Swag bags might be synonymous with events, but let’s be honest — most of that stuff tends to end up in the trash.
Ultimately, your swag reflects your brand.
Since attendees are inundated with free giveaways everywhere they go, you should choose items they’ll enjoy and want to use. The goal is, after all, to expose as many people to your brand as possible.
Don’t worry; we’ve racked our brains for you — and our many years of working in events made it a walk in the park.
Forget cheap shirts and overly branded sunglasses. Here are 50+ fun, useful, and unique swag bag ideas to thrill your attendees and give them a tangible reminder of your event.
Find some cool swag bag ideas
Awesome swag bag ideas for music festivals
Swag bag ideas for adults only
Swag bag ideas for outdoor events
Wait a minute, what is a swag bag again?
Remember those ‘goodie bags’ you’d score at birthday parties when you were a kid — those filled with candy, glitter, and balloons?
Well, event swag bags are the adult equivalent.
Swag bags contain all sorts of branded items and gifts, from luxury goods to inexpensive gifts with a more personal touch.
For instance, For Glo LLC’s premium swag bag contained high-end running shirts, a finisher’s medal, and access to a virtual community of runners.
Which type of event are swag bags good for?
While swag bags are often associated with corporate events, like trade shows and seminars, they’re also a creative promotional idea for all event types.
From charity galas to music festivals, swag bags act as a token of appreciation for your attendees’ time and help event organizers build brand loyalty with new attendees.
But that’s not the only reason swag bags are popular with event organizers — they’re also a clever marketing tool with a great return on investment.
Like merchandise, swag bags continuously generate brand awareness for years after your event. All it takes is one glance at a branded t-shirt to get the name of your brand out there — all with minimal effort on your part.
Low initial cost, high potential returns — that’s the true power of swag bags.
But there’s a catch. To reap the rewards, you need to create a swag bag that attendees will actually use.
The difference between a ‘meh’ and a ‘legendary’ swag bag
Most attendees are used to swag bag items being a bit meh.
By this, we mean swag bags have no longevity, are made from cheap materials, and are marked with designs you wouldn’t be caught dead sporting — you know, the typical cheap coffee mug or flimsy water bottle you’d be scared to drink out of.
On the other hand, cool swag bag ideas are thoughtful and innovative — they blend practicality with creativity to offer attendees real value. The ‘perfect swag bag’ matches their needs and interests.
For instance, Prego Expo offers attendees beautifully designed tote bags with full-sized products new parents will actually use, such as nappy cream, a self-feeding starter kit, sunscreen, and a pacifier.
Don’t cut corners with cheap alternatives or options that won’t suit your target market. Plus, people don’t want something they’ve seen time and time again. Opt for creativity and quality for results that will pay off for your brand.
To help you get started, we’ve created a list of legendary swag bag ideas for every type of budget, from inexpensive swag bags to luxury swag bag ideas.
Inexpensive swag bag ideas
True value comes from offering attendees fun yet practical items that feel relevant to them, not just the most expensive item available.
Think of it like gift giving: You can get your significant other the most expensive gold necklace in the world, but what value does it hold if they only wear silver?
1. The customized swag bag
Title: ‘I’ve been watching you’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪💪💪
The best way to win over attendees’ hearts isn’t through food — it’s through their pets.
So here’s what you do.
At event registration, ask attendees to provide a high-resolution photo of their pet or their favorite animal. Then, enlist the help of a talented (yet inexpensive) designer on Fiverr to turn the images into hilarious animations that fit your brand style.
For instance, Atlanta Streetwear Market could transform attendees’ pets into superheroes to match their signature comic-book animation style.
Once you have the animation designs, print them on t-shirts and hand them to each attendee as they enter your event.
💡Pro tip: To boost social media engagement, capture attendees’ genuine reaction to the surprise and post it on your Instagram reels.
