Mega festivals have become too big to be environmentally sustainable
Academics call for carbon budgets as a condition of licensing, and for capacity reductions at the largest festivals where other measures fall short.
The world's largest music festivals cannot cut their environmental impact while they keep getting bigger, and licensing authorities should be prepared to cap audience numbers, according to a new peer-reviewed paper by Adrian Bossey (Independent Researcher), Dr Mike Duignan (Centre for Events & Festivals) and Dr Teresa Moore (A Greener Future).
Over the last decade we have seen major festivals, including Download and Glastonbury, increase in scale and capacity to become mega events both in the UK and beyond.
The authors call on the large-scale festival sector and those who license festivals to confront an uncomfortable truth: when it comes to the climate, bigger can no longer mean better.
The paper, forthcoming in the journal Event Management (see Notes to editors), argues that festival gigantism – the sustained shift towards larger and more complex events – creates a corresponding upward pressure on absolute environmental impacts. Quantitative evidence repeatedly demonstrates that travel is the single biggest impact and that it scales strongly with audience size and internationalisation. As a result, operational practices, no matter how polished, are unable to compensate for the increased travel emissions.
The authors argue that festival gigantism is not a peripheral concern; it is the central sustainability problem facing the mega music festival sector. The evidence is unambiguous: absolute environmental burdens continue to rise because scale outpaces efficiency. Polishing operations while expanding capacity is not a sustainability strategy; it is a contradiction. Bigger bins, greener generators, and carbon offsets cannot compensate for hundreds of thousands of people travelling to a greenfield site with inadequate public transport. The sector cannot offset or efficiency-measure its way out of a structural growth problem.
The climate emergency demands more than good intentions and incremental improvements. It demands that festival organisers, licensing authorities, and policymakers treat capacity as a sustainability variable, not a commercial given. Carbon budgets should be a condition of licensing. Travel demand management should be mandatory, not aspirational. And where all realistic mitigations fall short, as the evidence shows they currently do, degrowth through
reducing absolute audience capacity must be on the table for mega festivals.
"Whilst this will be contentious, we believe that the sector must choose: value over volume, or business as usual in the face of a climate emergency." - Adrian Bossey
"Make no mistake: this is not a fringe concern but a mainstream one, in Britain and worldwide. Festivals have grown too big, too fast, with too few guardrails to stop profit trumping planet. It is a vivid example of what Andy Burnham has diagnosed in British society and beyond: the creeping commercialisation and privatisation of everyday life, and the damage it leaves behind." - Dr Mike Duignan
"Our paper is designed to provoke discussion. We argue that festival gigantism and its increased environmental impacts can only be addressed through explicit governance, including capacity reductions." - Dr Teresa Moore
View the Centre for Events and Festivals (CEF) Insights article here:
https://www.eventsandfestivals.org/insights/have-mega-festivals-become-too-big-to-be-environmentally-sustainable
The CEF Insights article is based on the following peer-reviewed academic article: Bossey, A.C.C., Duignan, M.B, and Moore, T. (2026) Mega Music Festivals, Gigantism, and Implications for Reducing their Environmental Impact. Event Management, forthcoming.
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Green Events and Innovations Conference expands 2027 edition with move to the O2
Having celebrated its 18th birthday earlier this year, the Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI) is collaborating with iconic venue The O2 for its 19th edition next February, heralding an exciting new era for the event, as well as a significant boost to the profile of sustainability in the live entertainment sector.
As the event scales up for its 2027 gathering, sustainability pioneers, A Greener Future (AGF), will host GEI19 across indigo at The O2 and the O2 Blueroom, under the world’s most iconic tent.
Set to take place on Tuesday, 23rd February 2027, GEI is the planet’s leading conference for event sustainability, with a history of bringing together the brightest minds to tackle the most poignant and pressing topics relating to event sustainability, climate change, and social action.
Past speakers include eco-warriors and artists Brian Eno, Moby, Aurora, Blaine Harrison, Jarvis Cocker, Madame Gandhi, Jacob Collier, and Declan McKenna, while frontline environmentalists and campaigners include such names as Carly McLachlan (Tyndall Centre), Dale Vince OBE (Ecotricity / Grid Faeries), Danielle Magalhaes (Secretariat to the Climate Framework at UNFCCC), Dr Clair Barnes (World Weather Attribution / Imperial College London), Erik Distler (AEG), Greg Cochrane (journalist and broadcaster), Minister for Climate Kerry McCarthy (MP Bristol East), and Cathy Runciman (EarthPercent).
GEI first took place at Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire, followed by the Royal Festival Hall, and for the last ten years has enjoyed a flourishing partnership with ILMC at the Royal Garden and Royal Lancaster hotels. The venue switch comes as both conferences have enjoyed unprecedented growth in prestige and popularity, necessitating the need for bigger premises.
Whilst GEI is moving out of the family home, like the archetypal teenagers who bring home their washing, it will remain an integral part of ILMC’s programming, will retain its activities in the same week and in the same city, and will be accessible to ILMC delegates and non-delegates alike.
Claire O’Neill, founder and CEO of A Greener Future, said:
“The Green Events and Innovations Conference is evolving once again. After spending the last decade in the same venue as the ILMC, both conferences have expanded, and we are excited to embark on this new era with The O2 and its iconic spaces. Our relationship with ILMC remains strong, with GEI taking place on the day before in the same city, and available as a package to ILMC delegates. The expansion of GEI will allow for even greater action and amplification of the important issues of climate, nature and people through the lens of the live sector – from music to sport.
We’re delighted to have secured a new home with The O2, which, across its 20 years of operations, has invested strongly in green technology and led the way for the entertainment sector with its sustainability initiatives.”
Sam Booth, director of sustainability, AEG International said:
"We're pleased to welcome the Green Events & Innovations Conference to The O2 in 2027. Sustainability remains an important focus across our business, and GEI has played a significant role in bringing the sector together to share ideas, drive innovation and accelerate progress. We look forward to hosting delegates under our iconic tent and supporting industry conversation that shapes a sustainable future."
Last year's edition of GEI welcomed more than 450 delegates from 26 countries around the world, demonstrating that the events sector is leading the way in innovation, with a packed programme of engaging talks, panel sessions, debates, and case studies from music and sporting events; a climate-friendly lunch, refreshments throughout the day, and the ever-popular networking opportunity that is the GEI closing drinks party.
The prestigious International AGF Awards, sponsored by Skydiamond, will conclude GEI19, where the most innovative and greenest events, venues, organisations, and individuals from across the globe over the previous 12 months will be celebrated by their peers. The awards span ten categories, including the highly sought-after International Greener Festival Award. Winners at GEI18 included M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, UK; DGTL, from the Netherlands; and Sam Fender’s People Watching tour, which was able to boast the use of 100% electric trucks. View all winners here.
Following the awards ceremony will be a networking drinks reception, and the following day GEI delegates have free access to London’s newest showcase festival, Soho Calling, which takes place across central London and is organised by ILMC.
GEI19 is organised by green event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF), and is supported by Ecotricity Business, Ecotalk, The O2, AEG, Skydiamond and long-term supporters ILMC.
More information at agreenerfuture.com/gei
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AGF launch "A Greener Live London" during London Climate Action week
During London Climate Action Week 2026, A Greener Future (AGF) is uniting London's sustainability leaders to highlight the city's pioneering role in driving green innovation and best practice within live events. AGF is the not-for-profit organisation championing sustainability across the live events sector worldwide for twenty years.
Working across some of the city's most iconic festivals and venues, which have achieved AGF Certification, including ABBA Voyage, American Express present BST Hyde Park, The O2 and OVO Arena Wembley - AGF are at the forefront of London’s greener live future, working hard behind the scenes to make it measurable and scalable.
“Real change is already happening across London’s live sector, supporting the City's ambition to become a leading destination for green events. London Climate Action Week is a good moment to spotlight how London venues and festivals are reducing their impacts and boosting their environments. To the backdrop of another heatwave across the UK, we hope this will inspire others to take action” says AGF Founder and CEO Claire O’Neill.
AGF’s ‘A Greener Live London’ highlights how London's live sector is leading the way when it comes to being a greener city for events, why climate action is important to these iconic places, and what they're doing to protect our environment.
The series covers varied topics, including plastic pollution prevention, renewable energy, biodiversity and urban gardens, low-emission travel, artists requesting plant-based menus, and accessibility.
OVO Arena Wembley’s senior technical manager Tom Miller said the venue's climate commitments are no longer just about principle - they're about survival in an increasingly regulated industry. "As a venue, we are committed to operating as sustainably as possible, with environmental impact factored into our decision-making at every stage. It's something we're not only passionate about as a venue team, but we recognise the importance of this as an industry, too. Taking climate action now strengthens our reputation and aligns us with industry standards, and ensures we remain competitive as regulations and expectations evolve"
Sam Booth, Sustainability Director at AEG International, made clear that sustainability for a venue like The O2 is no longer optional - it's a business imperative. "Our fans want to come and experience a music gig without any guilt associated with it," Booth said. But it isn't just audiences pushing for change. Artists, brand partners, and staff - many of them young and values-driven - are all asking harder questions about the environmental credentials of the venues they work with or support.
Viewers can follow the series and send their suggestions for episodes at @AGreenerFuture_ on social media.
To learn more about the AGF Certification for events, venues and suppliers visit www.agreenerfuture.com
London Climate Week takes place from 20th - 28th June 2026
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A Greener Future reveals festival insights across four continents
AGF (A Greener Future) has shared insight into the sustainability actions, initiatives and highlights of festivals in 12 countries across Europe, Asia, North and South America.
