This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for an event agency.
The global event planning services market is sizable and expanding, and this FAQ gives you the hard numbers you need to launch and grow an event agency in 2025.
You will see clear figures on market size, growth, segments, geography, technology, and risks so you can position your offer and set realistic targets. Every answer is short, explicit, and supported by reputable industry sources compiled below.
If you want to dig deeper and learn more, you can download our business plan for an event agency. Also, before launching, get all the profit, revenue, and cost breakdowns you need for complete clarity with our event agency financial forecast.
The event planning services market is estimated at $136.5B in 2025, within a broader global events economy of about $1.55T. Growth is supported by corporate demand, technology adoption, and consumer appetite for curated experiences, with notable momentum in North America and Asia-Pacific.
Below is a concise table of key facts to guide your event agency’s strategy.
| Indicator | 2025 Status / Latest Data Point | Notes for an Event Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Event planning services market size | $136.5B (2025) | Defines the fee-based planning/management slice you can capture. |
| Broader global events industry | ~$1.55T (2025) | Includes conferences, exhibitions, live festivals—drives planner demand. |
| Historical 5-year CAGR | ~5% to 13.5% (by segment/region) | Benchmark for your growth targets and pricing power. |
| Forecast for planning services | ~11.5% CAGR to 2035 (≈$407.1B) | Supports scaling a specialized or tech-enabled agency model. |
| Regional leaders | North America ~38% share; APAC fastest expansion | Set your go-to-market and partnerships by these demand centers. |
| Segment revenue mix | Corporate ~45%; Social ~30–35% | Choose positioning: B2B corporate programs vs. weddings/celebrations. |
| Tech enablement | EMS/tools: $9.5B (2025) → $25.4B (2033) | Software stack is now a core driver of margins and scale. |
| Industry concentration | Top 5 ≈42% of formal services | Still fragmented locally—room for niche specialists to win share. |
| Key risks | Economic cycles, DIY tools, budget constraints | Insulate with retainer models, diversified segments, and tech. |
What is the current global market size of the event planning industry in annual revenue?
The event planning services market is about $136.5 billion in 2025.
This figure refers to formal, fee-based planning and management services purchased by clients. It sits inside a much larger overall events economy estimated at around $1.55 trillion in 2025.
For an event agency, the $136.5B number is your immediate addressable pool for planning fees, production markups, vendor coordination, and retained programs. The broader $1.55T pool influences volume because it includes categories that often require professional planning.
Use the $136.5B as your primary TAM for planning services and map a realistic SAM and SOM based on your geography and segment focus.
It’s a key part of what we outline in the event agency business plan.
What has been the average annual growth rate of the event planning industry over the past five years?
Average annual growth has ranged from ~5% to 13.5% across regions and segments.
Corporate-led markets recovered and expanded faster, while certain social segments grew more unevenly with local economic cycles. In the U.S. “party and event planners” subsegment, growth tracked at about 1.9% CAGR over five years.
For your event agency, calibrate targets by segment: B2B programs often show steadier multi-year commitments, whereas weddings and private events are more episodic but can command higher per-project fees. Blend your portfolio to stabilize revenue while pursuing higher-margin niches.
Benchmark your last 12–24 months against these ranges to set the next-year quota and capacity plan.
We cover this exact topic in the event agency business plan.
What are the projected growth rates for the event planning market over the next 5–10 years?
Planning services are projected to grow at around 11.5% CAGR to 2035, with selected segments outpacing.
Corporate event planning is cited as a standout, with some estimates indicating very rapid expansion as companies professionalize large-scale programs and outsource management. The overall events economy is expected to pass $2.5T by 2035.
| Horizon / Segment | Projected Growth | Implication for an Event Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Event planning services (global) | ~11.5% CAGR to 2035 (≈$407.1B) | Supports scaling retainers, multi-year programs, and tech-led delivery. |
| Broader events economy | 6.8%–13% CAGR (region/segment dependent) | Rising budgets across conferences, exhibitions, live experiences. |
| Corporate planning | Outsized growth; some estimates >30% in demand pockets | Prioritize B2B offerings, compliance, analytics, ROI reporting. |
| APAC | Fastest structural expansion | Consider partnerships in China, India, ASEAN hubs. |
| Europe | Solid recovery and growth | Local compliance and ESG-driven formats matter. |
| Tech / EMS software | $9.5B → $25.4B (2025–2033) | Adopt EMS stack to lift margins and win enterprise clients. |
| Hybrid/virtual formats | Continuing adoption | Offer blended packages to widen reach and lower cost/unit. |
Which geographies are largest, and how do their growth rates compare?
