40 Virtual Event Ideas for Your Next Online Event
sumaiya Begum
42 minutes read 
Though it has been one of the best ways to connect people for so long, virtual events have revolutionized the entire system after the pandemic.
You can connect more people, bring engagement through flexibility, and even save more by breaking out the geographical barriers. According to vFAIRS, 93.2% of organizations say that their event was more successful in terms of its attendance rate!
In this guide, we’ll explore 40 effective virtual event ideas that any organization (or individual) can use. For convenience, these ideas are grouped into categories:
- Educational & Professional Development
- Entertainment & Social Events
- Health & Wellness
- Networking & Community Building
- Fundraising & Social Impact
- Product & Service Promotion
Let’s dive in and find the virtual event formats that suit your needs!
Educational & professional development
1. Webinars
Have you ever been to offline events, such as seminars? Then, you will surely know the purpose and usability of these event types. And the webinars are exactly the ‘web’ version of those seminars.
Here, trainers, experts, educators, and professionals can efficiently arrange academic conferences, classes, and presentations virtually. It is easy to host, effective, and widely accepted by visitors.
2. Virtual workshops
According to CommLab India, the performance of learners has improved by 17% after a micro-learning system was applied to the class.
There are various ways to learn. Some people enjoy learning by watching and listening, and educational sessions are the best opportunity for them. But for people who want to learn something by doing it side-by-side, arranging workshops is an excellent alternative to teaching them most of your knowledge.
You can even make your classes more legitimate by creating certificates for your workshop virtual event ideas.
3. Virtual conferences
The world has seen a lot through the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, everything has turned from in-person to virtual. Surprisingly, as it has empowered areas like educational classes, meet-ups, and all, businesses have also noticed a great new way of putting their sessions in full gear!
Organizations can reach more clients worldwide with greater flexibility. Breaking the geographical barrier has made it easier to connect, collaborate, and grow. Additionally, businesses can minimize their event costs, save time, and achieve effective results by arranging virtual event ideas like virtual conferences.
💁 Related reading: How to Run a Successful Virtual Event : From Planning to Execution-Read more
4. Virtual roundtables
Unlike traditional conferences, roundtable events are more focused gatherings where attendees engage in in-depth open discussions. These small events are arranged for specific topic discussions, with the core focus on making effective decisions.
As an event organizer, you can establish thought leadership, create a meaningful discussion platform, and offer your teams a more personalized experience by arranging online roundtable events.
5. Online panel discussions
Have you ever listened to TV shows where a group of guests host a discussion event over a specific condition? Panel discussions, organized on both offline and online platforms, are events that connect experts and leaders for a structured conversation.
If you want to share the insights, experiences, and unique perspectives of the panelists with audiences, panel discussion online event ideas are an effective way to do that right. These virtual event ideas encourage audiences to focus through a smooth flow of dialogue and make sure the event leaves a long-lasting impression.
6. Virtual career fairs
Career fairs are no longer bound to offline events. As the job market has no boundaries nowadays, career fairs are more likely to be organized online, ensuring candidates from remote areas can join and share the same experiences.
From startup development teams to non-profit organizations, anyone can connect with various types of candidates by arranging virtual career fairs. You can even chat with candidates, share virtual swags just like offline events through online chatbots, and do many more!
7. Online mentorship programs
Mentorship programs are designed events in which experienced people (mentors) are paired with less experienced people (mentees) to share knowledge.
This professional development strategy helps organizations give personalized guidance, support, and advice to newcomers to the team in order to train employees and learners. Businesses and teams can efficiently create recurring events to train internees or even their permanent employees to harness their ability to understand market trends and task eligibility.
8. Virtual business pitches
If you are a video creator and also a business enthusiast, organizing business pitches for your online channels can be one of the most productive virtual event ideas for you. Here, you can invite innovators and arrange events like talk shows where they will present their inspiring ideas to investors to raise funds for the projects.
This is a great idea to connect innovative people from constrained locations to your events and offer them a dynamic platform to share, learn, and get funds from remote stakeholders!
9. Online tech demos
Tech demos are a must-have for technical businesses like software companies and electronic makers. These platforms organize online tech demos to present their latest software releases and products to potential customers and demonstrate their features and usability.
Here, if you have a global client-base network, organizing tech demo events is ideal for sharing in-depth tutorials with a global audience. This approach can save you time, minimize costs, and help convert more leads.
10. Virtual case study presentations
Sometimes, presenting the ability of your solution is not all you need to do to increase your customer retention rate. Instead, people are more likely to believe in things that present proven data with legitimate infographics.
