2025 showed us that events are here to stay. 2026 is almost here, and event professionals everywhere are ready to bring the industry to new heights. So, forget the usual New Year’s resolutions – here are four great habits to up your event-planning skills this January.
It sounds simple, but involving a production partner earlier in the planning process can save you a great deal of money and time. There are a thousand different factors that go into even a seemingly basic event. It’s no wonder that 23% of planners say that their biggest sourcing challenge is understanding just how an event space will align with their needs. The right production company can give you expert insights into all the logistical details you’ll need to make your event go smoothly and help you find a venue that works well for your needs.
Event production companies like Colortone can assist you with everything from reviewing contracts to site visits. And if you’ve just started your planning, we created a starter event planning timeline template that can help you determine when to bring in your preferred vendors.
If you put on enough events, you’ll find yourself using a lot of the same equipment. Whether it’s because you have it in house or are just accustomed to using the same items, it can be easy to miss out on great new gear that can truly improve your events.
Say you have a Board of Directors panel every year where leadership passes a single mic around to answer audience questions. There’s an awkward pause as they shuffle the mic around and a lot of extra noise. But if you switched that old mic for several push-to-talk microphones like the Shure Microflex Complete Wireless Conference System, your speakers can each answer questions efficiently and prevent undue background noise.
Ask your technical vendor what equipment they’re excited about and see if it’s the right fit for your event.
AI is the buzzword of the hour, and for good reason: using AI tools to automate repetitive tasks can save you a lot of time in your busy events planning process. Statistics show that 50% of event planners expect to use AI in their events, whether to automate reporting or incorporate chatbots for audiences.
At Colortone, our event professionals occasionally use AI to make the ideation phase more efficient- giving them time to focus on the important work they do in creatively bringing client visions to life. Look for tools to enhance your workflow, such as Zapier – a tool that connects apps.
A rehearsal is a golden opportunity to perfect your event. Some things sound great in brainstorming but simply don’t work the way you want when you actually try them. You don’t want to have that realization during your show! Savvy event planners have a run-through that is as close to the actual event as possible. If you have live music, have them run a song during your rehearsal. If you have speakers, have them practice their entrance and exit and a few lines of their speech. You only have one shot at your perfect live event- make it count.
2026 is going to be all about using time efficiently. Yours, your vendor’s, and your audience’s time are all precious commodities, and using them productively is going to make your events truly special and memorable. So, find ways to automate, innovate, and accelerate your process- your events will shine as a result!
Are you looking for a partner to help your 2026 events stand out? We’re here for you! Reach out to our team to learn more about what Colortone can do for you.