Key takeaways from festivals assessed in 2025:
-94% have a formal sustainable food & beverage policy
-89% used reusable cups and 85% banned single-use plastic serveware
-25% were fully powered by mains electricity, and battery usage continues to increase.
A Greener Future (AGF) reveals the festival sustainability trends from events that received the Greener Festival certification in 2025, providing insight into key impact areas such as energy & power, food & drink, waste & recycling, and travel & transport. AGF assessed 24 festivals from 12 different countries including Austria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Estonia, the United States, India, and Colombia. The 2025 cohort also included several events taking part in the AGF certification for the first time: the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, Cordillera Festival in Colombia, Estonian Fashion Festival, and one of the world’s largest EDM music festivals: Ultra Miami.
The data collected through the certification gives insights into ongoing industry-wide trends and benchmarks for the global festival sector. The insights demonstrate some encouraging statistics, with 85% of assessed events implementing a complete ban on single-use plastics and the average recycling rate across all festivals assessed was 56%, with 5 festivals achieving a recycling rate of over 70%. Looking at food & beverage, 94% have a formal sustainable food & beverage policy, with vegan and vegetarian dishes representing on average 53% of all food served. In addition, 17% of festivals were 100% vegetarian or vegan. The shift to lower-carbon power supply is also notable. A quarter of festivals were run entirely on mains electricity, and there is also a growing use of zero-emission temporary power: 17% indicated having some of their power supplied by on-site renewables or battery systems. While 71% still used generators for some or all of their power, nearly half of them (47%) used 100% HVO instead of diesel. Claire O’Neill – CEO, A Greener Future: “Festivals are a microcosm of wider societies, and a place where we can do things better. Seeing the continued move away from fossil fuels, plastic, and industrial animal agriculture is very encouraging to see. We hope to see more festivals around the world stepping up to the mark in this summer”
Key findings by category:
Travel and Transport
-92% monitor audience travel
-The average local audience rate across all assessed festivals was 49%
-29% reported a local audience rate of over 70% (from within the city or region)
-On average, 63% of line ups were made up of domestic talent. A third of festivals recorded a line up consisting of over 70% domestic artists
Food and Beverage
-17% of festivals are 100% vegetarian or vegan
-94% have a formal sustainable food & beverage policy
-89% used reusable cups
-85% banned single-use plastic serverware
-Vegan and vegetarian dishes represented on average 53% of all food served (by weight), while 30% of dishes served were red-meat based
Power and Fuel Use
-71% used generators for some or all of their power
-47% of generator-using festivals used 100% HVO instead of diesel
-The average generator fuel efficiency was 2.1 kWh per litre
-25% were fully powered by grid electricity
-17% had over 5% of their power supplied by on-site renewables or battery systems
Waste and Recycling
-The average site recycling rate across all festivals assessed was 56%, with 5 festivals achieving a recycling rate of over 70%.
-The average waste generated per person per day (pppd) was 0.76 kg
-Camping festivals averaged 1.34 kg of waste pppd, while the average for non-camping festivals was nearly 2.5 times lower at 0.51 kg pppd.
Water and Sanitation
-The average recorded water consumption in 2025 was 10 litres pppd
-Camping festivals averaged 16.3 litres of water pppd, while non-camping festivals recorded an average of 6.3 litres pppd
Wider Sustainability
-87% have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
-95% have an environmental and/or sustainability policy
-58% invest in nature-positive environmental project or carbon removals
-100% have a dedicated sustainability manager or team
NOTE: Data based on all AGF 2025 assessed festivals who provided sufficiently complete data for analysis 24 festivals assessed in 2025.
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A Greener Future win music and climate action award at 2026 Music Cities Awards
A Greener Future are honoured to be amongst this year’s winners of The Music Cities Awards 2026, recognising outstanding initiatives that use music to drive social, cultural, environmental and economic impact around the world.
Taking home the Music & Climate Action Award, AGF was recognised for its trailblazing work reducing environmental impact across the global live music sector. As founders of the world's first sustainability certification for festivals, AGF has spent two decades reshaping how live events are planned, produced, and delivered—providing independent certification, carbon analysis, and practical net-zero strategies that drive measurable improvement. Their work across over 1,000 festivals, tours, and venues has inspired industry-wide change and embedded ecological responsibility as a core part of live music worldwide.
The awards represented a diverse range of initiatives across multiple continents, demonstrating how music can support community wellbeing, education, tourism, sustainability, nightlife, technology and policy innovation.
Dr Teresa Moore, AGF director, was there to collect the award and said: “We are hugely honoured to receive this award for Music and Climate Action from Music Cities. It means so much to be recognised by the industry for our work with events and music cities to create real impact.”
Claire O'Neill, AGF CEO and founder added "We're really honoured to receive this award because firstly the other nominees were world class, and secondly, we believe that collaboration between cities and cultural events, from festivals to football, is the way forward for an enjoyable and speedy transition to a greener economy and better quality of life."
The Awards Ceremony took place at Hull Minster on 11 June, as part of the Music Cities Convention in Hull. The evening opened with a performance from a 100−person combined choir and brass players from the City of Hull Band, before moving through nine awards across global categories. Hosted by Hull cultural icon and World Living Statue Champion Andy Train, the night was designed to be more than an awards show, with performances from Bongo's Bingo and a closing set from the Minster Choir woven throughout the evening.
View all the 2026 winners here: https://www.musiccitiesevents.com/awards
The Music Cities Awards, presented annually since 2020 by Sound Diplomacy during the Music Cities Convention, celebrate the individuals, organisations and cities redefining how music shapes communities.
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Winners revealed for the International AGF Awards 2026
A Greener Future has revealed the 2026 International AGF Awards winners at the Green Events and Innovations Conference, highlighting the world's greenest in the live sector from music festivals and venues, to Sam Fender’s fully electric truck Tour, People Watching.
The 18th edition of the 2026 International AGF Awards supported by Skydiamond and hosted by Musician and Activist Madame Gandhi, Ash Perrin, The Flying Seagull Project and AGF CEO Claire O’Neill, celebrated the most innovative and outstanding festivals, events, venues and organisations from events and venues worldwide over the last 12 months, at the Royal Lancaster London on February 24.
Finalists of the awards included 28 events, venues and innovators from 14 countries with awards presented across ten important sustainability categories, including power, water, food, and travel, and the top accolades of the International Greener Festival Award and International Greener Arena Award 2026. Winning festivals and venues were from Estonia, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK.
One of the top accolades - the International Greener Festival Award 2026 - went to DGTL, (NL), who also won the Greener Transport Award, with a plant based menu, renewable energy, and most attendees travelling by public transport, bike or foot.
Upon receiving the award, the festival's sustainability manager Esmee Bouwmeister said: “We are very happy with this recongition again. It's really important AGF and things like this exists because it creates a playing field and standard and we learn from it alot. Thank you very much.”
The International Greener Arena Award was a first time win for M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, UK.
“This was our first year going for accreditation and thanks to everyone at AGF," said M&S Arena’s Dominic Parker. "We are on a journey to get net zero by 2030 and this shows we are on the right track, so thanks for the award."
Another first time winner was the Estonian Fashion Festival with Cätlyn Tamm accepting the award saying: “It’s been a pleasure working with the AGF team and thanks to everyone who made this happen.” In what is known as a high ‘throw away’ business, they showed another way, and won the Circular Event Award, commitment to circularity and sustainability from their reusable materials to promotion of slow fashion.
India’s Echoes of Earth take home an award for the second year running, this year winning the Community Action Award for embedding community at the heart of its identity, prioritising local employment, regional artists, grassroots partnerships and year-round engagement through The Greener Side initiative.
Paradise City in Belgium won the Greener Catering Award for their fully plant-based food offer delivered through a strict Green Charter, Spain’s Sonidos Líquidos won the Pied Piper Award for their communication of sustainability beyond the event; and for their commitment to raising awareness about the protection of the environment and the biodiversity of the geopark in which the festival takes place. The Greener Power Award went to Øyafestivalen in Norway for 100% renewable grid energy.
Portugal’s Boom Festival continues to set an international benchmark for water stewardship and sanitation design at scale winning the Water & Sanitation Award and the Greener Innovations Award went to Sam Fender’s 100 per cent eHGV People Watching Tour.
The full list of 2026 International AGF Awards winners are:
International Greener Festival Award (Supported by Earth Positive) - DGTL (NL)
International Greener Arena Award (Supported by Universal Pixels) - M&S Bank Arena, (UK)
Greener Transport Award (Supported by KB Event) - DGTL (NL)
Circular Event Award - Estonian Fashion Festival (EE)
Community Action Award - Echoes of Earth (IN)
Greener Catering Award (Supported by Peppermint Bars & Events) - Paradise City (BE)
Pied Piper Award - Sonidos Líquidos (ES)
Greener Power Award (Supported by GeoPura) - Øyafestivalen (NO)
Water & Sanitation Award - Boom Festival (PT)
Greener Innovations Award (Supported by L-Acoustics) - 100% eHGV European Tour @ Sam Fender (UK)
Finalists are selected from all AGF certified Greener Events, Festivals and Arenas over the past year, with top scores across key sustainability criteria. Applicants undergo a detailed assessment, site visits, and analysis by AGF auditors. Additionally, green innovations from festivals and events have been selected and are judged by an independent jury.
Sponsored by Skydiamond, The International AGF Award ceremony took place during GEI, organised by AGF in partnership with the ILMC (International Live Music Conference).
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Live sector tackles biodiversity, boycotts and climate at GEI18
Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI), the foremost conference for sustainability through live music, sport, and culture, is gearing up for its 18th edition on Tuesday, 24th February at the Royal Lancaster London, with the full agenda now revealed.
