# Upcoming Events Archive Sorted by Event Date

> Orders an events post type archive by the event date stored in a custom field, soonest first, and hides events that have already happened.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Archives](https://wpide.com/library/category/archive/)
- Tags: events, custom-fields, order
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/upcoming-events-archive/

## Code

```php
// Events post type and the custom field that holds the event date (YYYY-MM-DD).
$wpide_event_post_type = 'event';
$wpide_event_date_key  = 'event_date';

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', function ( $query ) use ( $wpide_event_post_type, $wpide_event_date_key ) {
    if ( is_admin() || ! $query->is_main_query() || ! $query->is_post_type_archive( $wpide_event_post_type ) ) {
        return;
    }

    $query->set( 'meta_query', array(
        'wpide_event_date' => array(
            'key'     => $wpide_event_date_key,
            'value'   => current_time( 'Y-m-d' ),
            'compare' => '>=',
            'type'    => 'DATE',
        ),
    ) );
    $query->set( 'orderby', 'wpide_event_date' );
    $query->set( 'order', 'ASC' );
} );
```

## Notes

Set the post type and the custom field name. The field must hold dates as YYYY-MM-DD.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Upcoming Events Archive Sorted by Event Date" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/