A new year brings new energy into our lives, even if we are already eyeballs deep in the event season. Throughout 2022 the challenges for the event industry continued to come, as they have seemingly nonstop since 2020, but in a new way.

In-person events came back (in a big way!) but timelines for producing them got shorter. Planners everywhere rushed to try and recoup missed revenue from pandemic years and pull a rabbit out of hat with budgets that left us missing 2019 even more than we had been.

The tide is turning though and we’re seeing some great things ahead for 2023.

Here are the six things to keep an eye out for in 2023.

1. Wellbeing events will continue to thrive.

The pandemic brought to the forefront the importance of prioritizing our physical health. It also taught us, and most of Corporate America, the necessity for protecting and fostering mental health as well.

In the event world, this means we’re going beyond having yoga sessions and group bike rides at multi-day events and going to see more programming incorporating a focus on the mind like journaling, meditation, guided mindset practices and more spaces designed with that in mind.

From activities to sessions and lectures, there will be more of a focus in 2023 on events that help attendees overcome burnout and foster a healthier mental state and balance for life overall.

2. Company retreats and offsite meetings will gain popularity.

While some predict that companies will be back to in-office by the end of the year, many have embraced a hybrid work environment and that sticking around is going to call for more teambuilding and retreats to keep employees motivated and engaged.

This means one-day offsite meetings will be designed as an experience to connect and learn something together like astrology classes in nature or happy hour nights with non-alcoholic spirits paired with figure drawing in a cool intimate venue in the city.

3. Pop culture will influence theme choices.

White Lotus anyone? Even if you haven’t watched the popular Hulu series, you have no doubt heard about it. The way the show has spread like wildfire across social media shows the influence it has on its target demographic. We see this same influence bleeding into event design.

Adopting a theme based on what’s trending in pop culture will allow brands to further resonate with their audiences and increase engagement onsite - as well as on social media pre- and post-event further expanding the event’s reach.

4. Nature & sustainability stick around in design.

Just as events will shift to have a focus on mental wellbeing in addition to physical, event design will take on a more earthy element. Sustainability will continue to be at the forefront of planner’s minds, particularly those designing for the Gen Z market, and so bringing natural elements into the decor and furniture will be crucial.

5. Events will become more relaxed and focused on creating connections among attendees.

Right up there with the lessons on physical and mental health, our need to connect with others became prominent the past two years. Returning to in-person events is a start, but planners will need to foster opportunities for connection on-site.

More relaxed atmospheres with copious lounge spaces and oversized furniture designed for many, rather than a single chair for one, will become more prominent. Also, we’ll see more layouts that foster movement among guests rather than separated spaces that silo them.

6. COVID policies will continue to affect destination choices.

It should be no surprise that people gravitate towards warmer climates and 2023 will be no different in that regard. Austin will continue to gain popularity alongside long-standing hot spots of Los Angeles and Miami.

The kicker will be that local politics of these destinations will affect what groups go where. A city’s policies around COVID requirements can still be felt depending on the state you are in and the political leanings of guests.

2023 Event Forecast: 6 Things We Think Will Be Popular This Year