2. The relaxation swag bag
Title: ‘Celebrate a bit of you with a bath bomb’
WOW factor: 🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪
People are more stressed than ever, so give attendees a DIY relaxation kit equipped with everything they need for a de-stressing night in.
We’re talking bath bombs shaped like your event brand logo, loose-leaf tea bags with custom ‘relaxation’ blends, and lavender-scented candles.
Relaxation swag packs would work exceptionally well for corporate events as a reminder of the importance of slowing down and prioritizing mental well-being.
3. The practical item swag bag
Title: ‘Oh, I needed that!’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪
Give attendees a taste of euphoria by creating an ‘all essentials’ swag bag.
Think high-quality screen cleaners and protection sprays, portable chargers, blue light glasses, a durable mug, or even a neck pillow that makes working at a desk or on overnight flights more comfortable.
💡Pro tip: Order a YETI coffee mug and give it a personalized touch. “Unlike generic mugs, YETI’s Ramblers keep drinks hotter or cooler for longer,” said Sendoso Co-founder and CEO Kris Rudeegraap, who shared some insightful swag bag ideas with us. “And because they’re durable, your brand will stick around even longer.”
Conference gift bag ideas
Every day, there’s an upset conference attendee taking to Reddit to complain about one thing: the items in their corporate swag bag.
All of the plastic travel cups, polyester T-shirts, and unusual gadgets eventually find a new home — the garbage can.
So be warned: If you offer a swag bag at your corporate event, you have to bring your A++ game.
4. The remote employee swag bag
Title: ‘Work from anywhere’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Now that 35% of jobs can be done remotely, it’s pretty clear that the ‘work from anywhere’ movement is no longer a trend; it’s the future.
At your next corporate event, help make remote and hybrid lives more interesting with a ‘survival pack.’
Source an elite work bag to put your promotional items in— something snazzy like a Bellroy tote bag.
Next, pack the luxury bag with workstation essentials employees can use to build a makeshift office wherever, such as a branded version of the A5 Memobottle reusable water bottles, portable laptop stands, and wireless chargers.
💡Pro tip: Virtual or hybrid events, like CareerClub.Net, can send attendees the swag bag before the event to get them hyped about what’s to come.
5. The book lovers’ swag bag special
Title: ‘Once a bookworm…”
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
This idea may seem old school, but people still love taking home books. Make sure the book correlates with whatever event you’re hosting (otherwise, it will appear out of place).
If you’re hosting a real estate conference, for example, you might include Former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chris Voss’s Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as If Your Life Depended on It.
Or if you’re hosting a meetup for developers or students in a coding school, consider offering copies of The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson.
6. The concentration swag bag
Title: ‘Cure for the distracted mind’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪
Before attendees arrive at your conference, place a ‘distraction killer’ swag bag on every seat in your venue.
Stick a handwritten note on the bag that says, ‘Look, we understand that our conference is long and it’s hard to concentrate… so here’s a toy or two to get you through.’
Inside the goodie bag, there’ll be a mix of fantastically weird sensory toys, like a squishy blob fish stress toy or a 3D fidget knife.
💡Pro tip: Rudeegraap recommends going for both functionality and fun when possible. “One of my personal favorites is fidget pens,” he said.
“As opposed to a fidget spinner — which can be distracting and doesn’t have a functional purpose — fidget pens can be a subtle way to give people something to do with their hands while either at their desk or in a meeting.”
Party event swag bag ideas
Offering attendees special gifts at nightclub parties is a great way of adding more unexpected value to your event. It can become your ‘signature thing’ that attendees look forward to because, seriously, who wouldn’t want to go to a nightclub that gives out awesome stuff?
7. The cocktail swag bag
Title: ‘Carry-on cocktail kit’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵💵
Difficulty: 💪
Give attendees the ‘tricks of the trade’ — and by that, we obviously mean a carry-on cocktail kit and the recipe for a signature cocktail you sell at your venue or your event.
