Are Virtual Events Here to Stay? What Has Changed and What Still Works
“Are virtual events here to stay?” is a question that comes up regularly, especially after a run of disappointing online experiences.
It is often asked with the assumption that virtual events were a temporary solution, useful during lockdowns but no longer relevant now that in-person events are back.
The reality is more nuanced.
Virtual events are not disappearing. What is disappearing is the audience’s tolerance for badly planned, poorly produced events that offer no clear value.
When structured properly, the benefits of virtual events remain clear and commercially sensible.
Why people are questioning virtual events at all
There is no denying that many virtual events over the last few years have been poor.
They have felt like long video calls with an audience attached. They have lacked structure, purpose and production quality. They have asked for time without giving a clear reason why that time was worth it.
When an online event feels no different from a normal Teams or Zoom call, people treat it the same way. They half-watch, multitask or drop out entirely.
The difference between a meeting and a structured broadcast often comes down to professional virtual event production.
That fatigue is real. But it does not answer the question, are virtual events here to stay. It simply reflects that low-effort events are no longer tolerated.
The better question behind “are virtual events here to stay” is not whether the format survives, but whether organisers are prepared to meet higher expectations.
The financial reality behind the narrative
There is also a less talked-about factor shaping this conversation.
In-person events generate larger budgets. Venues, catering, staging, travel and accommodation all add cost. That naturally makes them more commercially attractive for much of the events industry.
Virtual events, when done well, are leaner and more efficient. There is simply not the same opportunity to make money on venues, travel, catering and physical production as there is with in-person events. That naturally affects how enthusiastically they are promoted across parts of the events industry.
That does not make in-person events bad. It does help explain why there has been such a strong push to declare virtual events “over”, even when demand for them still exists.
What has genuinely declined, and deservedly so
Some uses of virtual events have faded, and rightly so.
Networking is fundamentally a face-to-face activity. Trying to recreate it online almost never works and usually feels forced.
If networking is the primary objective, an in-person event is simply the better tool.
That does not mean virtual events are ineffective. It means different formats should be used for different purposes.
That nuance is often lost when people reduce the conversation to “are virtual events here to stay” rather than asking what they are actually for.
Where virtual events still work extremely well
When virtual events are used properly, they remain highly effective.
Panel discussions are a strong example. Bringing together experts from different countries without the cost or carbon impact of travel is something in-person events struggle to match.
Different types of virtual events serve different purposes, and panel formats are one of the strongest use cases online.
Content-led events also translate well online. Short, focused sessions with a clear outcome respect people’s time and attention.
For organisations with global teams, virtual and hybrid formats can be the most inclusive option available. When produced properly, remote audiences are not just watching in. They are visible, heard and genuinely involved.
This is where Virtual Events and Hybrid Events continue to deliver real value.
In those scenarios, the question “are virtual events here to stay” almost answers itself.
The mistake of treating every event the same
One of the biggest problems is lumping all events together and expecting them to behave the same way.
Internal town halls, leadership updates and conferences all have different goals. Treating them as interchangeable leads to disappointment, regardless of whether they are virtual or in person.
Many internal events fail because they are treated like meetings rather than events. With structure, production and a clear sense of what the audience should think, feel and do, they can be extremely effective.
Content-led conferences also work well virtually or as hybrid events, particularly when networking is not the primary objective.
The issue is not the format. It is using the wrong format for the job.
Why some virtual events still stand out
The virtual events that succeed tend to share a few characteristics.
Strong virtual event engagement is rarely accidental. It reflects structure and deliberate planning long before the event goes live.
They respect the audience’s time. They are designed around a clear outcome. They are produced properly, so the experience feels intentional rather than improvised.
Most importantly, they put the audience first.
Too many events are designed to keep speakers comfortable and stakeholders satisfied. Very few are designed around what the audience actually needs.
When that balance shifts, virtual events stop feeling like a chore and start feeling worthwhile.
So, are virtual events here to stay?
Yes.
But not in the way they were used out of necessity a few years ago.
What is disappearing is the assumption that people will sit through low-effort online events simply because they exist.
Audiences are more selective now. They know what good looks like, and they are far less forgiving of events that waste their time.
The bar has risen. But it is still surprisingly easy to clear when the fundamentals are right.
Where experience makes the difference
The gap between the best DIY virtual event and a professionally produced one is significant.
Good production is not about unnecessary polish. It is about clarity, confidence and calm delivery. It is about making remote audiences feel considered rather than secondary.
Good production is about the calm authority that experienced virtual event delivery brings when expectations are high.
It also means knowing when to stick to the plan and when to adapt in the moment.
That is why organisations continue to invest in Online Conferences and other high-stakes virtual and hybrid events. Not because the format is fading, but because expectations have changed.
So if the question is, are virtual events here to stay, the answer is yes. The real shift is not whether virtual events survive, but whether low-effort ones do. Only the bad ones are being left behind.
If you’re responsible for delivering a virtual event and would like to talk it through, you can book a call here and I’ll happily chat it through with you.