A social networking system suggests events for a target user based on stored data in the social networking system related to the target user and to events. The social networking system may suggest events based on the target user's affinity for, connections with, or interactions with objects in the social networking system connected to or otherwise associated with the events. For example, an event is suggested to a target user if users connected to the target user already accepted an invitation to the event. As another example, an event organized by a particular entity is suggested to the target user because of interactions between the target user and other content provided by the entity. Invitations to suggested events may be presented to the target user via a client device, allowing the target user to easily join a suggested event.