For those of you who don’t know, a carry-on cocktail kit is a small tin container containing all the ingredients, such as syrups or mixes, and tools (including jiggers and mixing spoons) that you need to treat yourself to a single cocktail. All attendees need to add is the liquor.
Choose from champagne cocktails, bloody marys, gin and tonics, margaritas, Moscow Mules, and so many more — as long as it’s synonymous with your venue, then you’re good to go.
💡Pro tip: You can even throw in a bonus packet of hangover pills.
8. The healthy swag bag
Title: ‘Healthy event fuel’
WOW factor: 🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪
If you want attendees to have the strength to party until the sun rises, they need the right fuel. Sugar-rich sweets might help your attendees get a boost of much-needed energy during your party event.
But the last thing you want is for them to crash when it wears off. That’s why you should drop a healthy snack in their swag bag. Think trail mix, protein bars, or dry fruit.
“Food never goes out of style, but a snack with a purpose can go a long way,” Rudeegraap said. “So get creative here! Print custom wrappers or stickers with branded messages or compelling industry facts that resonate with conference-goers.”
Awesome swag bag ideas for music festivals
Some swag bags radiate pure awesomeness. From the gifts they include to their sleek design, they simply ooze charm. These swag bags are ideal for events with a super cool vibe, like a music festival, because they’ll add another ‘wow factor.’
9. The secret code swag bag
Title: ‘The festival decoder’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪💪
Want your event attendees to be more engaged at your event? Rudeegraap said you or your event sponsor should give away decoder glasses.
“Include a notecard in your swag bag with a hidden message that encourages attendees to find more hidden clues in the signage around your event that lead them to a sponsor’s booth,” he said. “They’ll have fun feeling like Sherlock Holmes, and you’ll add more value to your sponsors.”
💡Pro tip: Make sure that there are freebies for the winning guest(s) to retrieve when they find the sponsor’s booth.
10. The survival swag bag idea
Title: ‘Event survival kit’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Make sure your attendees are ready to handle anything by creating an ‘event survival kit’ swag. Put a packet of Advil, gum/mints, some Emergen-C, a glow-in-the-dark water bottle, ear plugs, a hand fan, and a flashlight in a small fanny pack.
“Send it to them before your event or hand it to them as they walk through the door,” said Rudeegraap. “It’s a small gesture that shows event attendees that you’ve got their back.”
11. The festival clothing swag bag package
Title: ‘Your festival get-up’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪💪
Dressing in eye-catching outfits that you can’t get away with anywhere else is one of the best parts of going to a music festival.
So provide all attendees with a festival get-up swag bag so they get a chance to be a fashion icon for the day.
For instance, an event organizer like Jars Cannabis could offer attendees cannabis bucket hats and bright green overalls with the slogan ‘hanging with my buds.’
💡Pro tip: While you should aim for unique and edgy, you also want to create merch that attendees will actually wear again — so make sure you toe the line between being ironic and iconic.
Luxury swag bag ideas
We discussed inexpensive swag bag ideas, but what about event bags that offer a touch of luxury?
Consider luxury swag bag ideas for event organizers looking to express a little extra appreciation for attendees. Just keep in mind that the bundle of gifts should still cater to your target demographic.
For instance, a luxury conference gift bag idea for coffee lovers could be full-sized coffee packets of exclusive blends.
12. The comfort swag bag
Title: ‘The winter warmer’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
We won’t lie, we’d be pretty darn happy if an event organizer gifted us a swag bag with velvety soft slippers, silk pillowcases, and a weighted blanket.
💡Pro tip: A mug warmer — a small circular warming plate for cups of liquid — can delight coffee and tea lovers alike, while also making an excellent addition to one’s desk.
13. The self-care swag bag
Title: ‘The luxury pamper bag’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Nothing says luxury like an at-home pamper day. So a branded pouch or bag filled with face masks, lotion, lip balm, or even candles will certainly be a big hit with your attendees.
Don’t be afraid to invest in quality, either. Consider premium brands that people don’t often buy for themselves — and wouldn’t expect from an event.
