When it comes to events in 2026, attendees expect the unexpected.
From unlikely venues to unscripted moments, our 2026 Social Study reveals event-goers (especially Gen Z) are craving unpredictability and surprise elements at gatherings. They are hungry for experiences that can transport them to new places — and events that are so unexpected, they might feel baffled that they exist at all.
We’re calling it Off-Script Energy.
There’s something about not knowing what’s coming next. And for this generation, the ultimate thrill is something they can’t predict, can’t rewind, and can’t recreate. You just have to be there.
For this generation, unpredictability signals quality:
- 79% of 18–35-year-olds say spontaneity is important at events.
- Younger Gen Z (ages 18–22) are 1.3x more likely than Millennials to want events that challenge them or push them beyond their comfort zone.
- 44% say that spontaneity helps them feel present or break out of their routine.
Eventbrite data* reflects this appetite for the unrepeatable:
- Forest bathing events increased by 25% in both the US and UK, indicating a growing demand for nature-based settings that offer a sense of unpredictability and presence.
- Urban Afro music rooftop events (UK +444%, US +54%) surged, combining scenic venues with high-energy, surprise-driven programming.
Ready to bring this trend to life in 2026? We’ve rounded up some of the most original and inspiring examples of Off-Script Energy on Eventbrite, along with practical tips and tools to help you plan and market with impact in the year ahead.
How to Plan and Promote an Off-Script Energy Event
1. Choose a unique location or venue
Thinking outside the box when it comes to where to host your event really speaks to this trend. Many Eventbrite organizers are already leaning into this approach, ensuring they’re playing into the curiosity factor from the start.
It’s something New York-based organizer Greatest Show Ever knows all about. Their weekly underground stand-up comedy shows, Live at the Barbershop, are (no prizes for guessing) hosted inside a real East Village barbershop. And they continue with the Off-Script Energy vibe by keeping the line-up secret until attendees are seated in their (barber) chairs. And there are plenty of surprises too, courtesy of FOMO-inducing guest drop-ins, with comedians from SNL, Netflix, HBO, and hit podcasts regularly swinging by to take the mic.
Off-Script Marketing Moves:
- When it comes to venues, go bold and mash it up. Think rooftop pool movies or a silent disco in an underground station.
- Keep the exact location secret until 24-48 hours before your event.
- Build intrigue and excitement by teasing a series of cryptic visual clues on your socials.
- Offer giveaways for interested attendees who guess the spot correctly before the big reveal.
Tools to Help You Go Off-Script:
- Upload hi-res photos and videos to your event listing to showcase your venue and spark excitement among attendees.
- BOGO tickets are a great way to encourage attendees to bring a friend, and it’s easy to set up ‘2-for-1’ options on Eventbrite.
2. Avoid the Predictable
You know that film where you can see every plot twist coming? The movie magic quickly disappears, right? Avoiding the dreaded P word is key when it comes to planning your Off-Script Energy event.
Predictability is not something BURNTORANGEHONEY could be accused of. This New York-based food pop-up hosts monthly, high-energy cooking competitions as well as supper clubs that have a strict “no phones” policy.
They keep guests guessing right up until the day before the event, when the secret location is revealed. And they keep the Off-Script Energy alive at the actual event too, with the chef’s choice menu only being revealed when guests take their seats. Each night also features an extra surprise element to make the evening even more memorable.
The Dirty Little Secrets Improv Show embraces the I-didn’t-see-that-coming vibe with their hilarious improv comedy nights. Each show is made up on the spot and inspired by the anonymously shared secrets of those attending. The only rule is that everyone must spill a real secret to get in.
With no script and no rehearsals, everything that unfolds on stage is truly a one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated experience. And pretty funny, too.
Off-Script Marketing Moves:
- When the crowd becomes part of the show, no two nights are ever the same. Improv dating and open mic poetry nights = pure Off-Script Energy.
- Send cryptic confirmation emails (“Your adventure begins at 7:43 PM. Bring something shiny.”).
- Introduce chance into your marketing. A digital or physical spin-to-win wheel that decides what happens at the event: free drinks, a secret show, a bizarre surprise.
Tools to Help You Go Off-Script:
- Highlight your event’s special guests or tease surprise performers or appearances by adding a lineup to your event page.
- A great way to stay connected with your audience is to encourage attendees to follow your organizer profile so that they get notified as soon as you publish new events.
3. Embrace the weird (and wonderful)
Leaning into the weird, the curious, the niche, and the what-even-is-this? is another way to tap into Off-Script Energy, especially when combined with an impressive venue and an intriguing program of events.
Take Chicago’s International Museum of Surgical Science. The museum is filled with antique surgical tools, devices, and statues of notable surgeons, ensuring a unique atmosphere. But throw into the mix niche after-hours programming, like ambient music concerts and Japanese papermaking workshops, and memories of boring school trips will be banished forever.
Similarly, LA’s Philosophical Research Society is “dedicated to the ensoulment of all arts, sciences, and crafts,” with their events exploring the odder slices of life. They take attendees into heady places like the recurring Death Cafe, Esoteric Game Nights, Astrology Salons, and a surrealist study group. Core memories? Loaded.
Off-Script Marketing Moves:
- Flip a familiar format by making it adult. Chicago’s Tell Me Why It’s Cool Show is a lesson in how show-and-tells aren’t just for second graders.
- Partner with brands, creators, or venues that wouldn’t normally fit your event, like a silent disco in a cathedral or a rave in a florist.
- Use mismatched aesthetics (e.g. Renaissance art + neon typography) in your marketing.
- Post surreal teaser videos or images with no context, just the event date and an intriguing tagline like: “Something delightfully odd is coming.”
Tools to Help You Go Off-Script:
- Eventbrite Ads let you locally promote your events across Eventbrite’s site and mobile apps, so potential attendees have a better chance of discovering your event.
- Add-ons are a great way to sell merchandise and other extras related to your event, like T-shirts, VIP experiences, and other non-ticket items.
Discover how to bring this year’s Social Study trends to life:
- Soft Socializing: How to Enable Connection Without Pressure
- Show Up to Shape It: How to Empower Attendees to Make a Difference
- Neighborhood Revival: How to Win With Local Events
- Layers, Not Labels: How to Channel the Power of Event Mashups
Creator Spotlights: See the 2026 Social Study trends in action
- How BURNTORANGEHONEY Turns Unexpected Spaces Into NYC’s Most Electric Dining Experience
- How Silent Discos in Incredible Places Turn Quiet Connection Into a Cultural Movement
- How Crop Swap LA Is Redefining Community Action Events
- How New York Adventure Club Is Powering the Hyper-Local Event Boom
Want more?
Explore Eventbrite’s 2026 Social Study.
*Eventbrite Platform Data: Analyzed US and UK data comparing Aug 2023–Jul 2024 vs. Aug 2024–Jul 2025, tracking keywords in titles, descriptions, and venues.