Offering case study presentations can be a trustworthy way of letting visitors decide whether to trust your service or not. These virtual event ideas also allow the attendees to compare your solution, understand the outcomes, and make a decision without any doubt.
If the presentation can be held virtually, you can record it, utilize the resources in various platforms, and bring back more customers by leveraging that single event.
11. Online mastermind groups
Unlike panel discussions, mastermind groups are likely events where similar-minded individuals come together to share their ideas, knowledge, and strategies. This is a fruitful way to allow like-minded people to achieve a certain goal and create a supporting learning experience through effective networking.
12. Virtual leadership summits
Where mastermind sessions are focused only on small groups, leadership summits are designed for larger-scale discussions. In these events, leaders, executives, and industry experts from various locations gather together for panel discussions, workshops, and formal mastermind groups.
This opens a broader level of networking for innovation and thought leadership that targets audiences who are looking to gain knowledge from experts.
13. Virtual happy hours
Well, during the pandemic, virtual happy hours have been a must-have virtual event idea for people to meet up with and have some fun.
Friends, families, colleagues, and even neighborhoods can arrange these relaxed, fun virtual events for a social hangout. You can now organize your official hangouts, wedding parties, and even friends’ meet-ups online, where anyone from anywhere around the world can join and enjoy together!
14. Virtual talent shows
You never know what talent might be hidden among your students, colleagues, family, and friends. In that case, arranging talent shows is a fantastic way to bring people together, raise money, and promote your organization in a fun way.
There are many ways to organize virtual social events ideas, like a talent show where you can incorporate various activities like comedy, singing, dancing, and more online, allowing everyone to take part in these refreshing events.
15. Virtual trivia nights
Trivia nights are a great way to attract new customers, especially for businesses like restaurants, bars, shopping malls, resorts, etc. By hosting your trivia events on various platforms like Zoom or Facebook, you can announce winners and offer them special packages to increase sales.
One of the best parts of organizing these fun virtual events online is it allows people to attract more leads to your business. For example, they add various conditions for attendees to join the contest, like sharing a specific post on their social media, inviting a certain number of people from their contacts, or buying a particular service package.
16. Virtual comedy shows
Virtual comedy shows bring laughter directly to your screen, featuring live performances from comedians who entertain audiences remotely. These virtual event ideas are hosted on platforms like Zoom, YouTube Live, or other streaming services, allowing participants to enjoy stand-up comedy from the comfort of their own homes.
Virtual comedy shows are an excellent way to boost morale, provide light-hearted entertainment, and create a relaxed atmosphere for corporate events, social gatherings, or fundraisers. They offer a great way to connect and unwind with humor, even when apart.
17. Virtual poetry slams
Virtual poetry slams are dynamic virtual event ideas where poets perform their original work in front of a live audience, competing for the best performance. These events are usually hosted on platforms like Zoom or Instagram Live, allowing poets from all over the world to share their voices.
Virtual poetry slams offer a creative outlet for expression, foster a sense of community, and provide a platform for emerging poets to showcase their talent. Virtual social event ideas are an engaging way to bring people together through the power of words and performance, even in a virtual setting.
18. Virtual movie nights
We all want to share the beautiful experience of watching our favorite movies and releases with the people we love and care about the most. Here, arranging virtual movie nights using streaming services allows one to enjoy a casual hangout. Participants can also share their experiences via chat boxes and video. These event ideas offer a relaxed way for individuals to share reactions and discuss the movie by experiencing similar enjoyment, just like a movie theater!
19. Online karaoke nights
Online karaoke nights are virtual events where participants sing their favorite songs live, using platforms that allow for shared music and video streaming. These virtual events ideas are a fantastic way to bring people together for a fun and interactive experience. Participants can take turns singing, cheer each other on, and even have friendly competitions. Online karaoke nights are perfect for team-building activities, social gatherings, or just a fun night with friends, making it easy to connect and enjoy music together from the comfort of home.
20. Virtual dance parties
Virtual dance parties are energetic virtual event ideas where participants can dance together in real-time through video conferencing platforms. These events often feature live DJs or curated playlists. So, everyone has the chance to dance to the same music from their place. These events are ideal for celebrating special occasions, boosting team morale, or simply letting loose and having fun with friends and colleagues. With options for themed parties, costume contests, and breakout dance rooms, these events create an inclusive and lively atmosphere that transcends physical distance.