💡Pro tip: Give attendees a chance to play ‘perfume laboratory’ by placing high-quality ingredients, like essential oils, in each bag and instructions on mixing and matching scents to create a blend that suits them.
Cool swag bag ideas
Designing a swag bag that’s ‘too cool for school’ takes experimentation.
Cool swag bag ideas don’t stick to the norms we, as a society, have established. Oh no — cool swag bag ideas use guerilla marketing techniques and innovation to create something that attendees have never seen before.
14. The scratch card swag bag concept
Title: ‘Scratch and win’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪💪💪
Let your event attendees or booth visitors try their luck with scratch cards offering special prizes. This is a great way to get people excited about the potential for high-end items without having to spend your entire swag budget on a single event.
If you want to go a step further, create a personalized scratchcard. Mr Scratch Off is a great service that allows you to customize prizes. Then, encourage attendees to post their unique winnings on their social media page.
💡Pro tip: Use Eventbrite to help you make captivating social media ads that get attendees excited about your event swag bag.
With Eventbrite, you can leverage tools like A/B split testing to help optimize your ad content, audience targeting, and ad spending so you can reach more potential customers.
Try Eventbrite for social media marketing
15. The inflatables swag bag
Title: ‘Oh, so this is all inflatable?’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Imagine this: You hand attendees a parachute bag at the entrance of your pool party event. Naturally, they’re confused but intrigued.
On the bag, next to a mini lever, bold writing reads, ‘Pull me in an open space and watch me explode!’ When attendees pull the cord (because, of course they will) a giant flamingo inflates in front of their eyes.
Now, that’s straight-up cool.
💡Pro tip: If you’re an event organizer, like Bass Mob Entertainment, who already has an awesome event mascot, use that design as the pool toy to enhance brand recognition and create a unique tie-in to the event.
Swag bag ideas for adults only
The good news is that your swag bag ideas don’t have to appeal to everyone (or their kids).
In fact, for adult-orientated events, daring to be a bit more risque by including fun items that adults will appreciate can help boost your marketing potential.
16. The drinks swag bag
Title: ‘Grown-up stash’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Now that it’s just us adults talking, we can all admit that alcohol is a drink many of us enjoy, even though it’s not the healthiest choice!
So for an exciting swag bag idea for adults, make all spirit-lovers’ dreams come true.
Start by stacking your bag with bite-size bottles of quality spirits, handmade mixers, and gourmet garnishes, like dehydrated lemon and orange slices. Then, add a touch of class by topping up the bag with premium margarita salt and reusable ice blocks.
💡Pro tip: If you’re an ultra-cool event organizer, like Atlantucky Brewery, include a limited-edition branded cocktail glass to enhance the sense of exclusivity around your swag bag giveaway.
17. The mystery box swag bag
Title: ‘The seven deadly sins’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪💪
Another one of our favorite swag bag ideas for adults is to send a bag to all attendees one week before your event, each with one of seven boxes — all locked.
Each box will contain items relating to one of the seven sins. For instance, ‘lust’ attendees might find a 25% discount voucher for an upcoming burlesque show, rose petals, and heart-shaped chocolates.
Add a note indicating that the only way to unlock the box is to get the key waiting for them at your event’s entrance. That’s one way to eliminate no-shows!
Eco-friendly swag bag ideas
Plastic is so not the rage these days. Don’t believe us? A recent study found that 74% of consumers care about the environmental impact of their products.
While it may seem like a bit of a trek, going the extra mile to think up eco-friendly and cool swag bag ideas will show attendees your event brand cares deeply about the community.
18. The seed bag event gift idea
Title: ‘The plantable swag bag’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Our TRNDS 2024 report found that 69% of respondents feel positively about events that allow them to reconnect with nature.
So why not create a swag bag that literally grows in the ground? Give attendees a completely biodegradable bag made from seed-infused paper and encourage them to plant it in their garden and watch the herbs or wildflowers grow.
