During the pandemic, virtual events weren’t a choice — they were the only option. Platforms matured quickly, audiences adapted, and production teams learned how to deliver engaging content through a screen. The question now isn’t whethervirtual events work, but when they make sense.

In-person events still do what they’ve always done best: connection. Shared space, energy in the room, informal conversations, and those unplanned moments that simply don’t translate online. For many organisations, face-to-face events have regained their place as the most effective way to bring people together.

Virtual events, however, haven’t disappeared — they’ve become more purposeful. They work well for information-led sessions, training, internal communications, and events where accessibility and reach matter more than atmosphere. When designed properly, they can be efficient, inclusive, and cost-effective.

Hybrid events sit somewhere in between, and they remain the most challenging to deliver well. Done badly, they dilute the experience for both audiences. Done well, they extend the reach of a live event without compromising the experience in the room. The key is accepting that hybrid events are not one event with two outputs — they are two distinct experiences that need equal attention.

Post-Covid, the answer isn’t a single format. It’s choosing the right tool for the objective. The strongest events are the ones that start with a clear purpose and then build the format around it — not the other way round.

Virtual events still have a place. They’re just no longer the default.