21. Virtual concerts
Virtual concerts bring the live music experience directly to audiences’ screens, allowing them to enjoy performances from their favorite artists in real-time from anywhere in the world. These online event ideas are often streamed via dedicated platforms or social media, offering a unique way to connect with fans and share the thrill of live music. In your virtual concerts, you can include interactive elements such as chat features, virtual meet-and-greets, and exclusive content in order to make the experience more memorable. They’re perfect for reaching a global audience, providing entertainment, and creating a sense of community among music lovers.
22. Virtual music jams
Virtual music jams provide a space for musicians from around the world to collaborate and create music together in real time, even if they’re miles apart. These online sessions can be spontaneous or organized, allowing participants to share ideas, jam out, and record sessions collaboratively. Platforms designed for virtual music jams often feature tools for real-time audio sharing and collaboration. These events are ideal for fostering creativity, networking among musicians, and exploring new sounds and styles in a collaborative environment.
23. Virtual theatre performances
Virtual theatre performances bring the magic of live theatre to online audiences, allowing them to enjoy plays and performances from the comfort of their homes. Using streaming technology, these performances can range from live broadcasts of in-theatre productions to pre-recorded shows with interactive elements. These fun virtual events offer a unique way to experience theatre, breaking geographical barriers and reaching a global audience. Ideal for theatre companies, independent artists, and performing arts organizations, virtual theatre performances enable broader access to the arts and provide a platform for engaging with audiences in innovative ways.
Health & wellness
24. Online fitness classes
Technology in this present time has advanced so much that even fitness instructors are now able to leverage it for their sessions. Students from all over the world can now join sessions hosted in another corner of the earth by staying in their comfort zone!
Besides, creating a fitness website or arranging fitness online classes allows people who have busy schedules to join wherever they feel free, watch recordings, and access online consultancy without creating any chance for no-shows!
You can look out for various websites like yoga instructor sites examples, where you can showcase your event booking page and let students choose the best schedule for their own! It’s efficient, helpful, and encouraging for fitness students as well.
25. Virtual cooking contests
We all have the urge to learn something unique, delicious, and different from our own cuisine, right? Especially to learn authentic recipes from the original chefs or experts. Well, so do you. You can offer that incredible opportunity to cooking enthusiasts by leveraging these virtual event ideas for cooking.
26. Virtual art classes
From regional competitions to international participation, art has no boundary to be learned from. The more you can explore the world and its people, the more ever-evolving art inspiration you can harness. Plan an event online for where students can join your classes, share their thoughts, and learn the spirituality of art without any boundaries.
27. Online meditation sessions
Meditation hits differently when you join it from different locations in every class. It’s fun, refreshing, and inspiring for people to connect their minds with nature and invent something different every day! So, be the inspiration for your students by creating virtual meditation sessions online while staying beside nature. You can work like a nomad tutor, arrange sessions from your favorite seaside, and allow students to do the same for an effective result of meditation!
28. Virtual health and wellness retreats
Sound and mindful living is the key to our dedication to working hard and thinking positively. So do it for our employees, students, and colleagues as well. And when you can offer something for them that benefits not only your employees but also their families, the results are times better than you can ever imagine!
How can it be done? Arranging virtual health and wellness sessions is the answer! You can arrange online sessions where employees can join on the weekends and utilize their leisure time by getting inspired by expert health specialists. This would be a great weekend retreat you can offer for free!
29. Virtual workshops for kids
During the past era, we have seen the number of single parents and working parents have increased simultaneously. Thus, it has become difficult for guardians to bring their children to various events, especially when they need to take care of multiple kids at a time.
Taking this as a matter of fact, organizing interactive workshops on various topics like coding, storytelling, arts and crafts, and science experiments will be winning virtual event ideas. Kids would engage themselves in creative matters by staying in their comfort zone.
Networking & community building
30. Online networking events
Networking can be of various types– for offices, businesses, families, or even social circles. Where you as a team or a group stay in different locations, getting connected with your people personally is quite impossible. Online networking events are the best solution here, from attending birthday parties to business deal dinners.
31. Virtual networking breakfasts
In your employment time with your companies, you might have acknowledged a time when your client companies visited your company, had food, and made deals in collaboration with your company’s staff. Well, this can now be done virtually.
Virtual networking breakfasts are an excellent way to reciprocate interactions, conversations, and business-related topics. Hosting people from different regions, companies, and groups altogether in one place at a time, these networking breakfasts are one of the best solutions available.
32. Virtual religious services
In this modern, fast-paced world, gathering up offline is almost out of everyone’s to-do list. This is where virtual religious services come in handy. They are not only convenient and time-saving but are also a very significant way of connecting everyone in this moving world of business.
You can connect people of all types, ages, and locations to join and learn the spiritual lessons about religion.
