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Why Live Streaming Is a Must‑Have for Events in 2026

Live streaming of an event fundraiser for charity

Introduction

Live streaming has become a core component of successful events. Virtual and hybrid formats continue to expand reach and deliver high‑quality experiences. Live streaming enables event organisers to connect with attendees worldwide and build community around their brands. When used strategically, live streaming can grow ticket sales, unlock new revenue streams and help event planners gather valuable data to improve future events. However, not every event benefits from being broadcast; exclusivity can still be a powerful draw for high‑touch gatherings. This guide explains when and why to live stream your event, and how to do it well.

Maximise your exposure and brand equity

Live streaming allows you to reach beyond the confines of a venue. Platforms with multi‑CDN (Content Delivery Network) delivery and adaptive bitrate streaming deliver high‑quality video to smartphones, tablets and smart TVs around the world. Audiences who cannot travel due to budget, health or distance can still participate. Live content also generates urgency; real‑time broadcasts on social media tend to attract more engagement than static posts. In fact, research shows that events that offer live streaming often see increased future attendance, up to 30 % of virtual viewers eventually attend the in‑person version.

Live streaming also helps build brand awareness and credibility. Streaming your keynote or product launch demonstrates transparency and inclusivity, and it provides evergreen content that can be repurposed into bite‑sized clips, tutorials or social posts. Sponsorship opportunities multiply as brands can be integrated into the broadcast and reach a global audience. For public events, consider monetising your stream through tiered ticket pricing or paid access to premium sessions to offset production costs.

Reduce costs and environmental impact

Hosting a virtual or hybrid event can lower costs for organisers and attendees. Virtual events eliminate travel, accommodation and per‑diem expenses, and reduce the carbon footprint associated with flights and ground transport. Industry surveys show that moving online can cut event costs by up to 70 %. Even for hybrid events, streaming a portion of the program can allow you to book smaller venues while still accommodating thousands of online participants. In Australia, where travel between cities can be expensive, live streaming offers inclusive access and reduces the logistical burden on delegates.

Enhance engagement through interactive features

Modern streaming platforms offer more than passive viewing. Chat functions, live polling, moderated Q&A and virtual breakout rooms encourage participation and keep remote audiences invested. Real‑time engagement tools can increase satisfaction and deliver richer data insights. Post‑event analytics reveal who watched, where they tuned in from, which sessions were most popular and how long viewers stayed engaged. These metrics can inform marketing strategies and content planning for future events.

Future‑proof your content and audience growth

When executed professionally, live streaming becomes an investment in long‑term growth. Capturing sessions allows you to build a library of on‑demand content that can be monetised or used to nurture leads. Archiving your sessions behind a paywall or membership site gives participants who missed the live event another chance to learn. For membership organisations, on‑demand access can be offered as part of annual subscriptions. Combining live streaming with in‑person experiences delivers the best of both worlds: exclusive networking onsite, plus global exposure and evergreen education online.

Is live streaming right for your event?

Before deciding, consider the goals of your event. Exclusive, high‑ticket experiences or private board meetings may benefit from remaining intimate. However, most conferences, product launches and public ceremonies can gain from the broader exposure and data insights that live streaming provides. Identify which segments of your audience cannot attend in person and design a hybrid agenda that keeps remote viewers engaged. Work with a professional audiovisual team like AVPartners Live Streaming & Hybrid Event Services to ensure broadcast quality, reliable internet connections and creative integration of online and onsite elements.

Conclusion

Live streaming has matured from a contingency solution into a strategic asset. When aligned with your objectives, it expands reach, reduces costs, enhances engagement and future‑proofs your content. With the right planning and technology, a live‑streamed event can amplify your message well beyond the room and deliver long‑term returns.

Conference Trends for 2026: Keeping Your Audience Engaged

Entertainment performs for conference attendees

Conferences are evolving rapidly. Attendees expect more than traditional lectures; they want immersive, personalised experiences that reflect modern technology and culture. In 2026, successful conferences use innovative formats to keep audiences engaged and inspired.

Multi‑sensory experiences

Engaging all five senses has become a priority. Research shows that sensory‑rich events increase emotional connections and memory recall. Event planners are using dynamic lighting, LED walls and projection mapping to transform conference spaces. Curated playlists and live musicians set the mood, while themed menus and interactive food stations add flavour. Textured linens, hands‑on installations and premium giveaways provide tactile stimulatio. Even scent is considered, subtle fragrances or fresh flowers create inviting aromas. Balancing these elements ensures the sensory experience complements your message without overwhelming attendees.