North America is the largest market with about 38% share; Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region.
Europe remains substantial with double-digit growth pockets; the UK, Germany, and broader EU markets are significant buyers of professional services. Japan and China remain important drivers in APAC, with urbanization and corporate expansion fueling demand.
| Region / Market | 2025 Position | Growth Notes for Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| North America | ~38% share; high corporate event intensity | Enterprise retainers, compliance-heavy delivery, ROI analytics. |
| Europe | Large, diversified; ~11.7% CAGR cited in parts | ESG, data privacy, cross-border conference circuits. |
| Asia-Pacific | Fastest growth; ~7.7% CAGR noted | Rapid urban events; rising middle-class celebrations. |
| China | Major sub-market | Trade shows, brand experiences, digital-first engagement. |
| United Kingdom | Key European hub | Financial and media sectors drive B2B programs. |
| Germany | Industrial and trade-fair center | Exhibitions and congresses support agency pipelines. |
| Japan | Stable, high-quality events market | Precision operations; strong vendor ecosystems. |
Who are the main customer segments and how much revenue does each represent?
Corporate events are the largest revenue driver for event planning services.
Social events (weddings, milestones) form the next major block, while exhibitions and trade shows represent a substantial share of the broader events economy that often require planners. Music/live and sports categories add further volume and sponsorship-driven budgets.
| Segment | Share / Revenue Indication | Implications for an Event Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate events | ~44–45% of planning revenue | Prioritize retainer programs, analytics, compliance. |
| Social events (weddings, private) | ~30–35% of planning revenue | High-touch service, premium design, destination ops. |
| Exhibitions / trade shows | ~25% of broader sector | Booth strategy, lead-gen metrics, logistics mastery. |
| Music / live events | ~20% of broader sector | Sponsorship packaging, production partners. |
| Sports events | ~10% of broader sector | Venue rights, crowd ops, brand activations. |
| Public / civic events | Varies by country and budget cycle | Tenders, compliance, community outcomes. |
| Nonprofit / fundraising | Smaller but stable, sponsor-led | Storytelling, donor experience, hybrid reach. |
What key factors are fueling industry growth today?
- Rapid adoption of event management software (registration, ticketing, apps, analytics) and AI-enabled planning workflows.
- Corporate budget expansion for employee engagement, client marketing, and brand experiences.
- Consumer appetite for curated, premium, and destination experiences in weddings and milestones.
- Sustainability requirements and hybrid/virtual formats that expand reach while optimizing costs.
- Urbanization and rising disposable income in emerging markets, especially across APAC and parts of South America.
You’ll find detailed market insights in our event agency business plan, updated every quarter.
What are the main challenges or risks that could slow growth?
- Economic downturns and budget freezes that reduce discretionary event spending.
- DIY and low-cost digital tools that can displace smaller agency engagements.
- Market fragmentation and saturation in mature cities, pressuring fees and margins.
- Cost inflation for venues, production, and staffing that compresses profitability.
- Operational complexity, compliance, and last-mile logistics risks for large events.
This is one of the strategies explained in our event agency business plan.
How concentrated is the industry and what is the market share split among leaders?
The formal planning services market is moderately concentrated at the top but fragmented locally.
Approximately 42% of the formal event planning services market is held by the top five companies, yet thousands of independent agencies compete regionally and by niche. This creates opportunities for specialized offerings and tech-enabled delivery models.
| Indicator | Data Point | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Top-5 share (formal services) | ~42% | Large players exist, but room remains for specialists. |
| Local market structure | Highly fragmented | Compete on niche expertise and responsiveness. |
| Barriers to entry | Moderate (relationships, ops, tech stack) | Invest early in EMS, partners, and QA processes. |
| Differentiation drivers | Tech, data, creativity, ESG capability | Codify playbooks and case metrics. |
| Pricing dynamics | Retainers + project fees + markups | Blend models to stabilize cash flow. |
| Vendor ecosystem | Crucial for scale and margin | Negotiate SLAs and volume discounts. |
| M&A outlook | Ongoing roll-ups in regions | Consider partnerships or exits over time. |
How much revenue comes from corporate events vs. social or private events?