💡Pro tip: An event organizer like Foxhollow Farm, could go the extra mile and record a video tutorial on the best practices for taking care of their swag bag baby plant.
19. The kitchen garden swag bag
Title: ‘The green thumb enthusiast’
WOW factor: 🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪
If the worst event swag ends up in the trash, the best stuff ends up on your attendees’ desks or kitchen counters — where your brand will get exposed to other potential attendees.
That’s why we recommend offering your guests a little greenery.
Long after your event ends, a variety of fun little succulents will ensure your event still thrives throughout the year. Just be sure to offer plants that come in small boxes so that they can travel easily.
20. The gift-wrap swag bag
Title: ‘Pay it forward’
WOW factor: 🤯
Budget: 💵
Difficulty: 💪
Remember when your parents would say there’s no greater gift than the ‘gift of giving?’
Although we believe they were tricking us into buying our siblings birthday presents, they were right (just don’t tell them that).
Stand out by creating a swag bag with a ‘gift of giving’ theme. Stack the bag with thoughtful inclusions, such as a gift wrapping station or a set of adorable penguin ‘thank you cards.’
💡Pro tip: Why not let your attendees indulge in some charitable giving? “You can either give them a card to fill out and let them choose the charity of their choice during the event or send them an eGift card to donate before or after,” says Rudeegraap.
Swag bag ideas for outdoor events
There are so many cool swag bag ideas for outdoor events. We believe outdoor swag packs are particularly fun because they allow you to flex how well you know your attendees.
For instance, if you regularly plan 5k races, you’d know an experienced runner would feel like a kid on Christmas morning if they opened a swag bag to find a runner’s watch and a new pair of compression socks!
21. The fun running swag bag
Title: ‘Whoever said running can’t be fun?’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪💪
Sure, running is exhilarating, but what if you could make it fun?
Here’s what we’re thinking: Baseball caps that glow in the dark for those who run in the shadows, mini wireless speakers, and an electronic cooling fan that attendees can wear around their necks to cool down the runner’s burn.
Like Kate Bush, attendees will be ‘running up that hill’ with no problems.
💡Pro tip: Try and think of a catchy name that you can put on your runner’s merch. For instance, the Minnesota Brewery Running Series sells ‘run for beer’ singlets.
22. The home workout swag bag
Title: ‘Nah, I work out at home now’
WOW factor: 🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪
What do you get when you take the boujee-ness of luxury swag bag ideas and give it a sporty twist? Plenty of amazing swag bag gift ideas, that’s what!
One such idea is to create a swag bag with all the athletic accessories attendees need to build their very own home gym. We’re talking booty bands in stylish colors, athletic socks, microfiber towels, a yoga mat, and even Bala Bangles designer ankle weights.
23. The gymwear swag bag
Title: ‘Work-it-fit’
WOW factor: 🤯🤯
Budget: 💵💵
Difficulty: 💪
Sure, a T-shirt might be one of the most cliched pieces of swag, but it’s also one of the most popular items given away at events. So how can you entice attendees to wear yours out of the house?
By choosing an athletic shirt that people will wear to the gym — which is way better than the bottom of a pajama drawer! People love the free shirts from marathons and races, so why not from your event, too?
💡Pro tip: People also love ‘vintage style’ designs, so use your shirt as a chance to have fun with your brand logo. For example, a well-designed t-shirt could elevate an already unique event organizer like MacW3rk to ‘cult-like status’ with loyal fans.
Get ready to thrill your attendees with epic swag bag ideas
Epic swag bag ideas are your opportunity to provide tangible value to your attendees, so don’t miss out on a marketing opportunity and on treating your guests. Give your attendees something to show off to their colleagues and friends and to talk to their family members about long after your event finishes.
At Eventbrite, we know how important it is to form meaningful connections with your community. Every day, event organizers around the globe use our event discovery platform and marketing tools to connect with new attendees in their local area.
