Hosting an event that’s going to be on more than once in the year? Let us introduce you to the recurring event feature, which will soon become the go-to tool in your event creator’s tool kit. All it requires is a little proactive planning and a quick coffee break to complete the simple set up, then you’ll have an outstanding online event calendar to present to possible guests in no time. If you’re ready to simplify your schedule of multiple events through a user-friendly event programme, then read on.

Recurring events defined

A recurring event is an event that repeats a number of times at either the same or different location, usually in a block (like a concert, or a seasonal tour), or a scheduled series of events (like community sports practice, fortnightly workshops or a class held at a different location each week). There are different forms that a recurring event can take. For example, it might be a musical theatre production that has performances on a Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday matinee each week for a month-long season. Or maybe it’s a weekly yoga class that meets at midday on Thursdays.

The recurring event feature will auto-generate as many separate event entries as you like. While guests will have to buy tickets for each event date separately, all of the pages in your event programme will link to one another so that you can mass create and edit all of your events in one click. For even smoother integration, install the online Eventbrite Events Calendar app that will generate a user-friendly calendar on your site displaying the available dates and times of your event.

The benefits of recurring events

A standout event doesn’t just happen – it’s a process that takes a little TLC. For an event creator who’s busy crafting a fabulous event, setting up a recurring event from the get-go can pay off later.

Firstly, it’s a fantastic tool to make your event more efficient. Do you plan to deliver your event multiple times or repeat it on a scheduled basis? If yes, then a recurring event will save you precious time. You’ll only have to coordinate one set of details to seamlessly manage multiple event entries. If you need to update your event because there’s been a delay to the start time, a change of venue, or a substitute for the headline act, it’s simple: create multiple events at once and skip the need to tediously change them one by one.

The predictable structure of a recurring event is a plus for high attendance, since consistency indirectly encourages your guests to build your event into their routines. If your event is booked in ahead of time, you’ll instantly gain a spot in each guest’s calendar to gently remind them to keep that time free so they can come along.

A recurring event is also a practical solution to entice more people to attend your event because the multiple dates available adds flexibility. For example, take a cue from Foodie Trails’ Melbourne Foodie Culture four-hour walking tour and offer a range of dates to accommodate the preferences and availability of keen potential attendees.

Types of recurring events

On Eventbrite, you can choose from a range of different types of recurring events. Some event series stick to a regular event programme – whether it’s weekly (like a weekly writing workshop), fortnightly, monthly, or yearly (like an annual fundraising event). It’s a great tool for scheduling an event that’s designed to repeat indefinitely, like a monthly team meeting. If your event will conclude in the near future, you might prefer to select a date range or a number of times that you’d like it to repeat. If you do things a little differently, or your recurring event is dependant on factors like the weather forecast, you can customise the frequency of your event to suit you.

Our event planning tools: setting up your recurring event programme

From a first-timer to a seasoned pro, all creators can confidently use the recurring event tool. The steps are simple:

• Log in to your Eventbrite account.
• Click “Create Event”.
• Enter “Basic Info” and “Location”.
• Select “Recurring Events” (under date and time) and click “Save”.
• Click “Schedule” and select “Add Dates”. Enter the start date and time for the first event, choose the frequency that it will occur, and the date that the recurring event will “End on” (e.g. “no more occurrences on 11/27/2021”) or “End after” (e.g. “no more occurrences after 14 occurrences”).
• If you need to, click specific events to delete, reschedule, or manage your event.
• Save, review, and publish your recurring event.

For more detail on each step, check out our dedicated article on how to set up an event schedule with multiple dates for a recurring event programme template.

It’s time to make your event happen (again and again)

It’s easy to see that there’s plenty of scope for creators across a variety of industries to use the recurring event feature. You can join the Eventbrite community of creators for free and start selling tickets to your live or online experience today.