What is a virtual event?
A virtual event is an event held online, where people register, attend sessions and interact through a browser or an app instead of travelling to a venue.
Types of virtual events
- Webinars: one or a few presenters, a larger audience, questions by chat.
- Virtual conferences: several sessions or tracks over one or more days.
- Workshops and training: smaller groups and hands-on exercises.
- Product launches and town halls: one-off broadcasts to a live audience.
Virtual event examples include a software company’s quarterly product update, a professional association’s annual conference held online, and a customer training series.
Virtual vs hybrid events
A hybrid event has an in-person audience and an online audience at the same time. It reaches more people but is the hardest format to run well, because the online audience easily becomes an afterthought. A fully virtual event is simpler, cheaper and easier to measure.
How to host a virtual event
Decide the format and length first, then the agenda; most online sessions work better at 30 to 60 minutes than at conference length. Open registration with a clear promise, send reminders, rehearse the technology, and plan the follow-up before the day.
A virtual event checklist
- A registration page with the date, time zone and agenda.
- Reminders a day and an hour before.
- A speaker rehearsal and a backup presenter.
- A plan for questions and chat moderation.
- A recording, and follow-up emails by segment.
Virtual Event Management Suite keeps registration, ticketing, check-in, agendas and attendance analytics in one place, from $39 a month.
Last reviewed 2026-11-01.