Anyone who has ever suffered through a boring office meeting must have wished it was virtual. At least you can fold your laundry off-screen or (discreetly) shop for the designer bag you’ve been eyeing.
During the global pandemic, virtual events were a lifeline, keeping us entertained and sane while housebound. Even though most of us now rush to get together in person, few organizers are dumping virtual experiences and online channels entirely, with hybrid events becoming the new norm.
But just like those work meetings that seem to drag on forever, some events are better when attended from home. Scroll down for six standout virtual event examples and news about PR.co's easy-to-use virtual event platform.
Get Your (Olympic) Game On With Powerful Virtual Events
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July 2024 had Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, 10,500 of the world’s best athletes, and the City of Lights as a backdrop. What could go wrong?
For starters, a foiled terror attack on the French rail network meant lots of spectators never made it to the banks of the Seine, while others were caught in long security queues. Then the heavens opened up.
Criticized mainly by Christian event attendees who complained about a scene with drag artists that resembled the “Last Supper,” others focused on the concept itself. Praising it as a “truly original idea on paper” and “titillating,” The Guardian and New York Times journalists nevertheless honed in on the gaps.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg summarized the virtual experience aptly: “Cumulatively, my view on my couch, and your view on yours, was better than anything that any one person got in Paris.”
Rally for a New President Without Leaving Home
While former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris represents a case study of how momentum can fail to turn into votes, her campaign to be elected U.S. President got off to a stratospheric start.
Zoom groaned and creaked under the various online fundraisers after she announced her candidacy in mid-2024 via a virtual conference. Black women, white women, white dudes, LBTQ+, Swifties, even Meryl Streep…. no matter who or where you were, everyone could hang out with a favorite celebrity on a fundraising call.
Couldn’t travel to rural Michigan? No problem—Harris beamed her rally hosted by Ophra Winfrey across the internet, with 300,000 people watching the live YouTube stream alone. Attracting a larger audience has never been easier.
Admire Emerging Artists’ Work Around the World
Sure, it would be fabulous to travel to 71 galleries in 32 cities across six continents to view the hottest emerging artists’ work, but ain’t nobody got time—or cash—for that.
Instead, global art marketplace Artsy launched an online art fair called Foundations in 2023. Small and upcoming galleries in their network curated pieces from early-career artists in an online gallery space.
Since then, the event organizers have produced two more rounds, with another virtual event slated for July 2025.
The benefits of an online event stretch both ways, says Artsy’s Director of Content, Casey Lesser. “Exhibitors can participate without the financial burden associated with exhibiting at physical art fairs, including shipping artworks, travel expenses, and fees for physical booth space.
“On the collector side, buyers can discover a vast number of for-sale artworks aggregated in one place—and make purchases seamlessly at the click of a button, from anywhere in the world using the Artsy app.”
Side note: Experience the glorious ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums as it was meant to—in silent reverence—by skipping the rowdy tour group throngs and viewing it on Google.
Catch an iPhone Without Getting Crushed
“Drop culture”—where brands release a product in small quantities with little advance notice to ensure urgency—has caused injuries and excludes most people by design.
To reach as many people in their target audience with as much hype as possible, telecommunications company Verizon's event planners created an immersive AR experience and standout virtual event when they launched the iPhone 15 among Hispanic target customers in the U.S.
Nominated for a Webby Award for best launch, the virtual campaign featured a giant digital twin of singer J Balvin “dropping” iPhones across the country for fans to catch. And catch they did, with 250,000 people grabbing over 40,000 drops per day for a chance to win an iPhone.
Dance Onstage at a deadmau5 Concert
Physical events have many drawbacks. For example, for the vertically challenged, whether you see a much-loved artist perform onstage depends on whether someone tall decides to stand right in front of you. At a VR or virtual concert, this isn’t an issue.
If you want to try this online experience out, head to virtual reality music platform Soundscape. Their latest collaboration is with electronic music producer deadmau5 to create an hour-long virtual concert for one of the Soundscape musical metaverses, Twilight Thicket.
Want to send your avatar onstage? Shoot fireballs from your hands? Or experience the virtual event again next weekend? Go ahead.
“Without disruptive crowds, we can focus on the pure experience between the artist and the user,” Soundscape’s chief operating officer, Ben Ferguson, told Forbes.
