> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.thexo.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I publish, unpublish, or cancel an event?

> Control event visibility — go live, pause sales, or cancel an event and handle existing bookings.

XO gives you full control over the visibility and status of your events. You can publish when you're ready, take an event offline temporarily, or cancel it entirely.

***

## Event statuses explained

| Status                 | What it means                                                           |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Draft**              | Event is saved but not visible to customers. You're still setting it up |
| **Published / Active** | Event is live and customers can browse and book it                      |
| **Cancelled**          | Event has been cancelled. Existing bookings should be handled manually  |
| **Past**               | The event date has passed. It's automatically archived                  |

***

## Publishing an event

When you're ready to go live:

1. Open the event in the admin panel.
2. Review all details: name, date, media, and booking tiers.
3. Click **Publish**.
4. The event is immediately visible to customers on XO.

> **Tip:** Add at least one booking tier before publishing, otherwise customers can view the event but won't be able to book.

***

## Unpublishing an event

If you need to temporarily hide an event (e.g., to update details or pause sales):

1. Open the published event in the admin panel.
2. Click **Unpublish** or change the status to **Draft**.
3. The event is removed from public view but all existing bookings remain intact.
4. Re-publish when you're ready.

***

## Cancelling an event

If your event is not going ahead:

1. Open the event in the admin panel.
2. Click **Cancel Event** or change the status to **Cancelled**.
3. The event is no longer bookable.

> **Important:** Cancelling an event in the system does not automatically refund customers. You must handle refunds separately through your payment provider (e.g., Stripe dashboard) or contact support for assistance.

**Best practice when cancelling:**

* Notify all confirmed attendees directly via email or your preferred channel.
* Process refunds promptly through your Stripe account.
* Update the event description or add a cancellation notice for customers who might still find the event.

***

## Can I reactivate a cancelled event?

Yes, you can change the status back to Published if the cancellation was a mistake or if the event is rescheduled. Note that you'll need to communicate any changes to customers who already have bookings.

***

## What happens to existing bookings when I cancel?

Existing bookings are not automatically cancelled or refunded when you change the event status. You should:

1. Bulk update bookings to **Cancelled** status in the Events & Bookings section.
2. Process refunds through your Stripe dashboard.
3. Communicate with affected customers.