What event organizers need to know about the European Accessibility Act
As of June 28, 2025, the new EU directive on accessibility for digital products and services (European Accessibility Act, EAA) will come into effect. This means that all digital components used in events – such as booking systems, registration pages, apps, and other interactive tools – must be accessible to people with disabilities. This blog is about how you can ensure your digital platforms are inclusive and compliant.
What does the directive cover?
The directive is based on the WCAG 2.1/2.2 guidelines and sets requirements such as:
- Images must have alt text (alternative text), i.e., a descriptive text that screen readers can read aloud for visually impaired users.
- Videos must have subtitles or text descriptions.
- Navigation must work via keyboard and screen readers.
- Design must meet standards for color contrast, heading structure, and clear visual logic.
Who is affected?
The directive applies to:
- Companies with more than 10 employees or an annual turnover exceeding 24 million SEK (2 M EUR)
- Businesses within the EU, as well as non-EU entities targeting participants within the Union.
What happens if you don’t comply?
Failing to meet accessibility requirements may result in:
- Excluding participants with disabilities.
- Compliance issues, which can lead to sanctions or negative publicity.
- Lost business opportunities – over 100 million people in the EU are estimated to have some form of disability.
What should You do?
- Conduct an accessibility audit of your digital platforms and systems.
- Ensure features like alt text, subtitles, and accessible navigation are in place.
- Document your accessibility efforts and include an accessibility policy.
- Train your staff, especially those working with content, UX, and technology.
Checklist: make your digital event accessible in 5 Steps
- Map out your digital touchpoints
- Identify all digital interfaces your attendees will use – such as the registration page, agenda, event app, and streaming platform. Review whether they comply with WCAG accessibility guidelines.
- Add alt text and image descriptions
- Ensure all images and icons include clear alternative text so that screen readers can convey the content. Describe what the image shows – not just its file name.
- Provide captions for video and audio
- Both live and pre-recorded videos should include captions or alternative formats to make content accessible for attendees with hearing impairments.
- Test navigation and color contrast
- Make sure your pages can be navigated via keyboard and that text has sufficient contrast against the background. This helps older attendees and users with visual impairments.
- Educate your team and create an accessibility policy
- Build internal awareness about digital accessibility. Establish a clear policy to show that inclusion is a priority and that your organization is prepared for the upcoming legal requirements in 2025.