If there’s one thing the events industry has learned over the past few years, it’s that the rules have changed. Conferences, theaters, and cultural events are facing tighter budgets, smaller audiences, and more uncertainty than ever. Travel is expensive, tourism patterns are shifting, and attendees expect experiences that are engaging and more inclusive. For many organizations, attracting a broader audience is the difference between staying open and closing their doors.
Enter real-time AI translation and captions. What used to be a niche accessibility feature is now one of the most powerful tools for reaching new audiences, boosting engagement, and even generating new revenue. Whether it’s a global conference or an Off-Broadway theater production, AI translation is helping organizations connect with people who might never have had the chance to participate before.
Opening New Audiences to Live Entertainment
Take The Theater Center in Manhattan. They host the long-running Off-Broadway hit The Perfect Crime, and like many theaters in New York City, they rely heavily on international tourists. But travel has changed, and audiences are more global than ever. By offering real-time captions and translation in dozens of languages, The Theater Center has made it possible for visitors from around the world to attend an Off-Broadway show and follow along in their own language. Suddenly, the show is now accessible to people from Tokyo, São Paulo, Berlin, anywhere. For the theater, that means more ticket sales, fuller houses, and a more vibrant, diverse audience. And in an industry where even small changes in attendance can determine whether a show continues, AI translation can create a lifeline.
Now imagine scaling that across Broadway. Entire productions could be accessible to a global audience without hiring dozens of interpreters or adding complex equipment. It’s about survival, growth, and giving theaters a real chance to thrive in a challenging economic climate.
From Passive Conference Spectators to Engaged Participants
The conference world is seeing the same kind of transformation. Events are designed to connect people, share ideas, and spark innovation. But when language is a barrier, those conversations can stall. That’s why IMEX America, one of the largest gatherings for the meetings industry, turned to AI translation and captions. This enabled attendees from over 150 countries to access sessions in the language they preferred, ask questions, participate in discussions, and share ideas with peers from cultures and regions they might never have reached otherwise.
The addition of AI translation and captions not only open the door for more attendees, but also creates richer, more meaningful experiences. AI translation makes conferences and theaters more inclusive and engaging. Language access takes attendees from passive spectators to engaged participants. They can ask questions, interact with speakers, and experience performances as if language wasn’t a barrier at all.
The Future of Events is Borderless
From a business perspective, the benefits are clear. Traditional interpretation can be expensive, limited in scope, and logistically challenging. AI translation offers dozens of languages at once, across both live and virtual settings, at a fraction of the cost. It’s a tool that saves money, drives revenue, and opens new possibilities for growth. For theaters and conferences operating on tight budgets, that combination of impact and affordability is a game-changer.
Looking ahead, the possibilities are exciting. AI translation is only going to get better, more seamless, and more integrated into experiences that audiences already love. Imagine Broadway shows where every tourist can follow along perfectly, or conferences where ideas flow freely across cultures without a single language barrier. The technology has the ability to make events accessible and more resilient.
At a time when budgets are tight and audiences are more global than ever, real-time AI translation can be a lifeline. For theaters, it can mean reaching the international tourist who might otherwise skip the show. For conferences, it can mean a more diverse, engaged, and innovative audience. And for audiences themselves, it means no one has to miss out on the experience simply because of the language they speak.
About the Author: Dave Deasy is the Chief Marketing Officer at Wordly, the pioneer and leader in AI translation. Wordly translates dozens of languages in real-time, making in-person and virtual meetings and events more inclusive, accessible, and engaging.