A partnership between green event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF) and the world’s leading platform for the live music and entertainment sector, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), GEI18 will tackle the hottest topics facing the industry with a jam-packed programme across three rooms, a networking and exhibitor lounge, and a five-star plant-based lunch. The event also includes the International AGF Awards and access to Soho Calling music showcase festival taking place across multiple venues in central London on 25th February.
Joining the GEI lineup for the first time is conservationist and broadcaster Chris Packham CBE, who will speak alongside Ecotricity’s Dale Vince OBE as the duo introduce Saturday Night Beaver with Ecotalk, discussing ways we can protect nature. And Vince is later joined by Kneecap’s manager, Dan Lambert, who will provide first-hand insight into cancel culture and boycotts in Cancel Me, Cancel You: Values, Boycotts and Cancel Culture.
EarthPercent Hour returns with multi-award-winning singer-songwriters Anna Calvi and David Gray joining co-executive director of EarthPercent Cathy Runciman to discuss musical journeys, inspiration, community, and planetary care in GEI’s keynote session – Unleashing the Power of Music in Service of the Planet.
There will be live performances from Tobias Turley (MAMMA MIA!), who stars as Humanity in the award-winning pop musical Hot Mess, and Katarina Barruk, who collaborated with Bicep on the critically acclaimed immersive audiovisual project TAKKUUK, singing in the critically endangered language of Ume Sámi.
In Art For Earth's Sake: The Power of Storytelling multi-award-winning artist Doddz and Ellie Coote, director and writer of Hot Mess will explore two storytelling artforms, using both age-old and emerging tools of communication, and Extraction Vs. Connection will spotlight those using creativity, events, and collective agency to build bridges and reconnect to real humanity.
Beyond the Burger Van, presented by Petra Daniëls of Paradise City festival and hosted by one of the UK’s leading voices in plant-based foods and sustainable living, Clare Every (The Little London Vegan), will explore the revolution in festival catering through the lens of Belgium's pioneering Paradise City.
Riders on the Storm explores climate adaptation for events; and Sustainable Cities: Taking Diesel Out Of Events brings together teams from Liverpool UN Accelerator City, Bristol City Council, and Massive Attack's Act 1.5 to explore real-world initiatives and the critical role cities can play in accelerating the transition to cleaner, greener event ecosystems.
The importance of data and research is highlighted in Industry Initiatives: Research and Tools for a Greener Live Sector, where delegates will hear research from MIT and the UK outdoor event sector, from AGF on digitalising 20 years of sustainability expertise, and YOUROPE’s update on the European Green Festival Roadmap 2030. AI and Sustainability discusses the issues around the social, economic, and environmental impacts of AI on the industry.
A Greener Tour Round VI returns featuring insights from Sam Fender's eHGV tour, the battery systems used on Coldplay’s tour, Massive Attack’s revolutionary actions, key industry manufacturer L-Acoustics, and the colossal work of TAIT and the Live Events Energy Scheme (LEES) founded by Ecotricity, LIVE, AGF, and MVT will be discussed in Green Light for Venues.
Elsewhere, presenters will share solutions for audience travel and touring emissions, from product manufacturing to lifecycle analysis to slow touring; How to Achieve a 90% Recycling Rate will present insights from LIDO Festival and Radio 2 Big Weekend; Big Team and ClearText will present projects for accessibility and inclusion; the Centre for Festivals and Events (CEF) will look at how AI is transforming the live sector; and the unmissable Deep Dive into Toilets: The loos you choose needs no explanation.
The Quick-Fire Innovation Round, hosted by punk legend John Robb, presents Lightweight Design, Heavy Impact – reimagining event design with Airworks; the reinvented toilet from Cranfield University; Hydrogen power for events from GeoPura, and VESTROCK’s use of NaviLens technology to help visually impaired festivalgoers navigate their event.
Rounding off GEI18 will be the International AGF Awards, sponsored by Skydiamond, where AGF celebrates the most innovative and greenest events, venues, organisations, and individuals from across the globe over the last 12 months. Hosted by Claire O'Neill (A Greener Future & Grid Faeries), Madame Gandhi (Musician & Activist), and Ash Perrin (The Flying Seagull Project), delegates will raise a glass to the winners before enjoying a final drinks and networking party with devilishly good vegan balls courtesy of Devil’s Kitchen.
View the full schedule at www.agreenerfuture.com/schedule
GEI18 is sponsored by Ecotricity Business, TAIT, AEG & The O2.
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Anna Calvi joins Lumineries at Green Events and Innovations Conference 2026
Green Events and Innovations’ EarthPercent Hour will this year welcome two very special guests in the form of multi-award-winning singer-songwriters Anna Calvi and David Gray.
They will be joined by host Cathy Runciman, co-executive director of EarthPercent, the charity founded by Brian Eno, to discuss musical journeys, inspiration, community, and planetary care in GEI’s keynote session Unleashing the Power of Music in Service of the Planet. EarthPercent Hour is always the icing on the plant-based cake of GEI’s programme, with previous guests including Brian Eno, Jarvis Cocker, Moby, Aurora, Jacob Collier, and Declan McKenna.
“The EarthPercent Hour at GEI is a highlight of the year — a vital moment for artists and the industry to come together and use music, creativity and influence in support of our planet. It's always so rich and inspiring to host on-stage conversations with artists – and this year, I'm really excited to speak to Anna Calvi and David Gray about their music, what they are seeing in the world and what's important to them." Cathy Runciman, Co-Executive Director, EarthPercent
Delegates will be treated to not only insights, but also live performances from Tobias Turley (MAMMA MIA!), who stars as Humanity in the award winning pop musical Hot Mess, and Katarina Barruk who collaborated with Bicep on the critically acclaimed immersive audiovisual project TAKKUUK, singing in the critically endangered language of Ume Sámi.
Elsewhere, food is on the agenda. And not just in the form of the complimentary five-star vegan lunch and Devil’s Kitchen plant-based balls featured at GEI’s Booze & Balls Closing Drinks. Beyond the Burger Van, presented by Petra Daniëls of Paradise City (BE) and hosted by one of the UK’s leading voices in plant-based foods and sustainable living, The Little London Vegan, Clare Every, will explore the revolution in festival catering through the lens of Belgium's pioneering Paradise City.
Also joining GEI’s lineup of luminaries are naturalist, TV presenter, and author Chris Packham CBE, and Ecotricity’s Dale Vince OBE, who will introduce Saturday Night Beaver with Ecotalk, in which our power duo discuss ways that we can protect nature. And Vince is later joined by Kneecap’s manager, Dan Lambert, who will provide first-hand insight into cancel culture and boycotts in Cancel Me, Cancel You.
In Riders on the Storm, we explore climate adaptation for events, with input from University College London, The Met Office, Boom Festival (PT), and Boomtown Fair (UK), and hosted by Claire Poole of Sport Positive.
And this year, GEI has also expanded to include a third room that will be dedicated to deep dives into compelling topics. Presenters will share their solutions for audience travel and touring emissions; from production product manufacturing Life Cycle Analysis to slow touring, from organisations including Better Live, VibeLab, Technopol, and PLASA; How to Get a 90% Recycling Rate with insights from LIDO Festival and Radio 2 Big Weekend; projects for accessibility and inclusion from Big Team and ClearText; how AI is transforming the live sector with Centre for Festivals and Events (CEF); and the unmissable Deep Dive into Toilets: The loos you choose.
Read the full schedule at www.agreenerfuture.com/schedule
GEI is the conference for event sustainability. The 2026 edition will take place 24 February at the Royal Lancaster London. A partnership between green event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF) and the world’s leading platform for the live music and entertainment sector, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).
GEI18 is sponsored by Ecotricity Business, TAIT, AEG & The O2.
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Finalists revealed for the 2026 International AGF Awards
A Greener Future (AGF) reveals the finalists – events, venues, and innovators from 14 countries - for the International AGF Awards 2026.
The awards are presented across ten vital sustainability categories – including power, water, food, and travel - with the top accolades of International Greener Festival Award and International Greener Arena Award 2026. The awards celebrate the most innovative and greenest events, venues, and organisations from across the globe over the last 12 months. The ceremony, hosted by artist Madame Gandhi, Ash Perrin (Flying Seagulls Project), and AGF’s CEO Claire O’Neill, will take place on 24th February as the closing event of the Green Events & Innovations Conference, which takes place at the Royal Lancaster London.
“We’re super impressed by the groundbreaking and tireless work that the events community has delivered over the last 12 months. Considering the current global state of affairs, making space for creative and caring communities striving for a better, greener future has never been more welcome and necessary. Congrats to all of this year's participants.” Claire O’Neill, CEO of AGF
The International AGF Awards are sponsored by Skydiamond.
