# How do I hide the event location until people register?

> Keep the venue, date or time off the public page and reveal them only in registered guests' tickets at a set moment. Safety practice for Ukraine.

Canonical URL: https://anyeventtool.com/en/learn/how-to-hide-event-location-until-registration
Updated: 2026-10-01

## Short answer

Publish the event without the address, and share the place only with registered guests, ideally at a set moment shortly before the event. In AnyEventTool (AET), switch on "Venue — ticket only" (and, if needed, the exact time or the date) in the ticket settings. The public page shows that details come with the ticket; at the moment you choose, details appear in tickets and every registrant gets an email. It works on Free.

## Key facts

- Three independent switches: Venue — ticket only; Exact time — ticket only; Date and time — in the ticket only
- The public page shows a notice that details are shared only with registered guests
- Reveal automatically at a set moment (checked every 5 minutes) or instantly with Open now and notify
- On reveal, every registered guest gets an email
- Add a private note in the ticket (for example, entrance from the courtyard) and a link to the event group visible only to registrants
- Combine with Participant selection to approve guests before they receive details
- Available on Free and Pro

## Step by step

1. **Enable registration with QR tickets** — Add Registration and paid participation and switch on QR tickets.
2. **Choose what to hide** — In Ticket contents switch on Venue — ticket only, and if needed Exact time or Date and time.
3. **Set the reveal moment** — Pick when details appear in tickets; registrants see the countdown until then.
4. **Add a ticket message** — Write directions or safety notes and add a group link visible only to registered guests.
5. **Optionally vet guests** — Turn on Participant selection to approve each person before they get a ticket.
6. **Reveal and notify** — Let the reveal happen automatically or press Open now and notify; every registrant gets an email.

## Why hide where and when an event happens?

Public addresses and start times are not always safe to publish. Common reasons:

- **Security in wartime.** In Ukraine, announcing in public where and when a crowd will gather can create risk. Many organizers share the venue only with registered guests and only shortly before the start.
- **Private venues.** Apartments, studios and offices whose owners do not want the address online.
- **Sensitive audiences.** Support groups, LGBTQ+ events, activist meetings, events for vulnerable people.
- **Capacity control.** Secret-location parties and pop-ups where only ticket holders should turn up.

Hiding the address is not a guarantee of secrecy — any registered guest can forward it — but it removes the details from search engines, link previews and casual browsing, and lets you decide who receives them.

## How does it work in AET?

Registration with QR tickets must be on. In the **Registration and paid participation** section open **Ticket contents** and choose what to keep out of the public page:

- **Venue — ticket only** (also available as a checkbox in the Place section);
- **Exact time — ticket only** — the date stays public, the time does not;
- **Date and time — in the ticket only**.

Visitors see a banner saying the organizer will share details only with registered participants. You set the reveal moment; until then a registered guest sees when their ticket will become available. At that moment the details appear in the ticket automatically (AET checks every 5 minutes), or you press **Open now and notify** to reveal immediately. Every registrant receives an email when details are revealed.

You can also add a message shown only in the ticket — for example "entrance from the courtyard, ring 12" — and a link to the event's chat or group that only registered guests see.

The reveal reaches guests through their tickets, so set up [QR tickets and check-in](/en/learn/how-to-run-qr-code-check-in-at-an-event) as well.

## When should I reveal the location?

| Event type | Suggested reveal time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Public talk or meetup in wartime conditions | 2–24 hours before | Limits how long the address circulates |
| Private party or secret-location event | Day of the event | Keeps the surprise and limits gatecrashers |
| Support group or sensitive audience | After approving each person | Combine with Participant selection |
| Multi-day festival | When tickets are confirmed | Guests need time to plan travel |

Give people enough time to plan the trip: if the venue may be far, reveal at least the district or metro station in the public description.

## How do I combine hiding with vetting guests?

For sensitive events, add **Participant selection** to the registration form. People then apply instead of registering instantly; you review their answers and approve or decline. Only approved participants receive tickets, so only they get the venue at reveal time. For paid events, approved people receive a payment link by email and you set how many hours they have to pay.

The full application flow is described in [how to collect applications and approve attendees](/en/learn/how-to-collect-applications-and-approve-attendees).

## What else should I do for a safe event?

- **Keep the venue out of the poster and description.** An AI poster writes the place onto the image when the place is part of the public event data. If you generated the poster before hiding the venue, regenerate it; also remove the address from the description, gallery captions and custom sections.
- **Brief co-admins.** Everyone with access to the event sees the hidden details.
- **Check tickets at the door.** Scanning QR codes at aet.events/qr confirms that only registered guests enter.
- **Plan for air-raid alerts.** In Ukraine, tell guests in the ticket message where the nearest shelter is and what happens if an alert starts.
- **Do not overshare in chats.** Ask guests not to repost the address publicly.

## Do other platforms offer this?

Some do in a simpler form. Luma, for example, lets organizers keep the address hidden until a guest registers ([help.luma.com: hiding your event location](https://help.luma.com/p/hiding-your-event-location), checked 2026-10-01). What AET adds is scheduled reveal at a chosen moment, separate control of date and exact time, an email to all registrants at reveal, and a ticket-only message and group link. If you only need "address visible after registration", several tools can do it; if you need timed reveal for safety, check that your tool supports it.

More on the differences: [AET vs Luma](/en/learn/aet-vs-luma).

## Questions and answers

**Can I hide only the time and keep the date public?**

Yes. Exact time — ticket only hides the time while the date stays visible. Date and time — in the ticket only hides both.

**When exactly are details revealed?**

At the moment you set. AET checks every 5 minutes, or you can reveal instantly with Open now and notify.

**Will guests be notified when the location is revealed?**

Yes. Every registered participant receives an email at reveal time.

**Can a registered guest share the address with others?**

Yes, nothing technically stops that. Hiding removes the address from the public page and search; for stricter control, approve guests with Participant selection and check tickets at the door.

**Is this a paid feature?**

No. Hiding the place, date or time in the ticket works on the Free plan.

**Does the AI poster show the hidden venue?**

A poster made before you hid the venue may already show it on the image. Regenerate it after switching on Venue — ticket only, and check the description for the address too.

## Related answers

- [How do I collect applications and approve attendees before the event?](https://anyeventtool.com/en/learn/how-to-collect-applications-and-approve-attendees.md)
- [How do I run QR code check-in at an event?](https://anyeventtool.com/en/learn/how-to-run-qr-code-check-in-at-an-event.md)
- [How do I create an event registration page for free?](https://anyeventtool.com/en/learn/how-to-create-an-event-registration-page-for-free.md)
- [AnyEventTool vs Luma: which should I use for my events?](https://anyeventtool.com/en/learn/aet-vs-luma.md)