Perfect Your Sephora Make-Up Without Getting Stares
Sephora shops are perpetually packed (for good reason), so good luck getting a one-on-one with the make-up counter assistants. When it’s your turn, you’ll be helped under the watchful eyes of the strangers waiting in line after you.
Enter Sephora Events. Currently only available to U.S. and Puerto Rican citizens, their Beauty Insider loyalty program members can exchange points to register for live online workshops and virtual events with top brands and beauty experts. In early 2025, these virtual events included Briogeo hair products, Huda Beauty, and Caudalie skincare—target audience favorites.
Virtual attendees receive a sample product in the mail and an entry for a bigger prize giveaway. Given limited attendance, your odds of winning are favorable!
Attend The Eras Tour From The Comfort of Your Couch
While nothing compares to the thrill of an in-person event like a concert, sometimes, a grainy livestream on your phone will have to do. That's what thousands of fans turned to in lieu of attending one of Taylor Swift's shows, as they relied on fan-broadcasted streams to experience the event remotely. Fans gathered around on TikTok and Youtube to watch her live performances each night, debating on which outfits she would wear or which surprise songs she would play. Streamers garnered over 500k viewers and 413M likes on different platforms at certain points during the show, showcasing impressive audience engagement and the power of interactive virtual experiences.
Although we're sure Ms. Swift didn't consider a virtual event strategy as part of her global tour, fans undeniably transformed it into a virtual experience— proving that with the right technology and unwavering dedication of her fandom, no one has to miss out on the magic that is Taylor Swift.
Get hitched on Zoom
As Priya Parker, facilitator and author of The Art of Gathering, defines it, "hybrid events are three separate events in one: a physical event, an online event, and the moments when the two are connected." Below, she shares a brilliant example of how to seamlessly include virtual attendees in a hybrid event.
Jonathan and Elaine had their hearts set on a local wedding in California — until the pandemic made them reassess their plans. The couple reimagined their celebration as a hybrid event, inviting 12 neighbors to attend in person and a larger audience to join via Zoom. Through careful planning and creative thinking, they ensured that both in-person and virtual attendees felt meaningfully involved, turning what could have been a logistical challenge into a heartwarming and memorable experience.
The couple invited all of their guests (both in-person and online) to wear white, which fostered a sense of connection across both spaces. In-person attendees were asked to be sub-hosts, carrying their virtual attendee buddies around the event. Online guests, on the other hand, were connected through a live-chat, meaning that post - event, the newlyweds had a full transcription of their guests' interaction. Instead of mirroring both experiences, each group was assigned a certain task to create a meaningful connection.
This wedding showcases how to host a successful event, effortlessly blending in-person events and online events into a heartfelt celebration.
Control the Action of a Football Match
The Kings League is a fan-driven football competition that blends traditional soccer with interactive elements, offering an immersive experience for a global audience. Founded by football legend Gerard Piqué, the league creates a dynamic virtual experience where fans engage with players and shape the game in real-time via social media and livestreams.
Through live streams on different virtual platforms, fans don’t just watch; they actively participate in each match. Virtual attendees can vote on power-ups to give teams advantages, decide on match rules like extra time or adjusted player roles, and even influence substitutions. Didn’t think that play was a penalty? Fans now have a say. Fans get real-time insights on the match and get to influence the flow of each game.
These interactive features appeal to a younger, digitally native target audience. The result is a truly memorable experience, regardless of whether you’re watching in person at the stadium or online from the comfort of their couch.
Elevate Your Virtual Conferences and Events with PR.co
Elevating your virtual conferences or online events into must-attend gatherings for which people will stay home requires creative thinking and careful preparation. Getting good attendee engagement with strong event content is key. Hopefully, these virtual event ideas and examples have left you inspired.
There's no doubt: Virtual events can help you reach a wider audience and are usually less costly than in-person events. One thing you shouldn’t have to think or worry about is the software needed to execute your virtual events or online product launches to perfection.
PR.co offers an innovative virtual event solution for ambitious PR teams. Our user-friendly virtual event platform streamlines online conferences, webinars, virtual trade shows, and digital gatherings while maintaining your brand’s visual identity throughout.
Ready to put your virtual event ideas to the test? Amplify your brand’s digital presence with seamless virtual event hosting and unforgettable online experiences—request a PR.co product demo today.
