26 Event Activation Ideas For 2025

Event Activation: What Happens When You DON’T Try It

Your attendees are glancing at watches every 2 seconds, with feet tapping on carpeted floors. There is complete silence during and even between sessions - not the attentive kind but the bored kind.

This is the stuff event nightmares are made of! Dwindling attention spans and archaic event practices can make this a reality. 

You can avoid these scenarios by making your event wear the superhero cape of ‘Event Activation’.

What Is Event/Brand Activation? (H2)

Event activation is an umbrella term to describe activities that combine strategy with a practical approach to improve event engagement. Event activation benefits your event by making it interesting, fun, and memorable for event attendees. This positive experience improves event engagement, attendance, and recurring revenue. 

What Are The Benefits of Brand Activation (PAA)

64% of consumers hold onto positive impressions of brands for one month or longer after a brand activation or event.

Attendees are demanding experiential events that are unique and engaging. Long speaker sessions with quick breaks will no longer work for attendees. They have abundant opportunities to listen to videos online, check out exhibitors, and even network - so why should attendees choose your event?

Event Activation helps you answer this with these benefits.

1. Better Engagement - Your attendees and guests are entertained through the event. This balance of offering industry information in a fun package helps garner eyeballs.

2. Improved Attendance - “Day 1 of the event was fun, so day 2 will be better!” That’s how attendees think and your event experience will keep them coming back for more.

3. Better Revenue - When quality engagement meets voluminous attendance you get improved event revenue - not just for 1 event but for every consecutive event you organize.

So let’s make 1,2 & 3 happen for your event with…

…26 Event Activation Ideas You Can Try Right Now

1. Create Social Media Walls‍

Make your social presence count. Embed a social wall on your Event website or project it in your venue. The Social Wall is a collage of all your social media posts from X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

It also includes mentions, likes, reposts - everything displayed in one place. Social Walls build solid credibility because these utilize User Generated Content (UGC) to speak about the event. Take for instance GoPro’s Social Media Wall that displays the best pictures and videos that users have taken using the GoPro.

2. Offer Mémorable Souvenirs

Think of event attendees as travelers journeying into a new event experience. Like regular tourists, they want to take back a piece of the event with them. Setting up souvenir stalls is a great way to surprise booth visitors.

Souvenir stalls in the middle of B2B events add a positive shock value. You can display the local artwork of the host state, handicrafts, and even event merchandise in these Souvenir stalls. ‍

Hype Your Speakers‍

Speakers are equivalent to a concert’s impressive lineup. They are attendee magnets. Yet many attendees feel disappointed by the monotony of speaker sessions.
Make these sessions fun by asking speakers to:

• Ask direct questions to attendees in between the sessions and not just after.
• Create a fun banter during the session.
• Organize a Q&A right after the session.
• Meet and interact with attendees personally during ‘Meet and Greets’.‍

4. Gamification‍

We did a whole blog on gamification - yes, it is important and revolutionary. Introducing gamification helps boost event engagement. To be precise it improves user engagement by 60%. You can create gamification challenges like ‘Spin The Wheel’, ‘Bingo’, ‘Puzzles’, ‘Ice Breakers’, ‘Trivia’, and more.

‍5. Giveaways and Prizes

That inner child anticipating a birthday gift is an excitement that lives on in adulthood too. Tap into your attendee’s inner child by organizing giveaways. You can create a build-up on your socials and announce the winners on leaderboards on the event day.

‘Cause everybody loves gifts and a little bit of the spotlight,‍

6. Involve Influencers

@SashaSouza, @tojulius, @TahiraCreates, @NickBorelli, @ItsWillCurran, @JudiHoller are just some of the many event influencers who are creating fun, relatable content that’s reaching the right audience.

Allocate your event marketing budget to collaborate with event influencers. These popular faces attract audiences not just to your social media pages but also to your event.

