Short version:
The SharePoint Events web part on SharePoint pages and news posts will have an option to show images. Existing Event web parts will not be updated, new web parts added to pages and news will default to show images. This feature rollout will begin for some (targeted) organisations in late March, most of us will have it by late June 2021.

Details:
SharePoint page authors who use the Events web part can enable an option to show event images within the web part. When enabled, each Event shown in the web part will display the image used in the title area of the Event page:

Existing Event web parts will not be updated. However, new web parts added to pages and news will default to show images:

New events view:

Availability:

One to watch. This feature rollout will begin some (targeted) organisations in late March, most of us will have it by late June 2021.