Sometimes popular events fill up quickly. When that happens, you may still be able to attend by joining the waitlist. This guide explains what event waitlists are, how to join one, how you may be moved into the event, and what you can expect throughout the process.
What Is a Waitlist?
A waitlist is a queue for members who want to attend an event that has reached its attendee limit.
If someone who originally RSVPed âGoingâ changes their RSVP or if the organizer adds more spots, waitlisted members may automatically move into the event.
If the event does not have an attendee limit or requires a mandatory event fee, there will be no waitlist.
How to Join a Waitlist
You can join a waitlist from the mobile app or desktop site:
Open the event page.
If the event is full, youâll see a Join waitlist button instead of the usual RSVP option.
Select Join waitlist to add your name. Youâll receive a confirmation that you are now waitlisted.
You can leave the waitlist any time by changing your RSVP.
đĄ In Your events, we don't show a separate category or explicit "Wait-list" label. You can confirm your status by the badge on each event card.
If you are attending, you'll see Going with a green mark at the top left of the event. If you are on the waitlist, no status label appears.
When you're moved from the waitlist to attending, the Going badge will appear.
How Members Move From Waitlist to âGoingâ
If a spot opens up, members are moved from the waitlist automatically. The order is based on the following priority:
1. Meetup+ members (priority access)
Members with an active Meetup+ subscription move into the event first, before all other waitlisted members. These members have a Meetup+ priority badge.
To learn more about Meetup+, you can visit the FAQ about Meetup+ help article.
2. Free (unpaid) members
After all Meetup+ members have been movedâor if there are noneâfree members move into the event in the order they joined the waitlist.
Youâll receive a notification from Meetup when youâre moved from Waitlist to Going.
3. Members with guests
If you RSVPed and included guests, youâll only be moved into the event if enough spots open up for your entire party.
If not, youâll be skipped until there is room for everyone.
If the Event Charges a Mandatory Fee
Events that require payment through Meetup cannot use a waitlist.
If a spot opens up in one of these events, the organizer may notify members directly so people can RSVP manually.
Managing Your Waitlist Status
You can check your position on the waitlist from the event page. You can leave the waitlist anytime by updating your RSVP. If you no longer want to attend, itâs helpful to remove yourself so others can move up.