Opening speech examples and a simple structure for welcome remarks

Last updated: 3 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals

An opening speech sets the tone for everything that follows, and it rarely needs to be long. Below is a simple structure for opening remarks, timing guidance and short opening speech examples for six common events, ready to adapt.

What good opening remarks do

Opening remarks have a narrow job: welcome the room, show people the event is worth their time and hand over to the programme. They are not a keynote. The audience is still settling, latecomers are finding seats and the energy is building, so short and warm works better than detailed and formal.

Whoever opens, whether a CEO, an organiser or a professional host, should leave the audience knowing three things: who is speaking, why everyone is here and what happens next.

A simple structure for an opening speech

1. Welcome and acknowledgements: greet the audience, introduce yourself and thank guests of honour, partners or sponsors.
2. Purpose: one or two sentences on why this event exists today.
3. A short story or context: a moment, a milestone or a question that makes the purpose personal. Keep it under 30 seconds.
4. Agenda preview: the two or three things the audience will see, plus key times such as lunch or the awards.
5. Thanks and handover: a final thank you and a clear handover to the next speaker, video or host.

If the event has a separate MC, agree who says what, so welcomes and housekeeping are not repeated. Our guide on how to write an MC script shows how the two fit together.

How long should an opening speech be?

Most people speak at roughly 130 to 150 words per minute on stage, a little slower than in conversation. Use that to plan the length:

One minute is enough for most corporate meetings and store openings. Conferences and galas with several VIPs often need two to three minutes. To check a draft, paste it into the speech time calculator, and allow a few extra seconds for applause.

How to start an opening speech

The first sentence should be easy to say even with nerves. A few reliable openers:

• Direct welcome: "Good morning, everyone, and welcome to [Event Name]."
• A question: "How many of you were here at our first [Event Name], [Number] years ago?"
• A moment: "Twelve months ago, this room was an empty warehouse."
• Thanks first: "Before anything else, I want to thank the people who made tonight happen."

Avoid opening with a joke you have not tested, an apology or a long list of names. Save the full acknowledgements for the second or third sentence.

Opening speech examples: corporate meeting and conference

Replace the placeholders in square brackets and read each version out loud before the event.

Corporate meeting or town hall

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here. I'm [Name], [Title] at [Company], and it's a pleasure to open our [Meeting Name] today, [Date]. A special welcome to colleagues joining from [Location] and to those watching online. We are here for one reason: to agree how we reach our goals for the year ahead. This morning you'll hear from [Speaker Name] on where we stand, and after lunch we'll break into working sessions. Please ask questions as we go; this is your meeting as much as ours. Let's get started. Please welcome [Speaker Name].

Conference

Good morning and welcome to [Conference Name] [Year]. I'm [Name] from [Company], and on behalf of the organising team, thank you for travelling to [City] to join us. Thank you also to our partners, [Sponsor Name] and [Sponsor Name], who made these two days possible. When we planned this programme, we asked one question: what do people in our field need to hear right now? The answer is on your agenda. Today brings [Number] sessions, a lunchtime exhibition and an evening reception at [Time]. Use the breaks, meet someone new and enjoy the conference. To open our first session, please welcome [Speaker Name].

Opening speech examples: store opening and product launch

Store or venue opening

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the new [Store Name] in [Location]. I'm [Name], [Title] at [Company]. Tonight is the result of months of work by our team, our builders and our designers, and many of them are here, so please give them a round of applause. We chose this neighbourhood because [short reason]. Our doors open to the public on [Date], but you are the first to see inside. In a moment we'll cut the ribbon. After that, please explore, ask our team anything and enjoy the evening. Thank you for coming.

Product launch

Good evening and thank you for joining us. I'm [Name], [Title] at [Company]. A year ago, our team started with a simple question from our customers: [customer problem]. Tonight, you'll see our answer. In the next [Number] minutes, [Speaker Name] will walk you through [Product Name], you'll see it in action on stage, and afterwards you can try it yourself at the demo stations. Before we begin, thank you to our partners and to the press for being here on [Date]. Now, let's take a look. [VIDEO ROLLS]

Opening speech examples: gala dinner and graduation ceremony

Gala or year-end dinner

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the [Company] [Year] Gala. I'm [Name], and it's an honour to open tonight's celebration. This year we [one achievement], and none of it happens without the people in this room. A warm welcome to our guests of honour, [VIP Name] and [VIP Name], and to the partners who have supported us all year. Tonight is about saying thank you. Dinner will be served shortly, our awards begin at [Time], and the dance floor opens after that. Please raise your glasses: to a remarkable year, and to everyone who made it happen.

Graduation ceremony

Good afternoon, graduates, families, faculty and guests. I'm [Name], [Title] at [School Name], and it's my privilege to welcome you to the Class of [Year] graduation ceremony on [Date]. Graduates, look around you. Every person in this hall helped you reach this day, whether with late-night study sessions, lifts to class or simple encouragement. Families, thank you. Faculty, thank you. Today we celebrate [Number] graduates. In a moment you will hear from [Speaker Name], and then each graduate will cross this stage. Please hold your applause until the end of each group. Let the ceremony begin.

Delivering your opening speech from cue cards

• Put the first two sentences on their own card. If nerves hit, you only need to find one line.
• Make names, titles and times stand out so you never misread a guest's title.
• Write pauses and cues in brackets: [PAUSE], [APPLAUSE], [VIDEO ROLLS].
• Number every card and hold the stack with your thumb in the bottom margin, not over the text.
• Rehearse once out loud with a timer, standing up and holding the actual cards.

For layout and printing, see how to make cue cards. If the opening sits inside a longer programme, give it its own time slot in the run of show.

Turn your opening speech into cue cards

Paste your adapted opening speech or upload it as a Word (DOCX) file into the free cue card maker. It splits the text into cards at natural pauses, highlights names, titles, numbers, dates and times in deep red, and shows the estimated speaking time for each card and the whole speech. Adjust anything, then print A5 cards or two A5 cards on A4 with a cut line, or export PDF, PPTX or DOCX. No account is needed.

Frequently asked questions

More guides

• How to make cue cards for a speech or event
• How to write an MC script that keeps your event on time
• Run of show template: how to plan an event programme minute by minute
• What is a cue card and when should you use one?
• Cue card template guide: sizes, fonts, margins and printing
• Moderator cue cards: how to run a panel discussion from your cards
• How to write an award ceremony script and winner reveal cards
• Event planning checklist: what to do and when, from one month out to show day
• How to edit cue cards when the script changes at the last minute
• MC script examples: ready-to-use host lines from doors to closing

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