The sunshine is creeping in and everyone’s ready to socialise, improve their wellbeing and enjoy the great weather and this doesn’t have to mean just a home, summer is the perfect time to enhance workplace wellbeing and productivity.
Summer conferences are becoming more popular in 2026 as event agencies like Blackberry see clients focus time and budget on summer corporate events and gatherings more so than ever before and even more.
52% of companies had already held at least one corporate event outdoors by early 2025.
But why are we seeing more clients move their corporate events to summer?
According to the Meeting Industry Association, outdoor events for employees significantly boost morale, productivity, and team cohesion, with 53% of companies reporting higher employee positivity following such events.
This blog will tell you all the reasons why you should be considering a summer party and how it can transform your next business conference when combined.
In recent years we have all begun to realise that there are staggering benefits to organisations and their people if wellbeing is a priority. Taking care of employee mental, physical and social health is essential to a happy, healthy and productive team.
Outdoor events like corporate summer parties are the ideal environment for wellness activities suitable for all ages and abilities and soaking up some of the good stuff - Vitamin D!
There is an increasing number of wellness activities hitting the corporate event market as we speak. Wellness activities suitable for summer parties include options such as Disco Yoga, Ceramic Painting, Sound Baths, Tai Chi and Sporting Games such as It’s a Knockout and Country Pursuits. When added to a conference, a summer party allows your team to move, relax and connect with colleagues after the formalities are over.
Keeping employees engaged throughout your conference should no longer be difficult particularly when working with professional conference organisers like Blackberry Events, however if you want to level up engagement a step further, include a summer party post conference.
Letting your team know that you have something fun in store that afternoon or evening can set the tone for an exciting corporate event, keeping engagement and positivity high throughout.
Add a little gamification to your conference and summer party through event apps with challenges and leaderboards. Keep it running throughout your conference and summer party for some added engagement and community interaction.
We all know that getting people to attend internal events can come with difficulties. Busy employees dread stepping away from the day to day but the time away can be a welcomed break that increases their focus and motivation going forward. By adding a summer party onto your conference, you can offer fun activities that can increase employee attendance and all round positivity around attending, making the outcomes even more effective.
Summer parties are a blank canvas where creativity and inspiration can look however you and your organisation want it to. Whether you host on a field, in a park or in a tipi this blank canvas allows you to be as inclusive as possible, with endless space for exciting activities and themes that cater for all preferences and abilities within your team.
Giving your employees the space and freedom away from their desk or workplace can allow them to form deeper bonds with their colleagues. This coupled with the addition of team activities at your summer party can further enhance collaboration and team cohesion when back at work. Since majority of workforces now have some element of working from home, face to face corporate events are a tool you should use now more than ever. Team building activities can be added to your summer party through Blackberry Events and their trusted suppliers.
Community is more than just a buzz word in 2026, we are seeing it as an essential part of internal and external marketing and events are the perfect catalyst for creating community.
Enhance employee satisfaction and loyalty by creating belonging and support amongst colleagues. You can incorporate branded merchandise at your conference and summer party which can act as a symbol of unity for all in attendance. Try some branded wristbands, sunglasses, t-shirts, hats and accessories for example. Encourage people to share their snaps wearing them into your community chat groups and continue the good vibes and conversation post event.
Use your community photos in positive PR to external audiences, demonstrating your fun and compassionate internal culture, attracting new talent and business in the future.
Encouraging positive culture at a conference can be somewhat tricky in a formal format and setting however you can intertwine messages throughout your content and go on to continue this at your summer party.
Incorporate activities that re-enforce positivity such as a Graffiti Wall where attendees can share positive messages with one another in a creative and interactive way.
Allow delegates to make a positive impact whilst attending your corporate summer party, further spreading positivity. Do this by adding a charitable element such as a food bank or incorporate messaging about how they can help you as the organisers reduce their impact on the planet, maybe through using their own plastic-free refillable water bottles for example.
There are many other ways you can spread positivity like this into your event, speak to the Blackberry Events team for ideas and inspiration for your next corporate summer party.
New research from Center Parcs Conferences and Events finds that almost one-third (31%) of people spend no time at all outside with their colleagues, while more than half (53%) spend less than one hour per month.
With this in mind, it is only beneficial to employees to receive some time outside with colleagues, in fact studies show that productivity increases dramatically in the workplace when your team is given this opportunity.
Whilst we understand that conferences are essential event formats for delivering important information; by adding a summer party post conference you can easily incorporate the benefits of being in the great outdoors.
Morale is absolutely essential in the working environment, it can determine the culture and general feeling of your team, which in turn has huge benefits to your external clients and revenue generated.
Summer parties are one of the most successful events for boosting morale, the combination of fun themes and activities, delicious food and drink and the great outdoors make for a cocktail of feel good factors.
There are ways you can look to further increase morale with a little healthy competition and some exciting entertainment at your summer party. Add fun and competitive outdoor team building activities such as It’s a Knockout, Country Pursuits, Moto Sports or for those who prefer something a little less active, tabletop games and simulators such as light chasers and reaction games.
Entertainment wise, the world is your oyster when it comes to summer parties which is another reason so many businesses love them! You can explore so many options from live performances to interactive entertainment. Popular choices include roaming bands, stage bus performers, fire breathers or circus performers – why not have a dabble at some circus skills and see who can really spin all their plates at once!
Retaining employees is harder now than it has ever been with employee expectations far greater than ever before as they look for a workplace with factors such as a good culture, wellbeing initiatives and the opportunity to see colleagues face to face – particularly if the team works from home.
Adding a summer party onto your conference shows you care about your team beyond getting them together to say what you have to say to them. Summer parties can show your team that you are giving something back and rewarding them for their hard work and dedication to the business.
By planning an event that is truly fun not forced fun, your team go away feeling appreciated, which in turn can help retain and attract top talent!
Now you’ve heard why you should plan your conference and summer party, speak to the Blackberry Events team for inspiration and help planning it.
Let us make this summer one to remember and help you and your business reap the benefits. Contact us today. Don’t forget we can also help you find the perfect summer party venue free of charge, thanks to our venue finding service!
If you found that interesting here are some suggestions from us to find out a bit more about Blackberry Events and our events management services.
If you found that interesting here are some suggestions from us to find out a bit more about Blackberry Events and our events management services.
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