Seamless day‑to‑night events

Binary events, where conferences transition into evening networking dinners, are gaining popularity. Instead of moving attendees to another venue, organisers convert the same space from daytime sessions to gala dinners. This approach reduces logistical costs and keeps guests engaged. By refreshing floor plans, lighting and décor, planners reignite energy and create an evening atmosphere. Day‑to‑night events also allow for creative programming: daytime workshops and keynote presentations followed by live entertainment, awards and socialising.

Hybrid conferences and global reach

Hybrid events, which blend in‑person and virtual participation, remain vital. Surveys predict that 70 % of events will include hybrid components. Live streaming lets people join from anywhere and extends your event’s impact; professional platforms provide adaptive bitrate streaming, analytics and secure delivery. Hybrid conferences also allow you to record sessions for on‑demand viewing and build communities beyond the event date. For a reliable hybrid solution, explore Virtual & Hybrid Event Services by AVPartners.

Hyper‑personalisation and micro‑experiences

Attendees expect events tailored to their interests. According to industry forecasts, hyper‑personalised journeys will dominate conferences. Registration processes now collect preferences to create customised agendas, targeted notifications and personalised networking opportunities. Smaller group activities, roundtables, cohort discussions and identity‑based meetups, give people meaningful connection. AI‑powered matchmaking tools pair attendees with similar interests, while micro‑events deliver niche content within the larger program.

Digital immersion and emerging tech

Event technology is pushing boundaries with augmented reality, virtual reality, holograms and drones. Immersive virtual worlds and multi‑camera live production enable participants to explore digital environments and interact with remote speakers. Drones capture unique footage and add drama during opening ceremonies or evening entertainment. Holograms and mixed‑reality displays bring speakers or products to life. Gamified interactions, such as mobile scavenger hunts or AR quests, keep guests engaged throughout the conference.

Sustainability and wellness

Conferences in 2026 place greater emphasis on sustainability and wellbeing. Planners reduce waste by eliminating single‑use materials, sourcing local food and partnering with eco‑friendly suppliers. Wellness breaks, yoga sessions, meditation rooms or outdoor walks, help attendees stay focused and recharge. These elements reflect broader societal values and leave a positive impression on delegates.

Conclusion

Staying up to date with conference trends means embracing technology, creativity and human connection. By designing multi‑sensory experiences, creating seamless day‑to‑night transitions, offering hybrid participation, personalising attendee journeys and incorporating immersive tech, you ensure your conference stands out in 2026.

For support with cutting‑edge event technology and creative design, explore AVPartners’ Conference and Event and Multimedia Production services.

Don’t make these mistakes when planning your next event

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Planning and executing an event can be an exciting, yet very busy time. Most require months of preparation and strong plans in place to achieve the best outcome. However, from time to time even the most seasoned of event planners can face challenges.

So, what are some common event planning mistakes and how can you avoid or overcome them?

Poor communication

As an event planner, a key responsibility is to know what is going on across your internal team and external parties like suppliers and event speakers and attendees. However, if you don’t communicate clearly to each relevant group what you are expecting from them, then it’s likely that mistakes will be made as each member of your event delivery team will be unsure of their responsibilities.

The best way to overcome this challenge is to make a runsheet – this is a clear breakdown of what should be happening throughout the event and who will be completing each task. It must include times to start and finish certain tasks and should have the contact details of key members of the event delivery team so that each member of the team knows who to speak to if they have questions.

Lack of clear signage

Don’t have your event attendees running late for their favourite speakers or preferred sessions because they can’t find where a certain presentation is being given. The best way to overcome this challenge is to make sure each room is clearly signposted and there are clear directions to other spaces. Digital signage can assist with this as you can use one screen to give multiple directions and even feature moving maps, directing event attendees to main events like keynote speaker sessions or lunch.

Leaving equipment rental to the last minute

So you’ve organised the big ticket items like screens, projectors, lights and staging, but what about handheld microphones, lapel microphones and laser pointers? These are often requested by speakers. It’s tempting to only put in an order once you know what you require to avoid excess spending, but your AV suppliers will likely be working on many events at once and may not have excess inventory to accommodate your last minute requests. Plan in advance and order a few things, despite what your speakers may need, so you don’t miss out.

