What Gen Z wants at conferences: insights from our 2025 survey.

Gen Z is reshaping the future of corporate events and conferences. 

Born between 1997 and 2012, this generation brings fresh perspectives, intentionality, and a strong preference for authenticity, personalization, and immersive experiences. 

Based on our survey of 57 Gen Z professionals, we’ve uncovered key insights into what matters most to them when attending conferences. 

If you want to create an event that resonates with this audience, here’s what you need to know.

1. Gen Z prioritizes experiences over traditional conference formats.

Gen Z doesn’t want a standard conference with endless hours of back-to-back PowerPoint presentations. 

They crave memorable, immersive, and shareable experiences that make an impact. 

Your event should be visually appealing and provide opportunities for hands-on engagement. 

64% of attendees prefer immersive experiences. They want “Instagrammable moments” that curate experiences that feel unique and worth sharing with their peers.

Gen Z also values adventure and discovery, preferring behind-the-scenes access and interactive sessions over passive learning. 

They want to walk away with tangible skills, new perspectives, and meaningful connections. 

2. Networking preferences: keep it casual and purposeful.

Get rid of the formal, high-pressure networking sessions—Gen Z prefers casual, organic ways to connect. 

Here’s how they like to network at conferences:

• Happy hour events (49%) are the most preferred setting, as they allow for natural conversations in a relaxed environment.
• Casual meetups in lounge areas (23%) offer an informal way to connect over coffee or snacks.
• Breakout sessions or roundtables (16%) provide topic-driven conversations with like-minded professionals.
• Exhibit halls (12%) still hold value but are not the primary focus for networking.

Icebreakers? Gen Z has mixed feelings:

• 63% find them okay but sometimes awkward.
• 25% enjoy them as a way to connect.
• 12% would rather skip them altogether.

The takeaway? 

Give your attendees options for structured and unstructured networking to cater to different comfort levels.

3. Content and learning: engaging, interactive, and self-directed.

When it comes to content, Gen Z prefers peer-to-peer learning over traditional lectures. 

They value sessions led by content creators and industry professionals who can share real-world insights.

Preferred session formats:

• Hands-on demonstrations and live simulations (53%)
• Interactive workshops and breakout sessions (25%)
• Keynote speeches from leaders (12%)

Attention spans also vary:

• 30-45 minutes with interactivity (58%) is the sweet spot.
• 15-20 minutes of short, impactful content (35%) works well.
• Only 7% are willing to engage in hour-long sessions (if they are highly engaging).

Personalization matters.

• 75.4% of respondents prefer a mix of self-directed and planned experiences.
• While 22.8% want full control over their itinerary.

4. Health, wellness, and food preferences.

Health-conscious and mindful of their choices, Gen Z values wellness-centric offerings at conferences.

Food and beverage priorities:

• Non-alcoholic drinks & wellness beverages are a must-have. 26% want mocktails, and 53% prefer specialty coffee and tea.
• Healthy, locally sourced food (23%) and regional cuisine (35%) are highly desired.
• Dietary inclusivity is a must—one-size-fits-all menus won’t cut it.

Gen Z is also drinking less alcohol (about one-third less beer and wine than previous generations).

We recommend you include signature non-alcoholic beverages at your conferences to support this growing demographic.

5. Event structure: a balance of structure and free time.

Gen Z doesn’t want to be tied down to rigid schedules. 

They prefer an equal mix of structured activities and free time (70%). 

Only 2% want a highly unstructured event, while 28% lean toward mostly structured agendas with some downtime.

For evening activities:

• 53% enjoy entertainment like live music or comedy.
• 28% prefer casual networking mixers.
• 19% need downtime after long event days.

Offering optional evening activities with diverse choices allows attendees to participate without pressure.

6. Sustainability and authenticity are non-negotiable.

Sustainability is a growing priority for Gen Z, but they’re also critical thinkers who value authenticity over performative gestures. 

While 63% say sustainability is important, they want real, impactful initiatives rather than surface-level “greenwashing.”

Additionally, inclusivity matters:

• 10.5% are concerned about a lack of dietary, accessibility, or family-friendly options.
• 17.5% cite cost as a major barrier to conference attendance.
• 61.4% say sessions that feel irrelevant or generic are a major turnoff.

7. The bottom line: what this means for conference planners.

If you want to attract and engage Gen Z at your conference, here’s what you need to prioritize: 

⛰️  Immersive, interactive experiences over passive lectures. 

🤝 Casual and intentional networking with flexible formats.

📋 Personalized event itineraries with room for self-direction. 

🥗  Wellness-focused food and beverage options with non-alcoholic choices.

🧘  Balanced structure and free time to prevent burnout. 

🌱  Authentic sustainability initiatives over bluff and buzzwords.

🎤  Peer-led content and engaging activations instead of generic sessions.

Conclusion. 

Gen Z is redefining what it means to attend a conference. 

They want purpose, connection, and an experience worth their time. 

By adapting to their expectations, conference planners can create more engaging, inclusive, and forward-thinking events that leave a lasting impact.

Want to create incentive events that truly connect with future generations? Dive into this article!

Ready to plan your next conference?

We can help you define an event strategy that meets the evolving needs of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X.  Let's chat about your upcoming conference or corporate event.