And the finalists are:
INTERNATIONAL GREENER FESTIVAL AWARD
Supported by Earth Positive
Boom Festival (PT)
DGTL (NL)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
INTERNATIONAL GREENER ARENA AWARD
Supported by Universal Pixels
ABBA Voyage (UK)
Ancienne Belgique (BE)
AO Arena (UK)
AsiaWorld-Expo (HK)
Co-op Live (UK)
M&S Bank Arena (UK)
P&J Live (UK)
GREENER TRANSPORT AWARD
Supported by KB Event
DGTL (NL)
Godiva Festival (UK)
Montreux Jazz Festival (CH)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
CIRCULAR EVENT AWARD (for reduced waste & resourcefulness)
DGTL (NL)
Echoes of Earth (IN)
Estonian Fashion Festival (EE)
Festival Cordillera (CO)
LIDO Festival (UK)
COMMUNITY ACTION AWARD
Echoes of Earth (IN)
Green Man (UK)
Sonidos Líquidos (ES)
Ultra Festival (US)
We Out Here (UK)
GREENER CATERING AWARD
Supported by Peppermint Bars & Events
Copenhagen Film Festival Forum (DK)
DGTL (NL)
Echoes of Earth (IN)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
PIED PIPER AWARD (for greener communication)
Boom Festival (PT)
Cridem pel Clima (ES)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Phe Festival (ES)
Sonidos Líquidos (ES)
GREENER POWER AWARD
Supported by GeoPura
DGTL (NL)
LIDO Festival (UK)
Montreux Jazz Festival (CH)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
WATER AND SANITATION AWARD
Boom Festival (PT)
DGTL (NL)
Green Man (UK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
GREENER INNOVATIONS AWARD
Supported by L-Acoustics
GeoPura Hydrogen-powered Main Stage @ American Express presents BST Hyde Park (UK)
Leave No Tent @ Sziget (HU)
NaviLens @ Vestrock (NL)
The Walking Route @ Co-op Live (UK)
100% eHGV European Tour @ Sam Fender (UK)
Homemade Airing Cupboard @ Ancienne Belgique (BE)
Last year, one of the top accolades, the International Greener Festival Award 2025, was presented to Norway's Øyafestivalen, who also scooped the Greener Transport Award, with other winning festivals and venues from India, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary. Find out the winners of 2026 at the International AGF Awards during GEI18
Sponsored by Skydiamond, the International AGF Awards is an accessible event that takes place during GEI, organised by AGF in partnership with ILMC (International Live Music Conference). A limited number of tickets are still available
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AGF honours the greenest global events and festivals
Although last year was characterised by instability and geopolitical tensions, 25 festivals and events spanning 12 countries and 4 continents demonstrated their commitment to a better, greener future, successfully achieving AGF Certification in 2025.
A Greener Future (AGF)’s mission is to help the event sector become greener, promoting sustainability at events and festivals across the globe. AGF certification is based on the world's first and most practical framework for sustainability in the event sector, for those reducing emissions, waste, and enhancing equality and biodiversity.
Events and festivals of all shapes and sizes demonstrated their commitment to sustainability in 2025. These include perennially green fests such as Boom Festival in Portugal and Belgium’s Paradise City - both of which have stitched sustainability into their DNA. Echoes of Earth in India returns with a bang. Whilst events enjoying first-time recognition include the beyond legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, Ultra Music Festival in Miami, and AEG Presents’ brand-new LIDO Festival in London, whose battery powered main stage hosted headliners such as Massive Attack and Charlie xcx.
To be certified, events undertake a thorough assessment including a self-assessment, site visits from independent assessors, and post-event evidence submitted for an independent auditors’ report. The AGF Framework includes 11 key themes, including local environments and community, travel, food, energy, water, materials, EDI, and governance.
“Congratulations to all of the certified events in 2025, who have continued to prioritise their commitment to protecting our planet and each other, despite some so called world leaders demonstrating the opposite intentions. We’re looking forward to coming together and celebrating at GEI and the International AGF Awards in London next month.” Claire O’Neill, CEO, AGF
"The AGF certification played a decisive role in accelerating and structuring our sustainability journey. While the Montreux Jazz Festival had already implemented various initiatives – from waste management to soft mobility and responsible partnerships – these efforts remained fragmented. The certification process came at a pivotal moment, just as we were beginning a more holistic reflection on our environmental, social, and economic impact. It enabled us to align our internal objectives around a shared vision of sustainability, build a clear and measurable roadmap, foster collaborations with committed experts and local partners, and strengthen our credibility with our stakeholders.” Mathieu Jaton, Director, Montreux Jazz Festival
“We're thrilled to see the industry-leading efforts of LIDO Festival recognised by this prestigious AGF certification. Having independent verification of the outstanding work that the team undertook in 2025 is hugely important, and we cannot wait to continue setting a new standard for sustainability in live events through 2026 and beyond.” Sam Booth, Sustainability Director, AEG / LIDO Festival
“It was an honour to finally participate in AGF’s certification programme, something we’ve aspired to do for years! The process challenged us to ask meaningful questions, recognise the impact we’ve made, and identify how we can continue to grow. We’re so proud to have achieved certification from this globally respected organisation and excited to continue participating in the programme in the future.” Vivian Belzaguy, Director of Sustainability, Ultra Music Festival
“Paradise City has always been about more than just music. It’s about building a world - even if only for a weekend - that feels hopeful, positive, and future-minded. Being rated ‘Outstanding’ for the sixth year in a row is both an honour and a responsibility. It reminds us that joyful celebration and climate consciousness can go hand in hand. Every year, we ask ourselves the same question: how can we do better? And with every solution we find, new opportunities for improvement appear, too. That constant pursuit of better drives us, and we don’t take our role lightly. If we can set an example for what a sustainable festival can look like, then we’re on the right track."
Lucas Trouessin, Paradise City
Certified festivals and events in 2025:
Greener Festival & Event certifications – Outstanding
Boom Festival (PT)
DGTL (NL)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
Greener Festival & Event certifications – Highly Commended
Green Man (UK)
LIDO Festival (UK)
Montreux Jazz Festival (CH)
Sonidos Líquidos (ES)
Greener Festival & Event certifications – Commended
Copenhagen Film Festival Forum (DK)
Cridem pel Clima (ES)
Echoes of Earth (IN)
Estonian Fashion Festival (EE)
Godiva Festival (UK)
Greener Festival and Event certifications – Improvers
Cordillera Festival (CO)
D'A Festival Cinema Barcelona (ES)
elrow Town Madrid (ES)
Jardín de las Delicias (ES)
Monegros Desert Festival (ES)
Phe Festival (ES)
Primavera Sound Barcelona (ES)
Rockygrass and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival (US)
Serielizados International TV Series Festival (ES)
Telluride Bluegrass Festival (US)
Ultra Music Festival (US)
We Out Here (UK)
Certified events and festivals will be presented with their accolades during a special ceremony at the Green Events & Innovations Conference (GEI18), in partnership with ILMC, which takes place 24th February in London.
All certified events are also automatically nominated for the annual International AGF Awards 2026, sponsored by Skydiamond, which recognise the most innovative and green-aspiring events, venues, organisations, and individuals from across the globe in the last 12 months.
There are more festivals and events currently completing their assessments, which will be announced soon, and assessment applications for 2026 are open.
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AGF awards international venues with Greener Arena Certification
Arenas from across the globe have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability in 2025 by achieving AGF’s Greener Arena Certification. Recipients include Ancienne Belgique, Brussels (BE), Co-op Live, Manchester (UK), M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (UK) and AsiaWorld-Expo (HK).
Receiving certification for a fourth time are Forest Green Rovers FC, “the world's greenest football club,” according to the UN. For the third time Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, (the first-ever arena to obtain the certification in 2021). For the second time London’s ABBA Voyage are also certified.
AGF (A Greener Future) is a not-for-profit dedicated to making the global event sector greener. To be certified, venues undertake a thorough assessment using the AGF Framework with self-assessment, site visits, and post-event evidence submitted to AGF’s assessors for an independent auditors’ report. The AGF Framework includes 11 key themes, including local environments, community, travel, food, energy, water, waste, EDI, and governance.
Arenas making the grade in 2025:
Greener Arena certification – Outstanding
Forest Green Rovers FC’s The New Lawn, Stroud (UK)
Greener Arena certification – Highly Commended
Co-op Live, Manchester (UK)
M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (UK)
Greener Arena certification – Commended
OVO Hydro, Glasgow (UK)
Greener Arena certifications – Improvers
ABBA Voyage (UK)
Ancienne Belgique, Brussels (BE)
AO Arena, Manchester (UK)
AsiaWorld-Expo (HK)
P&J Live, Aberdeen (UK)
Claire O’Neill, CEO, AGF said: “Venues are the backbone of the live indoor sector and touring circuit. The more venues that take sustainability seriously, the more artists have a song sheet to sing from that connects with their values and perpetuates a greener event sector for everyone. Hats off to the greener arenas and venues who made the grade in 2025.”
Dane Vince, Forest Green Rovers CEO said: "We are proud to receive this Outstanding Greener Arena award, as we strive to lead the way with innovative and sustainable solutions, in line with our mission as the worlds greenest football club. As an environmental conscious business, we aim to inspire and educate more organisations to help protect the planet and be part of a Green Britain."
Eddie Dos Santos, Director of Operations and Venue Management at the ACC Liverpool Group, said: “To see the M&S Bank Arena recognised alongside other leaders in sustainability is incredibly rewarding. Our journey has been rooted in making meaningful, measurable change - whether that’s rethinking how we power our events, reducing waste at scale, or working closely with our audiences and partners to protect our local environment. Earning this accreditation reinforces that our approach is working, and it motivates us to keep pushing further. We’re proud to represent Liverpool in this movement and to show that venues like ours can set a positive example for the industry.”
Sara Tomkins, Sustainability & CSR Director, Co-op Live: “We are delighted to see Co-op Live’s focus on giving back to the planet recognised by A Greener Future, testament to the innovative efforts placed in our design, supply chain, and daily operations. Sustainability sits at the very heart of the venue, leading industry-wide conversation on reducing the live entertainment industry’s carbon footprint. We continue to encourage ourselves, our friends, partners, and peers to strive for meaningful positive impact, and indeed a better future."
A certification ceremony will take place as a part of the International AGF Awards 2026 ceremony, which is held during the Green Events & Innovations (GEI18) Conference, in partnership with the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), on 24th February in London.
