As 2025 approaches, the experiential marketing landscape is set to be the biggest year yet. New research from Event Marketer shows that 74 per cent of Fortune 1000 marketers plan to boost their experiential budgets, while 56 per cent of attendees expect to join more events compared to 2024. DisplayWise general manager of sales, Anne Evers, shared her predictions on the top experiential trends of 2025 and how marketers can dominate in this space next year.
“As we move into 2025, our custom builds will help brands break through the noise and create experiences that truly resonate. But what sets us apart is the end-to-end support we offer throughout every stage of the production process—ensuring a seamless, stress-free experience from concept to completion. If you’re ready to make a bold statement and lead the market, we’re here to make it happen,” said Evers.
Trend #1: Tech-Driven Immersive and Hybrid Experiences
The demand for immersive, tech-driven experiences is set to rise in 2025. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are leading the charge, offering brands the ability to create multi-sensory activations that go beyond traditional physical spaces.
At DisplayWise, we’re seeing a continued push towards hybrid experiences that seamlessly merge in-person and digital touchpoints. Clients want activations that engage attendees on-site while extending the experience online. This could mean livestreaming events, leveraging retail media networks, or using QR codes for exclusive digital content and gamified interactions. Brands want real-time insights and ways to measure the impact of their experiences too. We’ve seen rising demand for integrated tech like RFID tracking and interactive kiosks that capture audience behaviour, however, this also poses challenges around first-party data collection as privacy regulations tighten.
Trend #2: Sustainability and ESG Reporting
Sustainability remains a top priority for both brands and consumers in 2025. There’s a growing demand for eco-friendly activations, from sourcing sustainable materials to minimising waste and ensuring circularity at the end of a project’s lifecycle. We’re seeing increased requests for transparency on material sourcing and sustainability policies, as brands aim to align with consumer values and business objectives.
As new sustainability reporting legislation comes into effect on 1 Jan 2025, brands will also be under pressure to demonstrate their commitment to corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals. As such, green initiatives in experiential marketing will be crucial to meet these evolving expectations and legislative requirements.
Trend #3: Experiential Content Creation
Experiential content creation will be a game changer for marketers in 2025 to increase both reach and revenue. We’re seeing client briefs that demand disruptive environments and visually stunning spaces to inspire consumers to become content creators themselves. This approach extends the activation’s reach well beyond the event, leveraging organic, audience-generated content to generate buzz and excitement. However, achieving viral cut-through comes down to selecting the right content creators who amplify brand visibility and add an authentic, real-time element that extends the campaign’s impact long after the activation concludes.
Trend #4: Hyper-Personalisation and Inclusivity
While brands continue to leverage real-time data—such as purchase history, location and social media activity, the real game-changer will be how brands broaden their inclusivity. Consumers now expect product experiences that are not only personalised but also accessible and representative of their diverse needs and preferences. Brands who embrace this approach next year are guaranteed success as we see these experiences shifting beyond simple customisation to demand maximum attention in a saturated marketplace.
Ready to take your brand experience to the next level in 2025? Explore the DisplayWise custom build solutions at displaywise.com.au to started on bringing your boldest ideas to life.
