How to Delete an Event in Meta Business Suite

Accidentally created a duplicate Facebook event or had to cancel a scheduled one? Don't worry, it happens to everyone. Getting it removed from your page should be simple, and this guide will walk you through exactly how to cancel or permanently delete any event using the Meta Business Suite.

Canceling vs. Deleting a Facebook Event: What's the Difference?

Before you click any buttons, it's important to understand the two options you have: canceling and deleting. They might sound similar, but they have very different outcomes for you and your audience.

Canceling an Event

Canceling is the most common and recommended choice when a planned event is no longer happening. It's the most transparent and professional way to handle the situation.

• It Notifies Everyone: When you cancel an event, Facebook automatically sends a notification to everyone who RSVP'd ("Going" or "Interested"), as well as any co-hosts. This keeps your audience in the loop and prevents confusion.
• The Event Page Stays Visible: The original event page remains on Facebook but is clearly marked as "Canceled." This provides a public record that the event was planned but did not take place, which is better than having it simply disappear.
• It Allows for Communication: You have the option to post a final update or message explaining why the event was canceled. This is a great opportunity to apologize for any inconvenience, provide context, and perhaps share details about a rescheduled event.

Deleting an Event

Deleting an event is a permanent, irreversible action. It's usually reserved for mistakes, like creating a duplicate event or a draft that you never intended to publish.

• It’s Permanent: Once you delete an event, it is gone for good. There is no way to recover the event page, the guest list, or any posts made on the event wall.
• It Erases Everything: The event is completely removed from your Facebook Page as if it never existed.
• It Does Not Notify Attendees: This is the key reason why deleting is not recommended for legitimate, canceled events. People who RSVP'd will not be officially notified of the cancellation. They may show up at the venue or be confused when they can no longer find the event page. This can create a frustrating experience for your most engaged followers.

Bottom line: If people have already interacted with your event, always choose to cancel it. If you created the event by mistake and no one has seen it yet, deleting is fine.

How to Cancel an Event in Meta Business Suite (Step-by-Step)

Canceling is the preferred method for any publicized event that won't be happening as planned. It’s polite and keeps your audience informed. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Sign in and Go to the Planner

First, log in to your Meta Business Suite account. From the left-hand navigation menu, click on "Planner." The Planner gives you a calendar view of all your scheduled posts, stories, and events, making it easy to find what you're looking for.

Step 2: Locate Your Event

In the Planner, navigate to the date of the event. You can switch between week or month views to find it more easily. Once you see the event you want to cancel, click on it to open its details.

Step 3: Access the Event Options

With the event details open, look for the three-dots icon (...) located near the top right or bottom right of the pop-up window. This is the "more options" menu. Click on it.

Step 4: Select "Cancel Event"

From the drop-down menu, select "Cancel Event." Be careful not to accidentally click "Delete Event" if both options are available.

Step 5: Confirm and Notify Your Attendees

A confirmation window will appear. Meta will remind you that canceling the event will notify everyone who responded. This is your chance to add a clear, concise message to your attendees.

• Post a Cancellation Message: Use this text box to briefly explain the situation. Something like, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel this Thursday's workshop. We apologize for the inconvenience and will share details about a rescheduled date soon!" works perfectly.
• Confirm Cancellation: Once you’re happy with your message, click the "Confirm" or "Cancel Event" button to finalize the process.

After you confirm, your event page will update with a "Canceled" banner, and your notification will be sent.

How to Permanently Delete an Event in Meta Business Suite

If you're absolutely sure you need to permanently erase an event - for example, you created a duplicate by mistake - the process is nearly identical to canceling.

Step 1: Navigate to the Planner in Business Suite

Just like before, log in to Meta Business Suite and open the "Planner" from the side menu.

Step 2: Find the Event You Want to Delete

Use the calendar to find and click on the event you want to remove permanently.

Step 3: Open the Options Menu

Click the three-dots icon (...) in the event details window to bring up the menu of actions.

Step 4: Select “Delete Event” and Confirm

Choose "Delete Event" from the list. A warning pop-up will appear, asking if you are sure you want to permanently delete this event. This is your final chance to change your mind. Read the warning carefully - it will remind you that this action cannot be undone.

If you're certain, click the final "Delete" button to remove the event forever.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes things don't go as planned. If you're struggling to find the cancel or delete option, here are a few common reasons why.

Are You an Admin?

You need to be an Admin or have full content control of the Facebook Page to cancel or delete an event. If you have a lower-level role, like Moderator or Analyst, you may not have the necessary permissions. Check your Page Role under "Page Access" settings.

What About Recurring Events?

If your event is part of a recurring series, Meta gives you more specific options. When you go to cancel or delete it, a prompt should ask if you want to remove:

• Only This Event: This removes a single upcoming instance but keeps all other future events in the series scheduled.
• This and All Following Events: This removes the selected instance and all future occurrences, effectively ending the series from that point forward.

This is extremely useful for ending a weekly market or a monthly seminar series ahead of schedule.

The Option Isn’t Showing Up in Business Suite

The Meta Business Suite interface is constantly being updated, and it can occasionally be buggy. If you can’t find the options in the Planner, try this alternative method:

1. Go directly to your Facebook Page (not through Business Suite).
2. Click on the "Events" tab on your Page's navigation menu.
3. Find the event under "Upcoming Events" and click on it.
4. On the event page, you should see an "Edit" button. Click it, and inside the editing interface, you should find the option to "Cancel" or "Delete" the event (it's often at the bottom left).

Final Thoughts

Managing your digital events in Meta Business Suite is straightforward once you know where to look. Remember to favor canceling over deleting whenever an event has been publicized, as it provides clear communication and maintains trust with your audience. Use a permanent delete only for mistakes or unpublished drafts.

While Meta’s own tools can tell you how many people responded to an event, understanding the full picture of your marketing efforts requires connecting more data. We created Graphed to make this easy. You can connect all your marketing and sales data sources (like Google Analytics, your ad accounts, or Shopify) and use natural language to ask questions. This helps you instantly see how events, ad campaigns, and social media activity actually contribute to what matters most - traffic, leads, and sales - all without having to build a single manual report.