Whether you’re hosting a one-off event or it’s going to be recurring throughout the year, one thing is clear: you need event protection.

But what is event insurance, and what does it include? And do you really need cover for the whole year if it’s just a one-off event?

What does event insurance include?

‘Event insurance’ is an umbrella term for a few different types of protection. While packages vary, you can typically expect to find the following included as standard:

• Public liability covers you for incidents where someone files a claim against you if they’ve experienced injury or property damage because of your event
• Theft, which covers you against losses you incur due to theft at your event
• The weather, venues, and life in general all present with an element of unpredictability. Cancellation protection covers you for losses experienced due to unforeseen cancellations.
• Property damage. When you welcome the public into your event, anything can happen, including property damage – even if it’s unintentional. Property damage cover protects you against this.

When do you need event insurance?

There are a number of situations you might need event insurance for, including:

• School fetes
• Hobby classes, e.g., art or ballet lessons
• Markets
• Carnivals
• Charity events.

Even one-off events require event insurance, because they’re just as susceptible to incidents – like a public liability claim or weather-related cancellation – that could leave you significantly out of pocket without the right protection.

Do I need cover for the whole year for a one-off event?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is purchasing your event insurance too late.

Let’s say you have an event planned in eight months’ time and, because the event isn’t for a few months, you haven’t purchased cover yet. The misunderstanding here is that nothing can go wrong until the actual date of the event – but this is wrong.

There are lots of things that can go wrong prior to the date of your event, from unforeseen illnesses to unexpected venue issues leading to costly relocation fees. It’s therefore crucial you book your insurance as soon as possible, because the sooner you book it, the earlier you’re covered for any number of unforeseen incidents that may occur prior to the date of your event.

If you need to arrange event insurance or would like to discuss your cover options, please call [broker name] on [telephone].