06. Online Events
How to create and manage online (virtual) and hybrid events with live streaming support.
Overview
Online events are virtual events with no physical location. Customers attend by watching an embedded live stream on a private streaming page.
Hybrid events combine a physical venue with an online stream, allowing both in-person and remote attendance.
Streaming is powered by an external provider - YouTube, Vimeo, or any other iframe-compatible service.
Stream access is controlled per sale item, so you can choose which item types grant streaming access.
The Event Streams feature must be enabled for your company.
Event Location Types
When creating an event, you select one of three location types:
Type | Venue | Streaming | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
In Venue | Required | Disabled | A physical event at a specific venue. No streaming. |
Online | Not required | Enabled | A virtual-only event with no physical location. |
Both | Required | Enabled | A hybrid event with both in-person attendance and an online stream. |
The location type can be changed after creation from the event dashboard by editing the event location.
Selecting Online or Both automatically enables the streaming configuration. Switching to In Venue disables it.
Stream Configuration
Stream settings are configured on the event dashboard under Event Streaming Settings.
Field | Description |
|---|---|
Enable event live stream | Master toggle to enable or disable the stream for this event. |
Stream provider | The streaming platform: YouTube, Vimeo, or Other. |
Stream URL | The URL of the live stream from your provider. The platform automatically generates the correct embed URL based on the selected provider. |
Stream body | Optional content (WYSIWYG) displayed on the private streaming page alongside the video. Supports translations. |
Display live chat | Show the provider's live chat alongside the stream. Available for YouTube and Vimeo. |
Providers
Paste any standard YouTube URL (e.g. youtube.com/watch?v=..., youtu.be/..., or embed URLs). The platform extracts the video ID and generates the correct embed URL.
When Display live chat is enabled, the YouTube live chat is embedded alongside the stream.
Paste the Vimeo video URL. The platform calls the Vimeo API to extract the video ID and generates the correct player embed URL.
When Display live chat is enabled, the Vimeo live chat is embedded alongside the stream.
For other providers, paste the iframe-compatible embed URL directly. The URL is used as-is.
Live chat is not available for custom providers.
Stream Access
Per Sale Item
Each sale item has a Can access stream toggle (visible when the event has streaming enabled). This controls whether purchasing that item grants the customer access to the streaming page.
Enabled (default) - customers who purchase this item can access the stream.
Disabled - customers who purchase this item cannot access the stream. Useful for items like merchandise or add-ons that should not grant viewing access.
Customer Experience
Customers access the stream from their account by clicking Access stream on a purchased item that has stream access. The stream is accessed via a private URL tied to the customer's specific order item barcode.
The streaming page displays:
The embedded video player from the configured provider.
The stream body content (if configured).
Live chat (if enabled and supported by the provider).
A countdown timer if the event has not yet started.
Stream availability: The stream becomes viewable up to 60 seconds before the event's start time. Before that, customers see a countdown. After the event ends, the stream is no longer available.
Single-Device Restriction
Each ticket can only access the stream on one device at a time. If a customer attempts to access the stream on a second device while already viewing on another, they are redirected back to their orders with a warning message.
The order confirmation email for events with streaming includes a note informing customers that the stream can be accessed from the My Account section.
Differences from In-Venue Events
Online-only events behave the same as in-venue events in most respects - they support sale items, timeslots, capacity controls, seating plans, and all other event features. The key differences are:
No venue is required or displayed.
The event is labelled as an Online event in listings and on the event page.
Customers access the event via the streaming page rather than a physical location.