Arenas who achieve certification are automatically nominated for the International AGF Awards. The event is sponsored by Skydiamond and will feature the most innovative and green-aspiring global events, venues, organisations, and individuals from the last 12 months. Awards include the International Greener Festival Award, supported by Earth Positive Future, the Greener Power Award, supported by GeoPura, and the Greener Arena Award. The shortlist of nominees will be announced in January.
Last year’s roll call included 34 nominees from 14 countries, with nine taking home one of the prestigious awards.
There are more arenas, festivals, and events currently completing their assessments, which will be announced in due course. Applications for 2026 assessments are open. Find out more information and apply here.
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A Greener Future announce first speakers and topics for GEI18
“If you work in the live sector and sustainability is your thing, GEI is where it’s at.” Dale Vince OBE
The first speakers and a few key agenda topics have been announced for the 18th edition of the Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI18), which will take place at the Royal Lancaster London on Tuesday, 24th February 2026.
The internationally renowned conference is where music, sport, and cultural events collectively tackle the topics that matter, from climate action and ecosystem restoration, to handling geopolitical pressures, misinformation, and culture wars.
Returning to GEI to explain what it’s like being a black belt in both green comms and putting words into action is Dale Vince OBE, founder of the world's first green energy company, Ecotricity, and chair of the world’s greenest football club, Forest Green Rovers FC. Dale will be joined by Claire O’Neill, co-founder of their joint venture Grid Faeries, and CEO of AGF, to discuss removing diesel from events alongside many other pressing topics.
Continuing the energy theme and following AEG Europe’s recent announcement regarding their green energy agreement with Ecotricity to supply all their UK venues, GEI will showcase the Live Entertainment Energy Scheme (LEES), a partnership between Ecotricity, LIVE, AGF, and Music Venue Trust, which allows venues and all live sector buildings to access deep green energy at a fraction of the cost whilst simultaneously creating renewables.
Exploring how art can resonate beyond words, GEI18 hosts a discussion giving insight into TAKKUUK, an immersive installation and soundtrack that showcases indigenous life, culture, and climate change in the Arctic, created by BICEP and featuring indigenous artists. EarthSonic, In Place of War, Ninja Tune and the creators contribute to this impressive and moving session.
And the topic of AI and sustainability will make its way onto GEI’s agenda for the first time in 2026. Dr Teresa Moore, GEI co-founder and head of AGFe (A Greener Future Education), will join chair Adrian Bossey and researchers from the Association of Event Management Educators to discuss issues around the social, economic, and environmental impacts of AI on the events industry from a sustainability perspective.
Whilst the focus of GEI is on preventing harm and making the world a better place, adaptation to climate change and the shifting tides is essential. GEI18 will welcome climate change expert Professor Richard Betts MBE from the Met Office to examine the latest climate science, impact on events, and what degree of preparedness is needed. And Artur Mendes returns to provide insight into one of Europe’s most inspiring music events for biodiversity restoration and wider sustainability – Boom Festival in Portugal.
Virgo Sillamaa from European Music Exporters Exchange will share the research findings from the Better Live project, which looks into tour co-programming as a way to decrease carbon footprint mobility while creating smarter tours for artists. The research aims to better understand how culture and sustainability co-exist (or not) in policy across six European countries.
And EarthPercent return as our charity partners, with the ever star-studded and inspiring EarthPercent Hour the icing on the plant-based cake of the conference programme. This will be followed by the sustainably grown cherry on the cake, the International AGF Awards 2026, sponsored by Skydiamond, in which we celebrate the greenest events and venues from across the globe.
The Quick-Fire Innovation Round, a firm favourite on the GEI programme, returns, giving a small selection of delegates the chance to pitch their innovative solution or product to future clients and peers. To apply, click here. Applications close on 15th December.
New for this year, GEI delegates can enjoy free access to London showcase festival Soho Calling on Wednesday, 25th February (the day after GEI) with a host of incredible artists performing at a plethora of great venues across central London. The event is organised by ILMC.
“It’s always very exciting to see the GEI programme gradually taking shape. We’re adding a new room this year, meaning more space for deep dives, as well as a host of new speakers, some previously untouched topics, plus Soho Calling! It’s an invigorating shake up for our 18th edition, and we look forward to sharing space with our fabulous delegates.”
Claire O’Neill
More sessions and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
GEI is the foremost conference for event sustainability. A partnership between green event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF) and the world’s leading platform for the live music and entertainment sector, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), GEI18 is sponsored by Ecotricity Business, AEG, and The O2.
More information and tickets at agreenerfuture.com
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ADE Green announces full conference programme for its 2025 edition
ADE Green, presented by Amsterdam Dance Event and Green Events, proudly unveils its 2025 programme: a full day of panels, workshops, and interactive sessions at Felix Meritis on Friday, October 24. As the world grows more complex, ADE Green brings together artists, organisers, policymakers, and sustainability experts around one urgent question: how can the music and events industry prepare for a future defined by uncertainty — and continue to grow sustainably, inclusively, and creatively?
ADE Green 2025 welcomes a diverse line-up of thought leaders and individuals driving the transition toward a more sustainable and just cultural sector. Among them are artists like Madame Gandhi, Kiss Nuka, El Búho, transition scientist Prof. Dr. Jan Rotmans, director of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management Afke van Rijn, EXIT Festival Founder and CEO Dušan Kovačević, Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact at Sony Music UK Charlotte Edgeworth, manager of Belfast rap trio Kneecap Dan Lambert, and Follow the Money journalist Henk Willem Smits. They are joined by representatives from organisations including A Greener Future, Amnesty International, Beatport, Boom Festival, Chasing the Hihat, DJs For Climate Action, ESNS, European Space Agency, Follow the Money, Green Deal Circular Festivals, Into The Great Wide Open, Resident Advisor, Roskilde Festival, Shambala, VibeLab, and more.
This year’s conference programme spans pressing social questions, practical sustainability strategies, and cross-sector innovations, while also creating space for reflection and connection. Notable programme items include a showcase by Circular Festivals and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, reflecting years of work towards a more sustainable festival sector; an in-depth conversation on ethics and accountability presented by Amnesty International; a pioneering workshop on using A.I. for sustainability management, a panel discussion on changing an organisation’s culture from within featuring speakers from Sony Music UK, Resident Advisor, and Beatport; and a session on cross-sector collaborations, showing how organisations can form new partnerships to accelerate the transition towards a future-proof society.
As always, ADE Green emphasises connection and community. The programme includes speed-dates with 13 experts in sustainability and social change, the ADE Green Networking Drinks, as well as three exclusive roundtables for a select group of industry professionals at the start of the conference – registrations for these sessions are now open.
The conference will take place on Friday, October 24th (11:00–18:00) at Felix Meritis, Amsterdam. Limited ADE Green tickets are available through the official ADE website, with early booking recommended due to high demand.
ADE Green / Felix Meritis, Amsterdam / October 24th, 2025
ADE Green Pass: € 125,- excluding service charges (*)
ADE Green Website: amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/ade-green
ADE Green Tickets: amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/tickets
ADE Green Program: bit.ly/adegreen25-program
ADE Green Newsletter: linktr.ee/ade.green
ADE Green Organising Partners
Amsterdam Dance Event and Green Events.
ADE Green Event Partners
Alchemic Sonic Environment · Bouwplaats van de Toekomst · Circular Festivals · City of Amsterdam · Emergency Exit · MTD · Statiegeld NL · The Powershop
ADE Green Ambassadors
A Greener Future · Amnesty International NL · Brok Decor · DJs For Climate Action · ID&T · Into the Great Wide Open · Lab Vlieland · Mindworks Lab · VANG Buitenshuis
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A Greener Future announces Green Events and Innovations Conference 2026
The 18th edition of the Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI18), returns to the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Tuesday, 24th February 2026.
GEI is the foremost conference for event sustainability – it sees the brightest minds gather to tackle the most poignant and pressing topics relating to event sustainability, climate change, and social action. A partnership between green event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF) and the world’s leading platform for the live music and entertainment sector, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), GEI18 is sponsored by the world's first green energy company Ecotricity, AEG and The O2.
The conference includes a programme jam-packed with engaging talks, panels, discussions, and case studies from music and sporting events; a climate-friendly lunch, refreshments throughout the day, and closing drinks. There are second-to-none networking opportunities in the event sustainability space; access to the International AGF Awards, celebrating the best in class for event and venue sustainability; and for the first time, free access to Soho Calling, the music showcase event organised by ILMC.
Topics already slated for discussion at GEI18 include extreme weather and operational impacts; energy; clean water and air; green touring; culture for social change and climate action; boycotts, bans, and lawsuits; and the role of events and culture in countering rising polarisation and intolerance in society by deepening connections.
“People come together at GEI to speak freely, discuss the most important issues impacting our sector, our lives, and our planet – and to be inspired. In the 18 years GEI has been running, we’ve seen an evolution in awareness and understanding of our sector’s impact and our potential. We’re very much looking forward to bringing the community together again in February ’26. The sharing of experiences, ideas, and innovations at GEI helps us to maintain our cool even while the temperatures keeps rising,” says Claire O’Neill, founder and CEO of A Greener Future.
Applications are now open for The Quick-Fire Innovation Round, a firm favourite on the GEI programme that gives a selection of delegates the chance to pitch their innovative solution or product to future clients and peers. To apply, click here.
Once the conference segment of GEI is complete, we round off the day with the International AGF Awards 2026, sponsored by Skydiamond, in which we celebrate the most innovative and greenest events, venues, organisations, and individuals from across the globe over the last 12 months. The awards span ten categories, including the prestigious International Greener Festival Award, which is this year sponsored by Earth Positive Future.