33. Virtual fundraisers
Fundraising these days has become a trend. Advancing technology has now given rise to the opportunity for virtual fundraising, either for a cause, organization, or project.
Their success comes from their wide-spreading access to the donation platforms, letting people adopt a newer, more comfortable way of funding rather than the traditional ones. Platforms include live streams, video conferencing, websites and many more efficient ways. They are effective ways of raising money for different causes through different sources, such as the Internet.
34. Virtual auctions
Imagine missing an auction just because it’s on the other end of the world. Fortunately, those times have passed. Virtual auctions are online bidding events that connect people all over the world, bidding for the most exclusive items sold to the highest bidder. These can be charity, fundraising or organization-based.
With the ability to bid for items far away, virtual event ideas like auction events are greatly esteemed and sought after.
35. Virtual pet shows
In the case of pets and their medications, modernity has already taken over. Now, we even have virtual pet shows showcasing a wide array of events, such as tricks, uniqueness or appearances. Pet-based competitions are hosted, winners are selected, and prizes and gifts are given out.
Virtual pet shows are an excellent leap for pet lovers and enthusiasts, offering them an opportunity for communication, connection and competition on behalf of their pets, all from the comfort of their homes.
If you are a pet owner, having in touch with pets can be the best motivation for you! In these events, you can meet with new pet parents, share your thoughts, and get in touch with trendy pet product showcases. Whether you are a pet product reseller or a pet clinic service provider, organizing these types of events can be a great way to attract more of your target audiences.
36. Virtual science fairs
Science fairs are greatly admired; even offline, they attract a wide array of visitors and participants. They allow for competitions among participants, a chance to win prizes, meet, explore, and increase their knowledge in science.
Virtual science fairs are a flexible and accessible way of gaining, sharing and showcasing your unique talent – without the traditional “event-related” hassle.
Product & service promotion
37. Virtual product launches
You can boost outburst your product launch event in a more stunning event by launching a virtual product launch event that can connect all of your target audiences in one place. Even you don’t need to be the creator of a virtual product; you can have your physical product, arrange a physical event, and also enable the live streaming benefits just like Apple and the other tech giants do in order to create the big shout out on the internet by your own!
Take inspiration from how Nike made their Virtual Air Max Day or how the Tesla Cybertruck was unveiled. While the whole world is bringing the most out of their audiences under one platform, let your team soar their next launch with minimal effort using an online event management system!
38. Virtual fashion shows
Fashion has no boundaries. You can slay your style even after taking inspiration from a decade-old fashion trend from another era or culture. When you are a fashion designer or an artist, you know the value of your masterpiece, and it is not only for a specific region. You can even get recognized by fashion enthusiasts worldwide by arranging virtual fashion shows.
You can arrange virtual meetings, do social media marketing, and follow event surveys to grow your event reach and connect with more audiences.
39. Virtual startup showcases
Arranging innovative investment opportunity events is a great way to connect creative minds to your events. As an event organizer, you can plan an event online and offline, both to encourage funding from all over the world.
Audiences from various locations can leverage these virtual social events ideas where you greet with people with similar mindsets. You can create an intuitive hub through these online event ideas that contribute to the growth of your organization.
40. Online language exchanges
We all know that the best way to learn a language properly is to be able to learn from a native. Here, you can have a conversation and have a real life of practicing. In that case, online learning exchange allows you to learn a language faster and more accurately than in other ways. So, if you are a language instructor, create language exchange programs for your students with the natives. These virtual event ideas will help you teach more effectively and build legitimacy in the market!
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a virtual event?
Creating an event is easy and can be done even without spending more. Best solutions like Eventin event management plugins even allow one to create an event for free.
What are the benefits of virtual events?
Virtual events are the most suitable option to increase your event accessibility, increase attendee engagement, and build brand identity by minimizing the event cost. Even after getting benefitted from all the ins of an offline event, online events open up new opportunities for event managers to explore!
How do I measure the success of a virtual event?
You can measure the success of your events in many ways, such as measuring attendee numbers, feedback surveys, and engagement levels through Q&A sessions, etc.
Create the best online events that suit you!
Online event management and appointment schedulers like WP Timetics, Facebook events, and other social media are for more than just business people. Even individuals can organize and benefit from various virtual events.
There are even dedicated WordPress booking plugins and software that allow people to create, manage, and bring more sales through their events. So, whatever event you create, leverage a powerful solution that allows you to monetize your events and get a seamless booking management solution.
Take these virtual event ideas, share the events online to ensure the best responses, connect with attendees before and after the events, and let your organize get the best success.
