfect opportunity to establish yourself as a true subject matter expert in your relevant field. Perhaps the best way to do this is by hosting your own Ted Talk-inspired keynote or webinar presentation.
Of course, if you can actually host a Ted Talk, do that, however, setting up a stream in which a key member of your team can show a strong understanding of your industry, as well as showcase how your company can remedy any common problems or issues, will go a long way towards building up a larger customer base.
14. Virtual wine club
When considering which virtual event idea is right for your brand, it’s important to keep in mind your goals for engagement. Do you want your virtual event to be a one-off gathering to help promote a new product? Or do you want to build consistent engagement with a target audience?
If you’re looking for a good virtual event which can be turned into something which happens consistently throughout the year, consider hosting a virtual wine club. There are plenty to choose from online where you can have subscribers pick their favorite blends from across the globe. Once they get their choices in the mail, hosting a weekly or monthly virtual wine club where participants connect online to discuss their favorites can be a great way to build consistent engagement.
15. Virtual gala
If your brand is a nonprofit, association, or public institution — you may want to consider bringing attendees together for a virtual gala. If you’re considering different virtual fundraising ideas, virtual galas are a great way to attract advocates, thought leaders, and donors to support a cause.
16. Virtual networking events
Finally, if your company is looking to project a more professional experience for those in the corporate world, hosting a virtual speed networking event can be a nice way to both engage potential clients, as well as introduce yourself to prospective new hires as a recruiting tool.
A good way to approach a virtual speed networking event would be to reach out to other businesses in your network which might be looking for new team members and hosting a speed networking event with several different job types and openings.
Wrap up: the virtual events handbook
Virtual events have proven to be engaging and powerful mediums to connect people around the world. We hope these ideas help spark your imagination to help power your next big event.
As more and more brands look to virtual events as an effective way to reach internal and external audiences, consider what professional video tools, tricks, and resources you can leverage to take your content to the next level.