144+ files changed, more than 3800 new lines of code, 1800 modified lines. All carefully reviewed before commit!

We know, we know. Every time we release a major version, we say it’s one of the biggest updates yet. With 7.0, we truly meant it ; that was a complete rewrite of Events Manager. But here we are again, and this release is another massive leap forward. It might not be the biggest rewrite by comparison to 7.0, but it’s certainly right up there, reflecting the level of hard work and dedication we’re putting in right now to push Events Manager further than ever.

With this release, we’re introducing Archetypes, a new foundation that completely redefines how events are created, customized, and managed.

This update also comes with a Pro 3.7 update (integrating some features with Archetypes), deep developer improvements, and a major rewrite of our underlying codebase, setting the stage for endless flexibility.

What Are Archetypes?

Archetypes are a new way to create multiple event types within Events Manager. Instead of being locked into a single “Events” post type, you can now create distinct post types (archetypes), each with its own settings, labels, and behaviors while still powered by the same reliable Events Manager engine.

Flexible Event Types

• Each archetype is its own WordPress post type.
• Separate admin areas for each archetype.
• Independent labels and front-end slugs (for example, /events/, /courses/, /workshops/).
• Dedicated booking areas per archetype.

Some practical examples of archetypes:

• Workshops
• Appointments
• Rentals

Customizable Features

For each archetype, you can enable, disable, or customize features, including:

• Bookings
• Locations
• Taxonomies
• Formatting
• Custom fields
• Time zone support
• Custom formats
• Search forms
• Repeating events
• Email templates
• Recurring events

Separate Booking Management

Each archetype has its own bookings section. In future updates, we’ll expand this further with unified dashboards and cross-archetype lists.

Multisite Integration

• Network admins can create custom archetypes network-wide.
• Choose to enforce all, restrict to certain archetypes, or allow subsites to create their own.
• Define a default archetype for each subsite.

Custom Labels and Slugs

Rename “Events” to anything you like, such as “Activities,” “Workshops,” or “Seminars.” You can even change the underlying post type and slug.

Developer Extensibility

We’ve built Archetypes with extensibility in mind. Almost any option in Events Manager can now be overridden on a per-archetype basis, and more will be added in future releases.

Events Manager Pro 3.7

With Pro 3.7, bookings now report separately for each archetype in the transactions section. This means you can clearly see which transactions belong to archetype bookings.

The Custom Automated Emails and Custom Event Booking Emails features in Pro have also been integrated with custom archetypes. This allows you to create unique automated email rules per archetype, further tailoring communications for each type of event.

In upcoming releases, additional Pro features such as custom booking forms, gateways, and coupons will be toggleable per archetype, with individual formatting overrides.

Note: Users must upgrade to Pro 3.7 to make use of these Archetype-related PRO features.

Developer Notes

This release includes a major rewrite of how post types are generated and registered. Event post types are now arbitrary and flexible with the option to create more than one event CPT while running off the Events Manager engine.

This work lays the foundation for future expansions while maintaining stability and performance. For developers, there are important new functions and best practices:

Option Handling

• Replace get_option() with em_get_option(). This ensures Events Manager returns the correct archetype-specific option value.

Archetype Helper Functions

• Use new helpers in EM\Archetypes for context checks:
  • EM\Archetypes::isevent( $object ) : check if an object belongs to an event post type, instead of checking against EM_EVENT_POST_TYPE
  • More helpers are available for checking locations and related contexts.

Output and Widgets

• Shortcodes and PHP functions (lists, calendars, etc.) accept:
  • event_archetype : specify which archetype to display.
  • If omitted, defaults to the main archetype (the shipped Events post type, regardless of renamed label or slug).

Custom Loops and Displaying Events

• Wrap custom loops to ensure correct archetype context:
  • Start with EM\Archetypes::set_current( $post_type ).
  • End with EM\Archetypes::revert_current().
• This guarantees that archetype-specific settings are respected during rendering.

What’s Next?

Archetypes unlock near-limitless customization possibilities. Adding integration for features or settings that can be customised on a per archetype basis is actually relatively easy. However each one does require testing, there’s a lot of features, so a lot of time consuming testing is required!

Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming regarding further work on this feature:

• Override Anything
  The architecture allows almost any feature or option to be customized per archetype, from categories and locations to booking forms and notifications. We will be adding more and testing them as we go.
• Cross-Archetype Views
  Unified booking dashboards, lists, and calendars that can combine multiple archetypes.
• PRO Feature Matrix
  Toggle individual PRO features per archetype, with independent formatting overrides.

Terminology and Inheritance

With this major new concept inevitably comes new terminology. Below we explain the key terms that will now be used throughout Events Manager and our documentation.

• Archetype: the new umbrella term in Events Manager for defining event types.
• Main Event Archetype: the default event post type shipped with Events Manager. Cannot be removed but can be renamed and altered.
• Location Archetype: tied to location usage. Only one exists, but it’s still considered an archetype.
• Custom Archetypes: unlimited; inherit from the main archetype by default but can override settings independently.

This new terminology will be used consistently in our plugin and documentation moving forward.

Wrapping Up

Archetypes will be a game-changer for many users that run different event flows. They bring flexibility, control, and scalability to Events Manager like never before. Whether you’re a site owner, a developer, or a multisite admin, this update opens up new levels of customization.

And this yet another stepping stone to something bigger! We’re already hard at work on Events Manager 7.2, which will be another major update, possibly our biggest yet in terms of shifting functionality. We’re keeping details under wraps for now (though there might be a subtle hint in this very post 👀).

Changelogs

Events Manager 7.1

Events Manager Pro 3.7