Not allowing enough time for setup

One of the biggest areas that event planners overlook is underestimating the amount of time it takes to set up their event. Event setups often take longer than anticipated as challenges generally will arise and you might have to make changes. The best way to avoid running out of time is to include setup time in your runsheet and always add more time for setup than you think you will need. It’s better to have excess time and be relaxed before your event starts than running around at the last minute. You must contact your suppliers at least 48 hours before the event to confirm what time they will be arriving and ask if they have any questions you can solve beforehand. Doing this can help to  speed up your setup on event day.

Forgetting to anticipate that problems will arise

Even the most seasoned of events organisers know problems will arise on the day. It’s Murphy’s Law! The best way to avoid this is to make contingency plans, anticipating what might go wrong. Make sure you have extra copies of programs, ensure a speaker has sent their presentation through ahead of time in case they leave their USB at home, give any materials you shipped a few extra days to arrive, check, double check and triple check how the technology works, order extra food and make a packing list. If you have a checklist of all the things you need, you will be less likely to leave anything behind.

Sometimes mistakes happen and this can be stressful. But if you are prepared, this can help lessen the blow and make your event appear smooth, professional, and seamless despite how you may be feeling inside. If you would like help with your next event, contact us today.

How to deliver engaging presentations at your next event

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Whether you’re delivering a keynote speech, running a seminar, or doing a panel discussion, it is likely that your top priority is to keep your audience engaged. Without an engaged audience, your messaging simply will not cut through. Luckily there are many ways to make your presentations more engaging.

In addition to using humour, the right body language, and practicing over and over in front of the mirror,  there are a few ways to ensure your presentations grab the attention of your audience and keep them engaged. Here are a few:

Be a storyteller

People engage with things that they can relate to. By telling stories instead of reciting reams of information you can communicate ideas in a personal way. Storytelling can help you connect with your audience on a human level. While storytelling is an effective technique for engaging audiences, it’s important to keep the story relevant to the event theme and purpose so that you can drive your message home.

Make sure the audio is perfect

There’s nothing worse than a speech that doesn’t fill the entire event room. Muffled and delayed audio are two of the biggest culprits in breaking an otherwise great presentation. Working with a professional AV team with state-of-the-art technology can really put your mind at ease leading up to and during your presentation.

Use second screen technology

Smartphones can sometimes be a distraction for people at events. So why not incorporate them into your presentation and make them work for you rather than against you? Second screen technology makes use of people’s smartphones to enhance what is being delivered on the primary event screen. It’s a great way to make your presentation interactive and encourage audiences to connect with your content.

Get the staging right

Styling and staging is what people will see surrounding you during your delivery. In other words it’s like the framing of your presentation. For this reason, the staging should support what your presentation is about. It should reflect the theme of the event and help enhance what you have to say. This can be achieved by installing branded posters, using eye-catching decorations or even positioning yourself strategically on the stage to grab the attention of your audience.

Light it up

If executed well, lighting can make a presentation lively and eye catching, but if it’s executed poorly, it can make it drab or even worse, distract from your presentation. Lighting should help, not hinder your presentation, so make sure the lighting isn’t reflecting in a way that will form a distraction from your delivery – like off the podium, jewellery that you’re wearing, or your glasses! If you’re looking to add that something special to your next event, gobos are one of the most striking, versatile yet affordable lighting options. A gobo is essentially a stencil cut out of glass or metal, that is then positioned between a spotlight and the area you want lit, creating a unique projected shape. A professional lighting team like AVPartners can bring your presentation to life through effective and professional audiovisual.

Be colour conscious

It’s important to consider how the use of colour can create varying experiences during your presentation. Blue for instance, can create a calm atmosphere and is said to promote clear thought, while red can stimulate the mind and promote action.

If you would like help setting up your next presentation for success, contact AVPartners.

Using colour to help deliver and enhance your event message

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Professionals in neuroscience, interior design and advertising know very well the impact colours can have on our mood and how we experience things. Colours can excite, provoke action and can even encourage concentration. So how can event planners make the most of colour at their events?

While there isn’t one magic colour to use in events that will evoke a positive response from event attendees and make your event memorable, studies have shown that different colours can ignite different emotions in people. So depending on your event objectives, you might want to consider using certain colours to drive home your messaging.

Using colour in your event decor and lighting can influence the way your guests engage with your event and can create a memorable experience. Here’s how colour can make an impact on your event delegates:

Cool colours

Cool colours including blue, green and violet generally have a calming effect on people. Blue is a cool colour that is often used at corporate events. This is no coincidence. The colour blue relaxes people and studies have shown that it can help with focus and concentration. It can stimulate clear thought and put people at ease. Consider using the colour blue in your event decorations to create a calm atmosphere. You can also use blue lighting during event activities to improve guests’ attention spans and encourage concentration. The colour green can have a similar effect on our emotions. It is reminiscent of nature, and can therefore have a soothing effect on people.

