TL;DR
- Many Luma events are public but hidden from the discover page.
- Hidden Events tracks 2999 events, with 74.6% hidden.
- City and category hidden shares differ widely.
- You can use the event checker to see if an event is hidden.
- Organizers can add their Luma calendars for free.
Looking for luma alternatives means you want to see more than what Luma’s discover page shows. Many public events aren’t featured, so you could miss out. Platforms like Hidden Events reveal what’s hidden, letting you access more exclusive or under-the-radar gatherings across many cities.
What makes Hidden Events different from Luma’s discover page?
Hidden Events lists public Luma events that don’t appear on Luma’s discover page, surfacing many more options for event seekers. If you only use Luma’s discover page, you’ll see just 763 featured events out of 2999 public ones tracked. That leaves 2236 events, 74.6%, hidden from view, even though anyone with the link can RSVP.
This gap is the core reason many people search for luma alternatives. Hidden Events bridges it by crawling all public Luma events, including those only listed on organizer calendars or map pins. You can explore all the Luma events we track, and if you’re an organizer, list your own via the add-event page. The result is a much fuller calendar, especially in cities where hidden events are common.
Key takeaway: If you rely on the discover page alone, you’re missing out on many public Luma events.
How does the hidden share differ between cities?
Hidden event shares differ greatly between cities, with some seeing almost all public events unlisted on the discover page. For example, New Delhi has 91.6% hidden events, while Lisbon has 52.9%. Across all ranked cities, the median hidden share is 78.5%.
This means your experience depends on where you look. If you’re searching for San Francisco events, NYC events, or Seattle events, you’ll find that many gatherings are public but unlisted on Luma’s main feed. In fact, 22 out of 22 ranked cities have at least half their public events hidden. For city-level insights, try the city events widget for an embedded view.
| City | Hidden share (%) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 91.6% |
| Lisbon | 52.9% |
| Median city | 78.5% |
Do some event categories have more hidden events than others?
Yes, the hidden share isn’t just about geography, it’s also about what kind of event you’re searching for. The Startup category has 82.1% hidden, while Crypto has 64.1%. If you’re after startup meetups or hackathons, you’re far more likely to find exclusive listings off the main discover page.
You can see this in local category lists like San Francisco meetups or NYC meetups, which often include events not shown on Luma’s main feed. For more on this, check our guide to how many luma events are hidden. This category difference means that alternatives to Luma’s discover page are especially useful for those interested in specific tech or startup scenes.
| Category | Hidden share (%) |
|---|---|
| Startup | 82.1% |
| Crypto | 64.1% |
Key takeaway: What you’re searching for matters, a Startup event is often hidden compared to a Crypto one.
How does Luma compare to Eventbrite and Meetup for hidden events?
Luma, Eventbrite, and Meetup each have their own approach, but Hidden Events is focused on surfacing public Luma events that are hidden from its discover page. Our guide to luma vs eventbrite and our guide to luma vs meetup compare the platforms directly. While Eventbrite and Meetup are well-known, they don’t focus on this hidden-versus-featured split in the same way.
If you’re considering luma alternatives, you need to know that 74.6% of public Luma events aren’t on the discover page. That’s much higher than you might expect from other platforms. For more on how to find these, see our guide to how to find hidden events.
Can anyone check if a specific event is hidden?
You can check if a Luma event is hidden by using the event checker, which shows instantly if an event is missing from Luma’s discover page. This is useful for attendees who want to make sure they’re not missing out, and for organizers who want to understand their event’s visibility.
If you’re running a Luma event and want to boost discovery, you can also add your calendar on the add-event page. Your event will be live in about ten minutes. This quick turnaround means you don’t have to wait for manual approval or placement.
Key takeaway: Anyone can check event visibility and add their own Luma calendar for broader reach in minutes.
How can you browse hidden events right now?
You can browse all the Luma events we track, which lists every public event we’ve found, including those hidden from Luma’s discover page. You’ll see what’s coming up in the next week, currently 1044 events, and can filter by city or category. For city-specific picks, try London events or Austin events. If you want to learn more about why some events are hidden, our guide to why luma events are hidden explains the details.
You can always go straight to Luma or Luma’s discover page for the official listings, but if you want the full picture, including the 2236 hidden events, Hidden Events is your go-to tool.
Ready to find what’s hidden? Browse the live list of Luma events now and see what you’ve been missing.
About the author. Himanshu Saleria, Founder, Hidden Events. I love meeting people. I’ve been attending events, hosting them, and picking up patterns along the way for what makes a gathering worth showing up to. Hidden Events surfaces what I’ve been finding. Himanshu Saleria on LinkedIn