Following the awards ceremony, GEI delegates have free access to London’s newest showcase festival Soho Calling, which takes place across central London and is organised by ILMC.
GEI always features a stellar cast of outstanding speakers, with previous participants including: Brian Eno, Moby, Blaine Harrisson (Mystery Jets), Carly McLachlan (Tyndall Centre), Dale Vince OBE (Ecotricity / Grid Faeries), Danielle Magalhaes (Secretariat to the Climate Framework at UNFCCC), Dr Clair Barnes (World Weather Attribution / Imperial College London), Erik Distler (AEG), Greg Cochrane (journalist and broadcaster), Jacob Collier, Madame Gandhi, Minister for Climate Kerry McCarthy (MP Bristol East), Cathy Runciman (EarthPercent), and artist Declan McKenna.
More information at agreenerfuture.com
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Introducing AGFe – A Greener Future Education
Having delivered sustainability training across the globe for over a decade, A Greener Future (AGF) is bringing together its wealth of accumulated knowledge and experience under a brand-new identity.
Together with industry-based research and UK government-recognised powers to accredit university and professional courses, the not-for-profit company is introducing AGFe – A Greener Future Education.
Dedicated to providing practice-led, research-informed, actionable training and education, AGFe will support the efforts of the events industry to decarbonise and meet the challenges of climate change.
AGF pioneered the first framework and certification scheme for music festivals, calculated the first artist tour carbon footprint, and developed and created the first A Greener Arena certification.
AGF’s industry-leading training and education programmes draw upon this pioneering work, together with 20 years of global experience and knowledge developed through helping events, festivals, arenas, suppliers, and artists to become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact. To date, AGF has trained over 1,000 participants globally through their assessor training online and in-person courses, with courses hosted by universities across the UK and beyond.
With increasing demand from a range of participants with different work experience and backgrounds, AGF recognises that there is a need for more practice-orientated sustainability training. With this in mind, AGFe will be launching a series of training courses in the coming months.
According to Dr Teresa Moore, the head of AGFe and director of AGF:
"AGF has been conscious for some time that there is a sustainability knowledge and skills gap across the cultural and creative sectors, as well as the wider events industry. Without skilled and knowledgeable practitioners, decarbonising the sector will be much slower than it should be. We are acutely aware that time is not on our side regarding climate change.
“With a decade of experience of running highly successful professional training programmes, AGF is uniquely placed to address the knowledge and skills gap and help move the dial.
“A Greener Future Education will provide a focal point for all of our training, education, and research. Over the next year, we will be launching a series of training programmes designed to meet the needs of the sector and to fill the skills gap.
“It is our mission to help upskill the sector’s workforce, and I’m very excited by the opportunities that AGFe will present over the coming years."
AGFe will continue to provide in-house and bespoke training for organisations in the UK and internationally having previously worked with the Royal Parks, Manchester City Council, Bristol City Council, The Royal Horticultural Society, Circular Culture Mexico, British Council India and staff teams from Bournemouth Arts University, University of the West of England, and Falmouth University.
About A Greener Future
AGF is a not-for-profit company committed to helping events, festivals, and venues around the world towards sustainability. AGF provides certification, education & training, consultancy, resources, and green riders, facilitating the exchange and implementation of good ideas. They share information about how environmentally efficient methods are currently being employed at events and how the impact on the environment can be limited at future events. They offer independent assessment and verification of sustainability claims through the AGF Certification for festivals, venues, tours, and events; plus, sustainability diagnosis and detailed carbon footprinting.
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Beatport Live launches "The Block" a touring container stage spotlighting emerging DJs
Over the last five years, more than 400 nightclubs have closed in Britain and Beatport recognises the urgent need to offer more than just a digital platform for artists and fans.
The newly formed Beatport Live and Interactive Team will lead this mission, and one of the team's first major community initiatives is The Block - a mobile shipping container stage built to travel across key festivals and cities. This self-contained, high-quality performance space will give emerging DJs a new path to visibility while bringing local energy and flavour to every stop.
“We’re creating spaces where new artists can be seen, heard, and celebrated - beyond the screen,” says Ed Hill, SVP of Beatport Live. “The Block is about giving raw, local energy a place to thrive at major events.”
The Block will debut at Junction 2 Festival in Boston Manor Park, London, on 25 - 27 July 2025. Since its launch in 2016, Junction 2 has become renowned for its commitment to underground electronic music. The Block will then head to Rockstar Energy presents Creamfields (21 - 24 August) before arriving at The Prospect Building in Bristol for their Autumn/Winter season of events.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said: "The UK’s nightlife ecosystem is under immense pressure, with rising costs and widespread venue closures threatening the future of electronic music culture. Beatport’s initiative provides a much-needed platform for emerging talent at a time when opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. Creating accessible and innovative spaces like this not only helps nurture the next generation of artists but also reinforces the cultural and economic value of nightlife across our communities. It’s a bold and positive step forward, and we’re proud to support it."
Maria May, head of electronic at CAA said: “Supporting the next generation of artists is something we should all see as our responsibility to the scene, especially when we can help those from underprivileged and under represented backgrounds. I applaud Beatport for coming up with this innovative idea to give new artists the opportunity to perform and gain experience in front of a crowd to hone their skills and build their fan base. I am looking forward to seeing how the first acts perform and how their careers will develop after this unique opportunity."
How to Play at "The Block" at Junction 2
Selected artists will not only get the chance to showcase their sound to a new audience, but will also receive complimentary day passes for themselves and their friends, offering a full festival experience alongside their performance.
Aspiring DJs can apply to play at Junction 2 by submitting a mix via Beatport’s dedicated sign-up.
More about Beatport Live
Beatport’s evolution into physical events is a reflection of its broader vision to be more than just a destination for tracks, charts, and streaming; it aims to be a partner in every stage of a DJ’s journey, from discovery to performance.
In addition to its longstanding digital expertise, Beatport Live will - support DJs through album-focused live events, bring events into unexpected spaces and offer a new layer of value to artists.
Stay tuned for more announcements, locations, and line-up opportunities from Beatport Live throughout the year.
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Pioneering green-powered LIDO sets new standard for outdoor music in London
Grid Faeries x Ecotricity are leading the charge to power London’s outdoor music events with renewable energy - with the first-ever main stage powered by green energy - at LIDO Festival in Victoria Park. The capital’s music scene just took a big green step forward
Dale Vince OBE said: "LIDO was a first for London, an outdoor, main stage, run entirely on green energy, and it won’t be the last. It’s time to get diesel out of our festivals. Grid Faeries x Ecotricity are here to show how there’s another way to power the live music scene."
In conjunction with LIDO Festival, Grid Faeries x Ecotricity successfully demonstrated in the real world how a mainstream London festival could radically reduce its carbon footprint without compromising safety, quality or experience - indeed, the opposite is the case, through the absence of generator noise and pollution. The most striking achievement came on the day of Massive Attack’s headline show. The entire event site operated for more than 32 hours on battery power alone.
LIDO marks the latest appearance of the Grid Faeries on their tour of Britain’s music events, next stop Glastonbury, then back to London for the All Points East festival in August, with headline acts including Cleo Sol, Raye, and The Maccabees.
Grid Faeries and A Greener Future Co-Founder Claire O'Neill said: "LIDO was a landmark moment for green festivals. We’ve shown that world-class headline acts can be powered cleanly, and that 'business as usual' is no longer good enough."
This is the future of live music - powered by nature.
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AGF report shows festivals going plant-based and increased focus on recycling
AGF (A Greener Future) releases its Annual Festival Sustainability Insights – providing industry-wide trends and benchmarks for the global festival sector.
Key takeaways:
- More festivals are going meat-free
- Recycling rates have increased, whilst camping waste volume could reduce further.
- Festivals are still widely using generators. HVO fuel as an alternative to diesel is increasing in popularity, and there has been an uptick in grid, storage and renewables exploration.
The AGF Annual Festival Sustainability Insights report is the culmination of a year of information gathering, data analysis, and number crunching for the 40 festivals from 16 countries that were assessed by AGF in 2024, covering topics such as food and drink, water, and sanitation, power and fuel use, waste and recycling, travel, and carbon emissions.
AGF has been assessing festival impacts worldwide for 19 years, and each year publishes a report outlining progress, innovation and areas for improvement within the sector.
This year’s report demonstrated some encouraging statistics, with 70% of assessed events implementing a complete ban on single-use plastics and the average recycling rate increasing from 38% in 2022 to 49% in 2024.
20% of festivals assessed were either fully vegetarian or vegan, compared to just 8% in 2023. This is a promising sign as industrial animal agriculture and food production are among the biggest drivers of climate change and nature decline and form a major part of an event’s environmental impact.
The average amount of waste per person per day was 0.8kg across all festivals, ranging from 0.5kg for non-camping events to 1.4kg for camping events, the latter of which is equal to the EU daily average.
26% of festivals were run entirely on mains electricity. Diesel was still the most popular source of generator fuel for small to medium festivals, whilst larger events have mostly transitioned to HVO fuel. Although several events set a precedent, the use of battery storage and onsite renewables remained marginal in 2024.
Audience travel emissions represented between 35% and 94% of festival carbon footprints, depending on the location, nature, and scale of the event. 2024 also saw an increase in the number of attendees reporting electric car usage, however more could be done to increase public and collective transport with 62% of rural festival attendees using private vehicles.