Warm colours

Warm colours like red, orange and yellow create feelings of warmth and positivity. These colours remind us of warm weather and carry an energetic feeling with them. Red in particular has been proven to stimulate the mind and enhance our heart rates. It is a colour that can influence us to act. Consider using the colour red to communicate your event messaging throughout your event. It can be used in your event banners, in your decorations or on your screens.

Incorporating colour

Colour can be incorporated into your decorations, stage set and lighting. While the colours used in your design and decorations will be fixed throughout the duration of your event, you can use different coloured lighting throughout your event to enhance and complement any event styling. This helps to create different moods and experiences for your guests. Utilising different colours throughout your event can keep your guests engaged and entertained.

If you would like advice on incorporating colours into your next event, contact AVPartners today.

The secrets to a successful event hashtag

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Hashtags have become an important way for event planners to create a buzz around events. Think of the last conference or event you attended. Chances are a hashtag was used. So what exactly are hashtags and why have they become so popular in the events industry?

A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), which makes it a searchable link. Most commonly used on applications and social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, hashtags give users the ability to organise or ‘file’ online conversations. When a user clicks on a hashtag, they are able to view all other discussions which use the same hashtag.

Why use a hashtag for events?

An effective hashtag can improve the reach of your event. It can help build anticipation surrounding the day, drive more ticket sales and boost awareness for your brand. An event hashtag also helps drive engagement throughout the event itself. Attendees can post about your event using the hashtag to signal that they are part of the conversation about your event.

There are 4 factors that make a great hashtag:

1. Unique

An effective hashtag will be unique to your brand and event. This will ensure that your event and brand doesn’t compete with other unrelated posts which use the same hashtag. Before settling on your hashtag, make sure to do a quick search across social media to make sure it hasn’t been used before. Examples may include #GFWS2018 or #vividtaronga which are time or location specific.

2. Succinct

Short hashtags are effective because they are memorable and get to the point quickly. They also remove room for typo errors, particularly when your event guests will be required to type the hashtag out.

3. Playful

Depending on what you’re trying to achieve, a hashtag which is playful and uses a bit of light humour may do the trick. A good example of this is Red Bull’s #PutACanOnIt campaign. The campaign used the catchy hashtag #PutACanOnIt to encourage people to take photos of their Red Bull cans in interesting locations. This strategy encouraged engagement amongst their audience and successfully created a buzz around the brand.

4. It has no hidden meaning

This is a really important one. Triple check your hashtag before sharing it. Remember, your hashtag will display without breaks between the words, so new words might form in the amalgamation. Check for any embarrassing words or messaging that may have been created. While you will want to build reach, you won’t want to bring attention to your event for the wrong reasons!

Broadcasting your hashtag

To really make the most of your hashtag before, during and after your event, it’s important to include it on all of your promotional materials, and make sure it’s in full view for guests throughout the event. Use audiovisual (AV) technology to keep your hashtag front and centre throughout your event. By projecting your hashtag on your stage, screen or even on the walls of your event space, you can encourage real time conversation about your event on social media. With your hashtag in full view, your event guests will be encouraged to include it in their tweets, live videos and other social posts.

Contact us today to set up the AV at your next event.

AVPartners event planning wrap up

We love sharing our tips and ideas when it comes to event planning, and we realised we have a lot of great blog posts that can help.

Take a look at some of our favourite topics that will help you plan your next event:

Choosing a venue

One of the most important aspects when planning an event is where the event will be held. The venue for an event can mean the difference between a successful event, and a mediocre one. Luckily, we have some experience working with awesome venues! Here are our tips for choosing the right venue for your event.

Event styling

Styling an event can be the most exciting part of event planning! This is where you get to choose the look and feel of your event. It’s an important part of the event planning process as it lays the foundation for how guests will experience the event.

Event styling incorporates furniture, decor, colour, centrepieces and table layouts, props, audiovisual and digital elements. It takes your guests on a journey, showcasing your theme, your branding and your ideas.

Budgeting

To effectively plan an event within your budget, consider the benefits of technology. Technology has an important role to play in event planning, and can be used in a variety of ways to help plan, organise, and execute an event while remaining within your event budget.

Social media

When social media is incorporated into an event, it can be hugely impactful and influential, generating immeasurable event awareness before, during and well beyond the event.

