save the date:
13 january 2027

let's celebrate the festival season 2026!

Another festival season has come to an end and we are going to celebrate at the European Festival Awards!
We are going to celebrate a lot: festivals new and old, big and small, spectacular line-ups, unforgettable experiences, outstanding activations
and innovations as well as the simple joy of live music.

public voting

vote for your favourite festival

The self-registration process has ended and the public voting for the European Festival Awards' main categories
is open from 27 October until 20 November 2026.

During this period the public can vote for their favourite festival in the main categories:
Best Major Festival
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Best Small Festival
The result will be a longlist of 20 festivals. A jury of established festival promoters and experts from various European countries
will select the final shortlist of 10 festivals and also select the winner. All nominees will be announced at the beginning of December 2026 and the winner will be announced at the European Festival Award ceremony.

Additionally, they can also vote for the Line-Up Of The Year:
A jury of established festival promoters and experts from all across Europe will select the final shortlist of 10 nominees of this category.
The vote will be open to the public who will choose the the final winner of each category between 27 October and 20 November 2026. The winner will be announced at the European Festival Award ceremony.

Go to Public Voting
(will start 27 October 2026, 9am)

self-registration 2026

Please note: The European Festival Awards are exclusively dedicated to popular music festivals that take place in Europe.
Events outside this category are not eligible to participate and will be withdrawn from the competition by the jury.

If you wish to nominate your festival for the following categories you can do so from October 1st, 2026

Main categories (self-registration until 23 October)
Best Major Festival
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Best Small Festival

Specialist categories (self-registration until 1 November)
New Kid On The Block
The Green Operations Award
The Event Safety Award
The Brand Activation Award
The Take A Stand Award

The nomination procedure and choosing of the winners is explained in the categories listed here:

Self-registration & award categories

get your ticket now!

Join us along with over 350 guests for the biggest industry event to celebrate the end of the festival season.
Date: January 13th, 2027
Venue: De Ooosterpoort Grote Zaal, Groningen

what's included in your ticket:

PREMIUM TICKETS (EUR 100.00):
access to «meet the agencies» (3.00pm - 6.00pm, Location: Foyer Groote Zaal at De Oosterpoort)
6.30pm: Ticketing Desk open
7.00pm: Doors
7.00pm: Welcome Drinks & Seating
7.15pm – 08.45pm: Gala Dinner incl. drinks
9.15pm – 11.00pm: European Festival Awards ceremony
12.00am – 2.00am: Aftershow Party, Location: tba

TRIBUNE TICKETS (EUR 25.00):
A tribune seat at the Award Ceremony (dinner and drinks excluded)
Doors: 8.45pm
9.15pm - 11.00pm: European Festival Awards Ceremony
12.00am – 2.00am: Aftershow Party, Location: tba

Tickets