Special event insurance is short-term liability coverage that protects event hosts, organizers, and venues from financial responsibility if a guest is injured or property is damaged during an event. Most venues require it of any event organizer and vendor who step foot on their property before allowing weddings, parties, festivals, fundraisers, and other gatherings to take place.
At Event Helper, special event insurance can typically be purchased online in minutes and includes a certificate of insurance (COI) naming your rented venue as an additional insured.
What Does Special Event Insurance Cover?
Most policies include:
- Bodily injury liability (guest injuries, slips, falls)
- Property damage liability (damage to the venue)
- Personal & advertising injury (libel, slander, copyright claims)
Optional add-ons can include:
- FREE Host liquor liability
- FREE Additional insured endorsements
- Cancellation insurance
- Waivers of subrogation
- Hired and Non-Owned Auto
- Retail Liquor Liability
- Athletic Participant Coverage
- Crisis Management Coverage
Who Needs Special Event Insurance?
You typically need special event insurance if you are hosting an event or are a vendor at an event where people will gather:
- Weddings
- Birthday parties
- Holiday parties
- Private parties & social receptions
- Fundraisers & galas
- Festivals & concerts
- Graduation events
- Corporate events
If a venue, municipality, or property owner is involved, insurance is almost always required for anyone who steps foot on their property.
Why Do Venues Require Special Event Insurance?
Venues require event insurance to:
- Make sure their event organizers are financially protected
- Transfer liability to the correct responsible party
- Protect themselves from lawsuits
- Ensure claims are handled by insurance, not the venue
Most venues require:
- $1 million per occurrence
- Venue listed as additional insured
- Approved Certificate of Insurance (COI) issued before the event
How Much Does Special Event Insurance Cost?
Most one-day events cost between $75 and $250, depending on:
- Guest count
- Alcohol service
- Event type
- Coverage limits
Multi-day events and higher-risk activities may cost more.
How Do I Get Special Event Insurance?
With Event Helper's simple online application, you can get covered in minutes:
- Enter your event details online
- Select coverage limits
- Pay securely
- Download your COI instantly
- Most policies are issued in under five minutes.
Most policies are issued in under five minutes.
FAQs
Is Special Event Insurance the Same as Wedding Insurance?
Wedding insurance is a type of special event insurance specifically for weddings and receptions. Wedding Cancellation is a separate type of Wedding Insurance.
Do Backyard Events Need Insurance?
Often, yes. Make sure all vendors have coverage. And cover yourself so you don't have to file pricey injury claims with your homeowners insurance.
Can I Buy Insurance the Same Day as My Event?
Yes - Event Helper policies can be bound online in less than 5 minutes. Coverage starts as soon as you pay.
Does Special Event Insurance Cover Vendors?
No. Policies are designed to cover the actions of the event host and their guests. Vendors should provide their own policies, which are also available.
Is Special Event Insurance Required by Law?
Not usually, but venues and municipalities commonly require it contractually.
