An instant canopy tent is a temporary shelter that opens accordion-style and they don’t require staking or tent poles. They’re usually open on all four sides, but many come with sidewalls for added privacy or shelter.
Canopy tents are also super easy to set up, and usually cost a lot less than frame tents or standard pole tents. The only downside is they may not be as sturdy as other tents, but there are heavy duty ones available. Additionally, there are ways to prolong the life of your instant canopy.
The beauty of popups is that the main frame is already assembled, which eliminates the bulk of a tent set up. All you have to do is pull it out of the case or bag and unfold it. Then the next step is putting the top cover and/or the side walls on. If your event is only a couple of hours long, you don’t want to be arriving 2 hours ahead of time just to put your tent up. A pop-up canopy tent can go up in as little as ten minutes, depending on how heavy-duty it is.