2024 was also the year of the Guinness World Record-breaking low-carbon concert – Massive Attack’s Act 1.5 Climate Action Accelerator – for which AGF provided sustainability consultancy. The event was fully plant-based and ran entirely on batteries charged from the wind and sun. The main stage was powered by Grid Faeries x Ecotricity 1MW battery, with no generator backup or diesel used site wide.
Claire O’Neill – CEO, A Greener Future:
“Festivals that work with AGF or apply for certification are generally environmentally aware and active. Nevertheless, these results are promising, showing a trend towards decarbonisation and waste reduction. In particular, we are happy to see more festivals going plant based as this is one of the single most important changes events can make to protect nature and tackle climate change, and costs nothing. There is room for improvement with regards to getting fossil fuels out of festivals and low-carbon travel, but we know how to do this and expect to see a rapid decline in diesel use in the coming years.”
Key Findings by category
Travel and Transport
-A third of festivals recorded over 70% local audiences.
-62% of audiences reported travelling to rural-based festivals by private vehicle for the
longest part of their journey, compared to 36% for urban festivals.
-2024 saw an increase in the number of attendees reporting electric vehicle use.
-The average share of domestic artists across all festival lineups was 68%. This was
largely driven by 12 festivals, who booked over 80% of domestic artists.
Food and Beverage
-20% were fully vegetarian or vegan, up from 8% in 2023.
-70% had introduced a complete ban on single-use plastics.
-67% implemented reusable cup systems across their entire event.
Power and Fuel Use
-26% of festivals ran entirely on mains electricity.
-20% ran entirely on HVO biofuel.
-72% used generators for some or all of their power.
-Diesel was still the major source of generator fuel for small to medium festivals, while
larger festivals using generators have mostly transitioned to HVO.
Waste and Recycling
-The average site recycling rate across all festivals assessed has increased from 38% in 2022 to 49% in 2024.
-The average waste per person per day across all festival types was 0.8kg, with camping festivals averaging 1.4kg, compared to 0.5kg for non-camping festivals. As a reference, the average waste generated per person per day in the EU in 2023 was 1.4 kg.
Water and Sanitation
-Average water consumption across all festival types was 15 litres per person per day, with significant variations between camping and non-camping events. By comparison, the average daily water consumption per person in the EU is around 140 litres.
-Over 70% of festivals used portable chemical toilets on-site, and 15% used compost toilets
Data on water use at urban events is improving, but accurate water metering remains a challenge.
Carbon Emissions
-Audience travel emissions represented between 35% and 94% of festival carbon footprints, depending on the location, nature, and scale of the event.
-When excluding audience travel, food-related emissions ranged from less than 10% (for 100% meat-free events), to up to 40% of a festival’s carbon footprint.
-Data relating to new materials, decor, and equipment purchased is improving but remains under-reported.
Mallorca Live Festival wins sustainability award
Mallorca Live Festival has been named the national winner of the contribution to Sustainability award at the Iberian Festival Awards.
The festival has been recognised for its work to reduce the impact of its carbon footprint, meet the Sustainable Development Goals, and offer Mallorca a greener festival each year. Plus, the Mallorcan event was a finalist in five categories including; Best Major Festival, Best Live Performance - Aitana, Best Electronic Act - Underworld, Best Touristic Promotion and Contribution to Sustainability.
The festival won the award for work carried out in 2024 to reduce its carbon footprint, meet the Sustainable Development Goals, and offer Mallorca a greener festival each year.
In collaboration, once again, with its sustainable sponsor, Endesa, the festival carried out two important actions in its last edition: the implementation of a hybrid battery system on Stage 3 - Endesa to reduce its energy consumption and the planting of the last of the 23 trees located in Casa Esment (Mallorcan Esment Foundation’s headquarters) to balance the festival's 2023 carbon footprint. In addition, the festival continued with its successful mobility plan to promote responsibility and commitment to the island, performing more than 22,000 transfers from Palma and Part Forana.
The festival site featured more than 60 recycling points and, once again, several cup collection points to ensure the circularity of reusable hard plastic cups thanks to the festival's alliance with the Cleanwave Foundation.
Looking ahead to its upcoming edition, Mallorca Live Festival continues to champion its sustainability plan and is receiving recognition from artists and bands who take these measures seriously, such as Massive Attack, the legendary British band known for its commitment to the environment, who will headline the second day of the festival on Friday, June 13.
Julio González (Fesjajá) accepted the award on behalf of Mallorca Live and conveyed the words of gratitude from Álvaro Martínez, CEO of Mallorca Live: "I want to thank the Iberian Festival Awards for this award, which helps us continue working for and in support of music with the same passion and courage we had at the beginning. I would like to share this award with each and every one of the employees, collaborators, and friends who make Mallorca Live Festival what it is today after seven editions. When it comes to a project like ours, the team is essential, and today I want to express my gratitude for their dedication and passion with this award. Thank you to the jury for recognising our work in the field of sustainability and the actions the festival takes to generate the least possible impact on the environment when organising this great event."
The eighth edition of the Mallorca Live Festival will take place on June 12, 13, and 14 at the Mallorca Live venue in Calvià, featuring Massive Attack, Iggy Pop, Suede, Nathy Peluso, Bad Gyal, Rigoberta Bandini, Antònia Font, and Dorian, amongst others.
Winners revealed for the International AGF Awards 2025
A Greener Future has revealed the 2025 International AGF Award Winners at the Green Events and Innovations Conference, highlighting the world's greenest events from music festivals to football clubs.
The 17th edition of the 2025 International AGF Awards supported by Skydiamond and hosted by Madame Gandhi and AGF CEO Claire O’Neill, celebrated the most innovative and outstanding festivals, events, venues, organisations, and individuals from worldwide events over the last 12 months at the Royal Lancaster London on 25th February.
Finalists of the awards included 34 events, venues and innovators from 14 countries with awards being presented across nine important sustainability categories, including power, water, food, and travel and the top accolade of the International Greener Festival Award and International Greener Arena Award 2025. Winning festivals and venues were from France, India, Norway, UK, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary.
One of the top accolades - the International Greener Festival Award 2025 - went to Norway's Øyafestivalen who also scooped the Greener Transport Award. Oyafestivalen show love and care for their host inner-city park and for their local community, which shines through in all their decisions and actions. In 2024 the festival went meat-free and gained the highest level of organic food certification available in Norway. Social and environmental sustainability are truly at Øyafestivalen’s core.
New for this year was the introduction of the International Greener Arena Award, which was won by Forest Green Rovers FC - the New Lawn, showing that sustainability and football can go hand in hand. From their local community work including Community Cookalongs, Soccer Camps and venue Eco Tours to their organic pitch with no use of pesticides or chemical fertilisers, and of course, their 100% plant based menu for all!
Echoes of Earth received the Circular Event Award, a first time win for India. Another first time winner was Waking Life in Portugal, who took home the Water and Sanitation Award.
The UK took home two awards, with Greenbelt Festival winning the Pied Piper award for their inspiring and thought-provoking programming and Green Gathering once again winning the Greener Power Award with 100% renewable energy powering their festival.
We Love Green in France won the Greener Catering Award with their plant based menu, and the Community Action Award was won by the Paléo Festival Nyon in Switzerland for their extensive work with the community. The Greener Innovations Award went to Sziget Festival in Hungary for their innovative Green Sziget Passport Games activation.
Full list of 2025 International AGF Award winners:
International Greener Festival Award - Øyafestivalen (NO)
International Greener Arena Award - Forest Green Rovers FC - the New Lawn (UK)
Greener Transport Award (Supported by KB Event) - Øyafestivalen (NO)
Circular Event Award (Supported by Ryans Cleaning) - Echoes of Earth (IN)
Community Action Award - Paléo Festival Nyon (CH)
Greener Catering Award (Supported by Peppermint Events) - We Love Green (FR)
Pied Piper Award - Greenbelt Festival (UK)
Greener Power Award - Green Gathering (UK)
Water & Sanitation Award - Waking Life (PT)
Greener Innovations Award - Green Sziget Passport Games @ Sziget Festival (HU)
Finalists are selected from all AGF certified Greener Events, Festivals and Arenas over the past year, with top scores across key sustainability criteria. Applicants undergo a detailed assessment, site visits, and analysis by AGF auditors. To be eligible to enter the awards it is necessary to apply for certification and provide evidence such as energy source and usage, water consumption, waste transfer notes, transport measurements, material traceability, and survey data. Additionally, green innovations from festivals and events have been selected and are judged by an independent jury.
UK climate minister to join Green Events and Innovations conference 2025
The Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI17) is thrilled to announce that the Minister for Climate, Kerry McCarthy MP from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero will join Industry leaders, artists and policy makers in a special Keynote on Tuesday, 25th February at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
Minister for Climate in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and MP for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy will address attendees about the important role of the events and creative sectors in the transition to net zero, and the interplay between politics, business and culture to both decarbonise our sector and to effect positive change in the remainder of this crucial decade.
GEI brings together with global innovators and sector leaders to share, network, and accelerate environmental and social actions to make impactful changes in all kinds of events. With the engagement of key stakeholders and Government policy makers all under one roof, GEI is the key event that gathers the brightest minds in sustainability to discuss, innovate, and celebrate the future of green events worldwide.
Says Claire O’Neill, AGF CEO: “The shared challenge of climate change, energy security and reaching net zero requires a collaborative approach. The reach and influence of events, music and sports are crucial in changing hearts and minds, whilst Governments are crucial in shaping policy and national strategy to allow businesses to thrive during this vital transition. We’re so happy to welcome Minister for Climate Kerry McCathry to GEI17, where even stronger bridges will be built to achieve our common goals together.”