7. Fun Themes

Your event theme can offer the ultimate event activation experience - if you do it right. Research and identify themes that your attendees will love. You can opt for Steampunk, Mad Hatter’s Party, Outer Space, and even Under The Sea themes. The visual spectacle elevates your event experience to a whole new level.
‍

8. Use Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality 

Heard of ‘Pokemon Go’? The quest to find Pokemons in live locations is a great example of using Augmented Reality (AR). Consider it an extension of your gamification. While AR digitally elevates your physical experience, Virtual Reality does something different.

You can offer a virtual reality experience at your event with a virtual replica of cityscapes, mazes, or an extension of your event theme. Attendees can then create avatars that network with each other - similar to the metaverse.

9. Create Event Hashtags 

Hashtags are underrated. They are actually a great way to build a community online.   Any hashtag you create, especially ones unique to your event becomes visible on social media. Each attendee using the hashtag creates a ripple effect that promotes your event online and offline.

You can refer to our article to add the perfect event hashtags and create one for your event.

10. Organize Workshops

Applying what you have learned, sticks. Workshops are a great way to convert your attendees into active participants. You can organize skill-based workshops for your B2B event. Hackathons, coding sessions, and even pottery workshops are the perfect way to get attendees to get involved.

11. Make Networking Spaces‍

Event planners often place the entire onus of networking on attendees. Networking doesn’t come naturally to most so it's important to create spaces that help attendees network with each other.

You can set up a lounge area or place small couches every 50 meters or so. You can accessorize the space with placards like ‘Networking Zone’, ‘Come Talk To Me’, and ‘Let’s Small Talk’. These quirky messages make it easier to break the ice.‍

12. Invest in An Event App‍

Gamification, QR code engagement, and self-checkin all lead to event activation. Regular notifications, live community talks, and sponsor ads - each add an element of engagement to the event experience. These are all made possible only with an event app like Eventify.

13. Lights and Music Show 

The fascination with light shows and live music is universal. You can conclude each day of your event with a vibrant light show. This immediately makes attendees take notice and soak in the experience. Another way to help attendees relax is to rope in some music artists and DJs.

Contrary to popular belief, B2B events also thrive when entertainment and recreation are introduced to attendees.

14. The Behind The Scenes ‍

Create a funny and quirky montage of behind-the-scenes of your event. This can be a 1-minute video that introduces your team, and technicians and offers glimpses of the hard work done to make the event possible. Clippings like these add a human touch to your event.

Attendees appreciate your event and team and develop deeper connections when they see the hours and grit it took to make the event possible.

15. Add Selfie Booths

We are a generation that loves clicking pictures of things, of people, and of course, ourselves. Use this trend to up your engagement game with selfie booths. You can place these booths after check-in kiosks, near session rooms, conference rooms, and even near the main stage

Place placards and signs near the booth, decorate it well, and see how quickly attendees line up here. You can even place a QR code near the booth. When scanned, the QR code can lead attendees to The Social Wall (see point 1) and allow them to add their pictures to your event story.

16. Offer DIY Activity Booths ‍

Utilise session breaks well with DIY Activity booths. The setup can have attendees make 5-minute crafts, hand paint T-shirts, print on tote bags, or even indulge in some mixology sessions to create delicious mocktails. Attendees can then take these self-made trinkets home. This hands-on experience in creating something keeps attendees engaged.

17. Gourmet Experiences ‍

Taste buds need indulging too even at B2B events. People love trying new delicacies and this is a great way of keeping them engaged. You can invite chefs who curate unique dishes, set-up live cooking counters, and serve some delicious finger foods.

Add a touch of personalization by asking attendees to fill in their food preferences and allergies in the check-in/registration form.

18. Get Moving‍

Do you know what really wakes people up and recharges them? Exercise - the fun kind. You can have Zumba instructors at the venue who take quick sessions, place yoga mats in dedicated exercise zones, or even offer prizes to attendees who complete x number of steps.

Health and fitness are often a priority for people and it’s great to incorporate these elements into your event to show that you truly care.

19. Activate Zen Mode

Events are stressful. Attendees are stressed too with a million things on their to-do list. They may even have a meeting to attend soon after the event or meet their ‘networking’ goals. This mental juggle can be exhausting.

