ZEvent bows out after 10 years, as French streamers reshape philanthropy

For 10 years, French streamers have turned live broadcasts into a major fundraising force. Now ZEvent is preparing to sign off with one last marathon in Montpellier, and its founders want the final edition to set new records.

From Sept. 4 to 6, streaming stars will take part in 50 hours of live programming. The event has raised more than €55 million for 22 charities, making it the biggest charitable event in streaming. For some of the organizations involved, the money collected represents half of their annual budget.

Adrien Nougaret, better known as Zerator, and his partner Alexandre “Dach” Dachary founded the event. What began as an unfamiliar format for many older viewers has become a new model for charitable giving. The appeal lies not only in the money raised, but also in the audience that streaming brings with it.

The word “streamer” may suggest an 18-year-old broadcasting video-game sessions from a bedroom. French streaming is broader than that. Its figures can also work as presenters, journalists, videographers, entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers or influencers. Samuel Etienne, the 55-year-old host of Questions pour un champion, is part of that streaming landscape through his daily news review on Twitch.

ZEvent’s decade-long run has therefore done more than collect donations. It has helped move philanthropy into a digital space where a generation that may not have grown up with traditional charity appeals has found its own way to give.