There are a number of different ways to incorporate social media into your event; such as using social media to promote your event and having a social media wall at your event to drive engagement.

Catering

Food has a special place at all events; it brings people together in a fun and engaging way, and will give your guests a culinary experience to remember. Stuck on what type of catering is right for your event style and budget? Check out these popular catering types.

The event message

There’s no point holding an event that gives out the wrong or unintended message to guests. Make sure you can effectively communicate your event message loud and clear.

Interested in finding out more about any of these topics or want to get started planning your next event with us? Contact us today!

4 great benefits of holding an offsite meeting

Considering going offsite for your next business meeting? An offsite meeting is where you bring your team together in a different location to your usual office to hold a meeting, coordinate a strategy day, or deliver training.

Here are 4 great benefits of holding an offsite meeting:

Your team will be focussed

Being offsite means your team won’t be as easily distracted as they may be in their usual work surroundings. This will lead to improved productivity and better meeting outcomes.

Your team will network and bond

There’s no substitute for meeting in person, so an offsite meeting should include time for ‘team building’ – which could be as simple as a nice break with catered lunches, or a little more involved such as morning yoga to start the day. Giving your team a chance to chat and loosen up will allow them to relax and engage in the day’s activities.

Your meeting can be tech-savvy

Holding your offsite meeting at a venue that offers state of the art audiovisual (AV) technology means that you can get creative and leverage this in your meeting. From live streaming through to enhanced projection capability, creative audiovisual can grab your team’s attention and hold it.

You encourage creativity

Whether you are holding your meeting for brainstorming, forward planning, or strategy, chances are being in a new environment will inspire creativity in your team, and encourage new ideas in a way that can’t be replicated in-house.

Talk to us today to plan your next offsite meeting!

How to plan an event that appeals to Millennials

At many events these days, the Millennial generation makes up a huge part of the demographic. A Millennial is someone born roughly between 1982 and 2004, also known as Generation Y. They have specific tastes, wants, and expectations, and catering to these successfully could mean your event and your business holds them as a long term consumer.

Here are our top ways to appeal to Millennials at your next event:

Get social

It sounds obvious, but social media is where Millennials hang out online, so utilise this before, during and after your event. You can sell event tickets through social media, get discussions started to build excitement in the lead up, encourage photo sharing and tagging before and during the event, and also get more social media followers in the process!

Impress with AV technology

Millennials are tech savvy and therefore expect the very best when it comes to AV. Utilise modern lighting effects throughout the venue, and make sure audio for presentations is clear and professional.

Incorporate digital and tech at all points – from an event app, to digital signage and image projection onto walls or other objects! Another great idea is to offer charging stations for guests’ smartphones and other devices; this will save people from leaving the event to get their charger, or disengaging due to not having their device charged.

Go green

Millennials are usually more concerned than other generations about the environment, so minimising your event’s carbon footprint will leave a good impression on them. Using more digital channels rather than paper helps immensely, as does offering recycling options during the event and promoting the green efforts you have made in planning and delivering the event.

For more info on planning an event which appeals to Millennials, talk to us today!

What style of catering should you have at your event?

Food has a special place at all events; it brings people together in a fun and engaging way, and will give your guests a culinary experience to remember. The catering at an event can make up a large portion of your budget, so you want to make sure you’re choosing the right catering style for your event type. When matched with creative audiovisual elements, your choice of catering can further enhance the wow factor.

Here are some of the most popular catering styles:

Banquet Dinner

A banquet style dinner is a more formal, sit down catering style. It usually includes a set amount of courses, for example; entree, main, and dessert. Everyone at the table gets their food at the same time and you can spread out activities such as speeches, awards, entertainment or dancing in between courses. Banquet dinners are a great opportunity to dazzle your guests with pin-spotlight lighting on their individual tables, which can also be coloured to match your brand or theme.

Cocktail

A cocktail catering style means your guests have the opportunity to mingle and network while finger food gets served around the room. It’s a great way for people to interact and network with each other throughout the event, and an optimal choice for adding music to complement the atmosphere.

Food Stations

More and more we are seeing special food stations set up in event spaces. This could mean a dessert bar, a juice station, or a tapas section. Guests make their own way to each station and choose what they like. Food stations can be set up to go along with a more traditional style of catering such as a banquet, or as stand alone catering. Creative lighting and theming can help enhance food stations, creating further appeal.

Whatever you decide, we’re sure your event will be a treat for the tastebuds! Talk to us for more ideas.