The 2026 Event Tech Stack: Tools Every Planner Should Know

The 2026 Event Tech Stack: Tools Every Planner Should Know

‍Your clipboard had a good run. Let’s give it a digital upgrade.

If 2025 was the year of “maybe we should try AI,” then 2026 is the year of “you’re not using AI yet?” Event tech has officially leveled up, and if you’re still juggling spreadsheets, post-its, and mystery USB drives, it’s time to evolve.

At Big Time Creatives, we use tech to simplify the complex, enhance creativity, and actually make events feel magical. Here’s your no-fluff guide to the 2026 event tech stack—tools we are currently using, excited to try, and occasionally ghost when they stop keeping up.

Planning + Production Platforms

The modern planner’s toolbox starts here. Tools like Airtable, Planning Hub, and ClickUp 3.0 are running the show with AI-driven timelines, automatic task assignments, and easy-to-share dashboards that keep everyone aligned. We’ve customized Planning Hub to track everything from creative cues and budget details to yes, costume change logs. Because that’s how deep we go.

Guest Registration & Smart RSVP Flows

Gone are the days of clunky check-in lines and lost QR codes. With platforms like Zkipster, CVENT, and Brushfire, guest management has turned futuristic. Facial recognition check-in, dynamic ticketing based on guest behavior, and near-field tech that eliminates QR codes entirely mean your guests can glide right in and start enjoying themselves faster. The smoother the entry, the quicker the vibe.

Interactive Guest Experiences

Audience engagement is no longer limited to a few brave souls with microphones. Tools like Slido, Zebra IQ, and Wonder now allow for live sentiment heatmaps (yes, you can literally see audience “meh”), emoji-based polling, and choose-your-own-adventure experiences that adapt in real time to guest moods. We take it further by crafting on-theme icebreakers and interactive prompts your guests will actually want to respond to.

Virtual + Hybrid Done Right

If 2020 taught us how to go virtual, 2026 perfected it. Platforms like Welcome, Hubilo, and Remo 2.0 offer virtual stages with green screen overlays, gamified networking lounges, and live AI captioning for global audiences. We design show flows that make virtual attendees feel the same energy as those in the front row, snacks and sweatpants included.

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Creative Tools & AI Content Assistants

This is where the magic happens. Runway Gen-3 lets us create cinematic video previews, Midjourney v7 helps us visualize hyper-realistic concepts, and Canva’s Magic Studio brings fast, branded assets to life. Add ChatGPT to the mix for scripting, bios, signage, and backup plans, and suddenly you can create an entire event mood before the venue is even booked. We use these tools to mock up color palettes, stage designs, and experiences faster than most clients can type “client approval pending.”

Sound, Light & Spatial Design Preview

For those moments that need to wow, tools like Capture 2026, Lumen5 Pro Live, and Vectorworks Spotlight 2026 give us real-time 3D modeling, lighting simulations, and acoustic previews. We can show you exactly how that dramatic light reveal or fog burst will look before anyone touches a switch. It’s not just planning; it’s pre-visualizing the experience.

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Post-Event Reporting & AI Insights

When the confetti settles, data tells the story. Looker Studio, CVENT's AI tools, and Swoogo Metrics AI now deliver AI-generated summaries, attendee sentiment analysis, and automated sponsor ROI reports. Imagine handing your client a dashboard that shows not just what guests did but what they felt. That’s our new standard.

Plug & Play the Right Way

Tech isn’t about having all the tools, it’s about having the right mix for your event’s size, style, and story. At Big Time Creatives, we help you cut through the clutter, match platforms to your goals, and use technology in ways that actually delight your guests.

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Need a 2026-savvy tech stack tailored to your next event?

We’ll wire the backend while you focus on the big picture and maybe sneak in a dance break.

Thumbnail image by Lisa Hause Photography