2026 Moments That Reminded Me Why I Love Working in Events
By Lucy Robinson, Marketing & Events Executive
Working in the events industry is often associated with prestige, particularly from the perspective of an attendee, but the reality behind successful events is far more complex.
At an event, guests encounter a polished environment, a well-designed space, and engaging conversations, where every detail seems effortless. What is less visible is what happens behind the scenes. Delivering that experience involves extensive preparation, early starts and late finishes, contingency planning, last-minute changes, constant problem-solving, and more caffeine than most of us would care to admit.
It is an environment where adaptability and precision are essential, where even the smallest detail can have a significant impact. The tension can be high, and at times it can feel overwhelming.
Our vision realised
Despite this, within that demanding process, there are moments that make it all worthwhile. At the beginning of 2026, our team delivered two events that marked important milestones for the business and left us with a strong sense of accomplishment. They reminded me exactly why I chose to work in events.
PitchLab, which took place in January, was our first event of its kind: an industry Dragons’ Den-style format designed to bring brands and agencies together to discuss business opportunities. I saw this idea develop from its earliest stage into a fully realised event.
The concept began as a simple idea, quite literally written on a piece of paper by one of our directors. From that starting point, we designed the brand identity from the ground up, shaping the visual elements and contributing to the overall experience. What started as a small idea quickly became months of planning, designing, refining and problem-solving.
The event itself exceeded expectations. It was our first sell-out, and the response from attendees was extremely positive. On the day of the event, seeing the branding come to life and the venue filled with engaged attendees was one of those moments where all the early mornings and late nights felt 100 times worth it.
The pressure, the build-up, and the stress were replaced with pride. Feedback continued to circulate internally in the weeks that followed, and the team’s response was ecstatic.
New horizons
That shared sense of achievement created real momentum as we moved into our second event of the year, the Retail Media Age Lunch, the first event dedicated to our new publication. This event carried a different kind of pressure. It marked our entry into a developing area of the industry, and there was a strong sense of responsibility to deliver something meaningful and well-executed. Entering a relatively new space required confidence, careful planning, and even greater attention to detail. The stakes felt higher, and so did the workload.
Retail Media Age Lunch was a success. The team was brilliant, the audience was brilliant, and the panel received excellent feedback. In hindsight, I should never have doubted the outcome, but that doubt and that pressure are part of the process. They are what push you to prepare better, think sharper, and work harder.
Maintaining momentum
Working in events is demanding and often unpredictable, but that is exactly why the success feels so significant. It offers a unique reward: the ability to see the direct impact of months of preparation in a single day. When the room is full, the conversations are flowing, and the feedback is positive, you can see the result of every spreadsheet, every design decision, every rehearsal and every contingency plan.
The hard work does not disappear, but it becomes meaningful. Successfully delivering events like these reinforces the value of preparation, collaboration, resilience, and attention to detail. Moments like PitchLab and the Retail Media Age Lunch are reminders that, while the industry can be intense, the reward of seeing everything come together makes every challenge worth it.