Event survey questions to ask pre, during, and post-event

Successful events don’t just happen—they’re shaped by insight, planning and feedback. One of the most effective ways to improve your event strategy is to ask the right questions at the right time. Pre-event, during the event, and post-event surveys each serve a different purpose, helping you understand your audience, refine your delivery, and measure your success.

Below is a guide to the best questions to ask at each stage to ensure you collect meaningful and actionable data.

Pre-event survey questions

Before your event begins, surveys can help you understand expectations, interests and potential barriers. This insight allows you to tailor your content, schedule, and logistics for a better attendee experience.

Goals:

• Understand your audience
• Gauge interest in topics/speakers
• Identify accessibility or logistical concerns

Example questions:

• What are you hoping to gain from this event?
• Which sessions or topics are you most interested in?
• How did you hear about the event?
• Have you attended one of our events before?
• Do you have any dietary or accessibility requirements?
• What would make this event a success for you?

During-event survey questions

Collecting feedback during the event gives you the chance to make real-time improvements and keep a finger on the pulse of attendee satisfaction. These can be short, in-app polls or quick feedback forms between sessions.

Goals:

• Monitor satisfaction in real time
• Resolve issues as they arise
• Keep attendees engaged

Example questions:

• How would you rate this session so far?
• Is the event meeting your expectations?
• How easy was it to navigate the venue/platform?
• Are you finding the networking opportunities valuable?
• Do you have any immediate concerns or feedback?

Post-event survey questions

After the event is over, this is your chance to measure overall satisfaction, assess the impact of your event, and collect ideas for the future. Post-event feedback is critical for showing ROI, reporting to stakeholders, and improving future events.

Goals:

• Measure success and satisfaction
• Collect testimonials and improvement areas
• Understand long-term impact

Example questions:

• How satisfied were you with the event overall?
• What did you enjoy most?
• What could we improve next time?
• Would you attend another event hosted by us?
• Did the event meet your expectations?
• How likely are you to recommend this event to a colleague or friend?
• What topics would you like to see covered in future events?

Final thoughts

Asking the right questions before, during and after your event can turn gut feelings into clear insights. Keep your surveys concise, relevant, and easy to complete—timing and tone matter just as much as the questions themselves.

Done well, event surveys not only inform your planning, but help build trust and engagement with your audience, creating better experiences every time.