Show them you care with meditation rooms that are soundproof. Attendees can use these spaces to get some peace and quiet, recharge their social batteries, and get back to the venue feeling rejuvenated.

20. Healthy Dose of Laughter ‍

Laughter grabs attention like nothing else. Invite stand-up comics to perform at your event. This lightens the environment, releases endorphins, and keeps attendees glued to the next punchline. Win-Win for all.

21. Shock With Art ‍

Art is disruptive but in all the right ways. Corporate events are assumed to be ‘bland’ and ‘non-glamorous’. Bust this myth with spectacular paintings and installations that make attendees stop and take notice. You can collaborate with local artisans, and painters to create physical and digital art that leaves everyone in awe.

22. Organize Meet and Greet ‍

Speakers, chief guests, and influencers - your event is teeming with talented experts. Leverage their know-how by organizing exclusive meet and greets for attendees. This generates excitement in everyone at your event.

23. Offer Virtual Trials

Is your event about the latest software launch or product release? Time to make the experience real with virtual trials. Allow attendees to engage with the event solution right at the venue. This makes your product or service tangible and lets attendees know what they can expect.

24. Create Mystery Rooms ‍

This one takes the cake. Mystery rooms are loved by people across ages. They are thrilling and add a dash of adventure. Reserve a space in your venue to set up a mystery room. Attendees can then venture into these in groups. You can club the theme of the mystery room with fun elements from your product or service.

25. Introduce Pop-Ups ‍

Create a 3D experience with pop-up booths. Such booths invite attention with their quirky setups. You can even add giant mascots or posters to attract attendees to these sections. Your pop-up booths can be about machinery, the latest gadgets, or a complete visual representation of how your product or solution works. Add a dash of adventure with maze-themed pop-up booths.

26. Awareness Campaigns

There are humanitarian causes we all believe in. You can use your event platform to collaborate with NGOs, and non-profits to spread awareness. This is a great way to build a community that goes beyond business and numbers. Attendees also feel incentivized to contribute their time and support to such causes.

5 Event Activation Examples To Inspire Your Next Event

1. Coca-Cola: AI Cityscape for Limited Edition Y3000 Cola

Coca-Cola is a brand known for its great marketing. Their product launch for the limited edition Y3000 zero-sugar cola was spectacular. The brand leveraged AI to create a futuristic cityscape on the famous Las Vegas Sphere. This cityscape garnered attention, made positive noise, and promoted a soda that uses a recipe made by humans and AI.

2. Hendrik Gin’s: Hot Air Balloon Bar

The brand came up with a high-end concept of having bars on hot air balloons. Yes, the experience screams premium and that’s exactly what it was. The brand offered limited seats to people wanting to try the experience. They also offered on-ground bars for people who were either afraid of heights or couldn’t bag a slot on the balloon.

3. Heineken: Reduce Phone Usage Campaign

The concept Heineken adopted is so simple, it’s genius. The brand played with infrared technology to send reminders to music festival goers to reduce phone usage. All people had to do was use their smartphone cameras to view the message.

4. Ben & Jerry’s: Mobile Drive-In Theatre

Ben & Jerry’s took communal entertainment to the next level with Mobile Drive-In Theatres. The iconic ice cream brand took their trucks, in collaboration with Blue Bunny, out to the streets. In doing so they gathered many people who got together to watch movies and indulge in some ice cream.

5. Comfort: Intense Garden Showcase.

Comfort, a fabric conditioner brand, took the launch of its new range of fragrances quite literally and designed a garden showcase. The man-made garden had elements like fountains, flowers, swings, and giant mushrooms - all of which added an enchanting effect to the space. The unique part? All these elements in the garden were made with fabric.

Event Activation Made Possible With Eventify

Event activation contains multiple elements. All the ideas and examples we shared can be adopted based on your budget and resources. You can always start event activation with an easy-to-use event app like Eventify. We offer gamification, QR scanning, and attendee matchmaking that make attendees take notice of the event and engage with it.
Schedule a demo now to see how our mobile event app can help your event activation efforts in 2025.

Happy Eventing!