Corporate programs generate the largest share of planning revenue, with social events second.
Indicatively, corporate represents about 44–45% of planning revenue, while social/private events contribute roughly 30–35%. The balance comes from public/civic and nonprofit work and varies by market.
| Category | Share of Planning Revenue | Notes for Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate | ~44–45% | Focus on multi-event calendars, ROI dashboards, compliance. |
| Social / private | ~30–35% | Premium design, destination ops, experiential creativity. |
| Public / civic | Low teens or less | Bid cycles; emphasize safety and community outcomes. |
| Nonprofit / fundraising | Single-digit share | Sponsorship packaging and donor journeys. |
| Regional variance | High | Tourism, income levels, and venue supply matter. |
| Cycle sensitivity | Corporate steadier; social cyclical | Balance your mix to smooth revenue. |
| Pricing models | Retainers vs. project fees | Blend to protect margins and cash flow. |
What role do digital platforms and event technologies play, and how is adoption evolving?
Digital platforms and event management software (EMS) are now central to growth and margins.
The EMS/tools market is estimated around $9.5B in 2025, projected to reach $25.4B by 2033. Adoption includes registration, ticketing, mobile apps, on-site tech, analytics, and AI assistants that compress planning cycles and elevate attendee experience.
| Technology Area | Adoption / Growth | Agency Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Core EMS (reg, ticketing, CRM) | High usage; standard in pro delivery | Data-driven planning, fewer manual errors, faster ROI proof. |
| Mobile apps & engagement | Widespread, sponsor-ready | Monetize via upgrades and sponsor placements. |
| Analytics & reporting | Growing; 79%+ pros use systems | Differentiate with KPI dashboards and insights. |
| AI / automation | Rapid pilot-to-scale | Shorter planning timelines; precision forecasting. |
| Hybrid / virtual | Persistent post-pandemic | Expand reach, reduce cost-per-attendee. |
| Sustainability tooling | Accelerating in enterprise RFPs | Lower footprint reporting wins bids. |
| On-site tech (badging, RFID) | Standardizing at scale | Improves throughput and data capture. |
Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our event agency business plan.
Which spending trends most influence market size and growth?
Corporate spending on experiential branding, employee engagement, and client programs is accelerating.
Consumers are paying for curated formats, premium design, and destination experiences, especially for weddings and milestones. Sustainability and tech-enabled interactivity influence vendor selection and budget allocation.
For your agency, this means offering hybrid options, measurable sponsorship value, ESG reporting, and robust post-event analytics to protect budgets. Align your proposals with concrete KPIs like cost per qualified lead, NPS, and attendance growth.
Tie service packages to outcomes to reduce procurement friction and strengthen renewal odds.
This is one of the many elements we break down in the event agency business plan.
What are the most promising emerging markets or niches with the highest growth?
- APAC hubs (China, India, ASEAN capitals) for B2B conferences, launches, and exhibitions.
- Destination weddings and premium social experiences with concierge logistics.
- Green/ESG-certified event programs with verified footprint reporting.
- Hybrid conferences and international trade shows with multi-hub formats.
- AI-driven planning, personalization engines, and data-rich attendee journeys.
Conclusion
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.
Looking to model your event agency’s margins and breakeven? Explore practical guides and calculators tailored to planners and producers.
Want to pressure-test your business model? Read our articles on pricing, project value, and profitability levers for event agencies.
Sources
- Bizplanr – Event Industry Statistics
- Business Research Insights – Event Planning Service Market
- Grand View Research – Event Management Market
- Allied Market Research – Events Industry Market
- IBISWorld – Party & Event Planners (US)
- Market.us – Event Management Services Market
- Cognitive Market Research – Event Management Tools
- Future Market Insights – Event Management Software
- Market Research Future – Europe Events Industry
- Grand View Research – Event Management Software
-Event management profit margin: benchmarks and levers
-Is an event agency profitable? What to expect
-Budget template for an event agency (free download)
-Revenue model tool for event agencies
-Event agency breakeven: how many projects?
-Raising average project value in your agency
-Is starting an event agency worth it in 2025?