UK Festival Awards


The UK Festival Awards are awarded annually, with various categories for all aspects of festivals that have taken place in the UK, and one category for European festivals. The Awards were first established in 2004, and are produced by Virtual Festivals.com. They are voted for by the public via the UK Festival Awards website. To ensure fairness, the votes are weighted to take into account the event capacity.
The 2008 Awards ceremony was held on 30 October 2008 at the IndigO2 venue in London. Nordoff–Robbins music therapy will receive funds raised on the night.
The 2011 Awards ceremony was held at the Roundhouse in Camden.
Since 2017 the UK Festival Awards have been held at Troxy, the music and events venue in Stepney, London.

2004

UK Festival Awards launched as an online poll by , 12,000 fans vote. The awards are presented in person to the winners in their local pubs of choice

2005

50,000+ fans vote; BBC 6 Music sign up as media partner. Saluted in Scottish Parliament when T in the Park is voted Best Major Festival. The awards are again presented to the winners in person during an epic road-trip spanning the UK.

2006

Pressure from the industry prompts the creation of the first live event, for 500 standing-only at London’s Islington Academy, sponsored by Carling.
Hosted by: Steve Harris. Outstanding Contribution to Festivals: Melvin Benn.

2007

The first "sit down" event at KoKo, Camden. Michael Eavis attends.
Hosted by: the Cuban Brothers. Outstanding Contribution to Festivals: John Giddings.

2008

Moves to the IndigO2, adding a gala dinner component and the first UK Festival Conference by day.
Michael Eavis accepting his Outstanding Contribution to Festivals award at the IndigO2 in 2008. Establishes independent ownership as Festival Awards Ltd.
Hosted by: Shaun Keaveny. Outstanding Contribution to Festivals: Michael Eavis.

2008 Nominations Shortlist

The Awards returns to the O2 and the conference fills out into Europe’s largest cinema, the Vue in the O2 complex. The European Festival Awards is launched in partnership with The European Festival Association and debuts at The Grand Theatre in Groningen, Holland, on the opening night of Eurosonic Noorderslag.
Hosted by: Dixie and Horsey. Lifetime Achievement Winner: Katrina Larkin.

2010

The Awards continues its O2 residency and the Conference expands again into sell-out event at the British Music Experience, covered live by BBC Business News.

2010 Winners

Hosted by: Craig Charles. Lifetime Achievement Winner: Geoff Ellis.

2011

Awards show up-scales to The Roundhouse and sells-out – the founding dream realised. Conference moves up to The Forum, attracts record attendance.
Hosted by: The Cuban Brothers. Lifetime Achievement Winner: Steve Heap.
http://www.festivalawards.com/2011-winners/
Best New Festival
Wilderness
Best Metropolitan Festival
Tramlines
Best Dance Event
Creamfields
Best Overseas Festival
Outlook
Best Family Festival
Beautiful Days
Best Breakthrough Artist
Ed Sheeran
Line-Up of the Year
Sonisphere Knebworth
Headline Performance of the Year
Paolo Nutini at Latitude
Anthem Of The Summer
Chase and Status: Blind Faith
Agent Of The Year
Steve Strange
Promoter Of The Year
Secret Productions
Best Small Festival
End of the Road
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Secret Garden Party
Best Major Festival
Glastonbury
Fans' Favourite Festival
Bestival
Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Heap, Mrs Casey Music / Towersey Village Festival
PRESENTED AT THE UK FESTIVAL CONFERENCE:
Earlier in the day at The Forum, Kentish Town…
The Grass Roots Festival Award
Y-Not Festival
Concession Of The Year
The Beat Hotel
The Greener Festival Award
Shambala
Best Toilets
Y-Not Festival
Best Sponsor Activation
Capitalize: Bacardi
The Extra-Festival Activity Award
Bearded Kitten
Outstanding Contribution to Festival Production
The Event Safety Shop

2012

Awards returns to The Roundhouse. Conference joins it at the same venue for the first time.
Hosted by: Phill Jupitus.
http://www.festivalawards.com/2012-winners/
Best New Festival
Festival Number 6
Best Metropolitan Festival
Camden Crawl
Best Dance Event
Global Gathering
Best Overseas Festival
Benicassim
Best Family Festival
Latitude
Best Breakthrough Act
Jake Bugg
Line-Up of the Year
Download
Headline Performance of the Year
New Order at Festival Number 6
Anthem Of The Summer
Django Django – ‘Default’
Agency Of The Year
William Morris
Promoter Of The Year
Gareth Cooper
Best Small Festival
Y-Not
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Bloodstock Open-Air
Best Major Festival
Bestival
The Grass Roots Festival Award
Green Man
The Greener Festival Award
Croissant Neuf Summer Party
Concession Of The Year
Paelleria
Best Toilets
Lodestar
Best Brand Activation
The Southern Comfort Juke-Joint
The Extra-Festival Activity Award
Live From Jodrell Bank
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Probyn, Chief Operating Officer, Live Nation

2013

Awards returns to The Roundhouse.
http://www.festivalawards.com/2013-winners/
BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL
Download
MEDIUM-SIZED FESTIVAL
Kendal Calling
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL
Bearded Theory
BEST NEW FESTIVAL
We Are FSTVL
BEST DANCE EVENT
Creamfields
BEST METROPOLITAN FESTIVAL
Dot To Dot
BEST FAMILY FESTIVAL
Camp Bestival
BEST GRASSROOTS EVENT
2000trees Festival
BEST TOILETS
ArcTanGent
BEST OVERSEAS FESTIVAL
Snowbombing
HEADLINE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Arctic Monkeys – Glastonbury
ANTHEM OF THE SUMMER
Get Lucky – Daft Punk
BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR
Rudimental
Jury-decided Categories:
AGENT OF THE YEAR
CODA
BEST LINE-UP
Latitude
CONCESSION OF THE YEAR
Strumpets with Crumpets
THE GREENER FESTIVAL AWARD
Shambala Festival
BEST BRAND ACTIVATION
Virgin Media
THE EXTRA-FESTIVAL ACTIVITY AWARD
Wilderness
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paddy Glasgow
BEST USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Intelligent Venue Solutions
THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Fiona Stewart, Green Man Festival

2016

Awards returns to The Roundhouse.

2016 Finalists Shortlist

Best New Festival