Whova announced two organiser features in recent weeks. On 29 September 2026 it said its Release and Consent Forms add-on now supports two separate forms per event for different attendee groups. On 16 October it introduced a handover step that passes an event’s templates and settings to whoever runs the next edition. This report is based on Whova’s own announcements; we have not used either feature.
Two consent forms per event
Whova renamed its waiver feature to Release and Consent Forms in May 2026. The September update lets an organiser create up to two forms within one event, each aimed at a different group. Whova’s examples are a media release for speakers, a liability waiver for volunteers, a code of conduct for all attendees and an activity waiver for people who bought an excursion. Forms can be assigned to all attendees or to attendee categories, ticket types or registration segments, and Whova says it has expanded the template gallery and added scheduled notifications and targeted reminders.
One detail to plan for: once the form notification email has been sent, the assigned participants can no longer be changed, because people may start signing straight away. Agree who needs which form before you open it. Whova’s May announcement also describes check-in staff being told when a required signature is missing, with attendees able to sign on the spot in the event app.
Why it matters
Speaker media releases, photography consent and volunteer waivers often live in separate spreadsheets and email threads. Keeping signatures alongside attendee records and check-in can close the gap where someone arrives without signing. Two forms is still a limit. An event with speakers, volunteers, exhibitors and an excursion may need more than two distinct agreements, so map your forms before relying on this feature. Whova’s compliance language describes what the tool records; whether a particular form meets your legal obligations is a separate question for your own advisers.
Handing an event to the next organiser
The October feature sits in the post-event report survey. An organiser who will not run the next edition can share the event’s templates and settings directly with a named successor, share them with their organisation if the successor is not yet known, or decline. They can add a personal handover note and an internal admin note. Whova lists registration forms, agendas, badge designs, surveys and email templates among the reusable elements.
For associations and volunteer-run conferences, where the organiser often changes every year, this addresses a real loss of knowledge. Check what the handover includes before using it. Whova’s description refers to templates and settings, so confirm with Whova that no attendee data travels with them, and that the successor’s access matches your organisation’s policy.
Sources
- Whova: Manage Multiple Release and Consent Forms for Different Audiences (29 September 2026)
- Whova: Pass the Torch, Make Event Handoffs Easier with Whova (16 October 2026)
- Whova: Release and Consent Forms (4 May 2026)
Sources checked 19 October 2026. Features are described from Whova’s own announcements. Event Tech News has not tested them.
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