EFA returns to Groningen for its 6th edition & announces new award

Following its sold-out fifth edition in January, theEUROPEAN FESTIVAL AWARDS, presented in association with YOUROPE and Eurosonic Noorderslag, will return in the New Year to celebrate the successes of Europe’s music festival industry. The gala award show will open Eurosonic Noorderslag in style on Wednesday 14th January 2015 at De Oosterpoort in Groningen, The Netherlands, hosted by music lawyer and punk rock legend Ben Challis.                                                                                                                           

Nominations are now open and will run until September 27, 2013, during which time festivals can put themselves forward to take part in the awards, which features categories including Best Major Festival, Artists’ Favourite Festival, Headliner Of The Year, the Health & Safety Innovation Awardand the Lifetime Achievement Award.This year also sees the launch of a brand new Award For Excellence And Passion, dedicated to an individual whose exceptional passion and dedication has created a truly unique and magical entity in the marketplace much bigger than the sum of acts that perform there.Festivals can apply to take part here.

Decided by a combination of public vote and industry juries, the European Festival Awards are the only pan-European body solely dedicated to recognising the contributions and achievements of the event organisers and performing artists that generate billions of Euros for local economies and brighten up the summer for tens of millions of festival-goers each year.Last year’s European Festival Awards featured over 350 festivals from 32 different countries, with over 1 million votes cast.Festival Awards Director and co-founder Steve Jenner, said: “It’s been a great year for festivals across Europe with more buoyant ticket sales than we’ve seen in recent years, and good weather. We’re very excited to see which ones most impressed the fans and our industry juries”.Christof Huber, Chairman, Yourope adds: “It’s been a very busy festival summer 2015 and we are looking forward to gather in Groningen to celebrate some of the best festivals and achievements in a friendly atmosphere“Public voting in this year’s Awards will run from 6th to 27th October 2014.The final shortlists will be announced on 10th November with the winners revealed at the awards show on 14th January.Tickets to the event are on-sale now. Platinum Tickets incl a gala dinner are restricted to festival organisers (maximum 4 tickets per festival) until 30st October, available to order here.