After a few rocky years of Zoom meetings and half-empty conference halls, 2025 has marked the full-throttle return of in-person events. In fact, over 66% of event organizers planned to host more in-person experiences in 2025 (up from 42% in 2024). Budgets for conferences, festivals, and trade shows are swelling, and attendance is rising. There’s a palpable excitement as people flock to conventions, concerts, and sports matches again. But with this resurgence comes the challenge of managing crowds and credentials at scale. That’s where the trusty lanyard steps back into the spotlight. Yes, those woven necklaces with a badge or card attached – they’re the unsung heroes making sure our booming events stay organized, secure, and well-branded.
Why Lanyards Aren’t Going Out of Style:
In our digital age, one might wonder: why do we still use physical lanyards for events? The answer lies in human nature and practicality. When thousands gather at a venue, lanyards provide instant identification and authority. A quick glance at someone’s chest badge can tell you if they’re an attendee, staff, VIP, or vendor. This was evident at Johannesburg’s massive DStv Delicious Festival 2025, where “the event was packed to capacity as scores of South Africans came to witness their favourite acts”. Amidst the bustling crowds, security and crew relied on color-coded badges swinging from branded lanyards to keep track of who belonged where. Unlike a digital pass on a phone (which can get lost in a messaging app or suffer a dead battery at the wrong moment), a lanyard is physically present and visible at all times.
Instant Access, Instant Authority
Think about the last conference you attended. Upon check-in, you likely received a printed lanyard with your name and company. Slipping it around your neck transformed you from a random visitor to an official participant. Lanyards grant attendees a sense of belonging and an all-access pass feeling – whether it’s entry into a keynote session or the 21+ beer garden at a music festival. For event staff and security, lanyards are invaluable. It’s much easier to ask “Can I see your badge?” than to scan every person’s email confirmation. And in high-security events (say a corporate summit or industry expo), lanyards with photo ID can double as security checkpoints. No badge, no entry – a policy that’s easy to enforce when everyone is expected to display their credentials openly.
Branding Walking Billboards
Beyond security, branded lanyards have become a marketing opportunity. Every attendee wearing one is essentially a walking billboard for the event or sponsors. That’s why events invest in lanyard printing with vivid logos, slogans, or hashtags. At large conventions like the Mining Indaba or Comic Con Africa, it’s common to see lanyards emblazoned with sponsor names – a clever way to get branding in nearly every event photo and selfie. Companies often keep these lanyards as souvenirs, meaning the brand exposure continues long after the event. A well-designed lanyard also subtly boosts the perceived professionalism of an event. It’s a small detail that says “we are organized and our sponsors are proud to be here.” In Johannesburg, where business meets entertainment, major events often mix corporate and casual audiences – a lanyard carrying both the event logo and a sponsor (perhaps a big bank or tech firm) helps bridge that mix, giving everyone from VIP guests to venue staff a unified look.
Lanyards for Sale – Choosing the Right Type
With demand up, there’s a thriving market for lanyards for sale to suit different needs. Here in South Africa, event planners typically have a choice between plain lanyards (ready-made in various colors) or custom lanyards printed to their specifications. The material matters too: polyester is popular for its cost-effectiveness, while woven or dye-sublimated satin lanyards offer a premium feel for high-end events. There are even eco-friendly options (more on that in a later post) using bamboo or recycled PET. The attachments can be customized – simple J-hook clips for paper badges, all the way to secure plastic ID card holders or even RFID-enabled badge holders for smart access. A quality lanyard supplier will walk you through these choices. (Pro tip: Always ask about lanyard accessories like safety breakaways – these are the clips that snap open under pressure, crucial for preventing injuries if a lanyard gets snagged.)
Real-World Example; Corporate Summit
Consider a recent pan-African business summit in Cape Town. Delegates from 20+ countries converged, each receiving a printed lanyard with their name and country. Different lanyard colors distinguished media, delegates, and organizers. One attendee without a badge tried to slip into a closed session, but volunteers spotted the missing lanyard immediately and politely redirected him to the registration desk. The incident never escalated – a testament to how a cost-effective but invaluable piece of polyester can uphold security. Meanwhile, the event photos looked fantastic: every speaker on stage had a neat branded lanyard around their neck, reinforcing the event’s image in press coverage.
Neck and Neck with Success
As live events roar back to life, lanyards remain indispensable. They combine form and function: part security tool, part branding device, part convenience for the wearer. In a world where in-person interaction is once again paramount (and 83% of organizers believe face-to-face conferences are most effective for community building), the simple lanyard ensures those interactions happen smoothly and securely. Whether you’re planning a music festival at Kyalami or a corporate gala at Sandton Convention Centre, don’t overlook the power of the lanyard. It may hang lightly around the neck, but it carries a heavy load in making your event run without a hitch. And with IDC Band – South Africa’s leading lanyard supplier – you can get high-quality, custom-branded lanyards printed and delivered in a snap. Because in 2025’s booming event scene, the details around your attendees’ necks matter as much as the show on the stage.