The day rounds up with the International AGF Awards 2025 sponsored by the incredible Skydiamond.
GEI17 takes place on Tuesday, 25th February at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, and is a collaboration between A Greener Future (AGF) and the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).
GEI17 is supported by platinum sponsor Ecotricity, gold sponsor TAIT, and silver sponsor The O2, with EarthPercent as charity partner.
GEI17 welcomes music and climate heavyweights as full agenda announced
The Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI17) has announced its full agenda and a stellar lineup of music, sports and environmentalist thought leaders including Moby, Dale Vince OBE, Declan McKenna and award-winning musician and activist Madame Gandhi.
GEI17 takes place on Tuesday, 25th February at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, and is a collaboration between A Greener Future (AGF) and the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).
The highly anticipated EarthPercent Hour will include a Keynote Conversation between EarthPercent’s CEO Cathy Runciman and the legendary Moby and Declan McKenna.
Another headline session Act 1.5 and Beyond, focuses on the groundbreaking work of Massive Attack and their collaborators, following their huge proof-of-concept show in Bristol, and UN Accelerator City being awarded to Liverpool in 2024. Eminent environmentalist Dale Vince (Ecotricity / Forest Green Rovers) joins Professor of Climate and Energy Policy Carly McLachlan (Tyndall Centre), hosted by Claire O'Neill (A Greener Future).
Tackling increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather, Events in the New Climate: Damage Limitation will be chaired by Greg Cochrane (journalist and broadcaster), who will be joined by Dr Clair Barnes (World Weather Attribution / Imperial College London), Erik Distler (AEG), Steven Howell (Media Insurance Brokers) and Megan Best (Native Events)
A Greener Tour Round V – which tackles the impact of touring – will be chaired by AGF’s Head of A Greener Tour and Massive Attack tour manager Jamal Chalabi, who will be joined by Richard Burnett (KB Event), Christof Huber (Gadget Entertainment Group AG), and Vanessa Govinden (Offshoot Tours), whilst Global Perspectives and Common Cause, hosted by Sangeeta Waldron (Serendipity PR), addresses the issues we face collectively and individually that create division and intolerance, and how the events sector can use its influence and be an agent for good.
Food & Drink: Impacts and Emotions addresses the impact of event/tour catering, commercial and emotional resistance to change, and the solutions, chaired by punk legend John Robb (Membranes / Louder Than War), with Dale Vince OBE (Ecotricity / Forest Green Rovers), Adam Hempenstall (Peppermint), Tobias Azizah (Meta / Vegetarian Society) and Bonnie May (Eat to the Beat). Then Water & Sanitation: Getting out of the Shit delves deep into the urgent topic of water scarcity and national sewage overflowing into our waterways, with Glastonbury Festival and Boomtown’s head of sanitation Jane Healy.
Also on the agenda is the topic of DEI in sustainability with No Climate Action Without Us – How to make disabled people’s access to live events environmentally sustainable chaired by Suzanne Bull MBE, founder of Attitude is Everything, and The Social Sustainability of EDI in Festivals: Challenge or Opportunity hosted by AEME Chair Adrian Bossey (Falmouth University).
The lineup for the Quick-Fire Innovation Round, in which delegates present their innovative products or services, will be hosted by Abena Fairweather (Legacy Marketplace) and includes presentations by Sounds Right, Mycofilter, Wheelskeep, and A Good Thing with their innovations for a greener live sector.
Refreshments throughout the day include a welcome tea and coffee service featuring delicious vegan buns and a 5* vegan lunch, with a special treat provided by Devil’s Kitchen and WILDFARMED.
The day rounds up with the International AGF Awards 2025 sponsored by the incredible Skydiamond and hosted by Madame Gandhi and AGF CEO Claire O’Neill, with 34 events, venues, and innovators from 14 countries as finalists. Categories include the Greener Catering Award (supported by Peppermint Events), the Circular Festival Award (supported by Ryans Cleaning), and the Greener Transport Award (supported by KB Event).
GEI17 delegates will raise a glass to the winners, followed by a final networking drinks reception with devilishly good vegan balls courtesy once more of Devil’s Kitchen.
GEI17 is supported by platinum sponsor Ecotricity, gold sponsor TAIT, and silver sponsor The O2, with EarthPercent as charity partner.
Finalists Revealed for the 2025 International AGF Awards
AGF (A Greener Future) reveals 34 events, venues, and innovators from 14 countries as finalists in the International AGF Awards 2025, sponsored by Skydiamond.
Awards are given across 10 important sustainability categories, including power, water, food, and travel, and the top accolade of the International Greener Festival Award and International Greener Arena Award 2025. The ceremony will be held on 25th February to close the Green Events & Innovations Conference at the Royal Lancaster London.
AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said:
“Huge congrats to all of the shortlisted festivals, venues, and innovators! We’re really looking forward to celebrating together at the International AGF Awards in February, and to going further to reduce emissions, promote peace and unity, and to enhance biodiversity in the year ahead.”
Finalists are selected from all AGF certified Greener Events, Festivals, and Arenas over the past year, with top scores across key sustainability criteria. Applicants undergo a detailed assessment, site visits, and analysis by AGF auditors. To be eligible to enter the awards it is necessary to apply for certification and provide evidence such as energy source and usage, water consumption, waste transfer notes, transport measurements, material traceability, and survey data. Additionally, green innovations from festivals and events have been selected and are judged by an independent jury.
The Finalists are:
INTERNATIONAL GREENER FESTIVAL AWARD
Green Gathering (UK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
We Love Green (FR)
INTERNATIONAL GREENER ARENA AWARD
ABBA Voyage London (UK)
Barclays Arena (DE)
First Direct Arena (UK)
Forest Green Rovers - The New Lawn (UK)
OVO Hydro (UK)
The O2 Arena (UK)
Uber Arena (DE)
Uber Eats Music Hall (DE)
GREENER TRANSPORT AWARD - Supported by KB Event
Bristol Harbour Festival (UK)
Komm schon Alter & De Zon (NL)
Open Air St. Gallen (CH)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
Rosendal Garden Party (SE)
Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (ES)
We Love Green (FR)
CIRCULAR EVENT AWARD - Supported by Ryans Cleaning
(for reduced waste & resourcefulness)
Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Dockyard (NL)
Echoes of Earth (IN)
Green Man (UK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
RockyGrass & Folks Festival (US)
We Love Green (FR)
COMMUNITY ACTION AWARD
Boomtown Fair (UK)
Echoes of Earth (IN)
Forest Green Rovers - The New Lawn (UK)
Lambeth Country Show (UK)
OVO Hydro (UK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paléo Festival Nyon (CH)
We Out Here (UK)
GREENER CATERING AWARD - Supported by Peppermint Events
Green Gathering (UK)
Komm schon Alter & De Zon (NL)
Northside (DK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
Sziget Festival (HU)
Waking Life (PT)
We Love Green (FR)
PIED PIPER AWARD
Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Green Gathering (UK)
Green Man (UK)
Greenbelt Festival (UK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Sonidos Liquidos (ES)
Sziget Festival (HU)
We Love Green (FR)
GREENER POWER AWARD
Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Das Fest (DE)
Green Gathering (UK)
Les Escales (FR)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paléo Festival Nyon (CH)
Paradise City (BE)
We Love Green (FR)
WATER AND SANITATION AWARD
American Express presents BST Hyde Park (UK)
Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Green Gathering (UK)
Green Man (UK)
Les Escales (FR)
Paradise City (BE)
Waking Life (PT)
We Love Green (FR)
GREENER INNOVATIONS AWARD
Community Repair Shop @ Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Symphony of Seasons @ Echoes of Earth (IN)
Safe space at The Crow’s Nest @ Green Gathering (UK)
Company Guides @ Les Escales (FR)
Northside Forest @ Northside (DK)
Home Delivery Service @ Open Air St. Gallen (CH)
Reusable cups and serveware service @ Paléo Festival Nyon (CH)
Green Sziget Passport Games @ Sziget Festival (HU)
Sponsored by Skydiamond, The International AGF Award ceremony is accessible and takes place during GEI, organised by AGF in partnership with the ILMC (International Live Music Conference). Limited tickets are available here Green Events & Innovations Conference.
About A Greener Future
AGF is a not-for-profit company committed to helping events, festivals, and venues around the world towards sustainability. AGF provides certification, education and training, consultancy, resources, and green riders, facilitating the exchange and implementation of good ideas. They share information about how environmentally efficient methods are currently being employed at events and how the impact on the environment can be limited at future events. They offer independent assessment and verification of sustainability claims through the AGF Certification for festivals, venues, tours, and events; plus sustainability diagnosis and detailed carbon footprinting. www.agreenerfuture.com
Category descriptions:
International Greener Festival Award
The highest-scoring festival worldwide in the Greener Festival certification assessments.
International Greener Arena Award
The highest scoring venue worldwide in the Greener Arena certification assessments.
Greener Transport Award
One of the biggest impacts of many temporary events. Audience, production, crew, and artists with our transport sector are still staggeringly carbon-heavy, who’s reducing their carbon footprint, facilitating green travel, and still delivering the party.
Circular Event Award
This one goes to the event that has demonstrated a firm grasp of the need to close the loop on their resource flow. Every item that comes into the event or venue ultimately has a plan above disposal. Preventing waste, reusing, recycling, and demonstrating the full traceability of all materials coming in and out of the event.
Community Action Award
A strong connection with the local community and a sense of community within the event or venue is celebrated here. This award recognises those demonstrating outstanding social inclusion, action for unity and acceptance between people, and positive projects that provide benefit to others beyond the event itself.
Greener Catering Award
Food is such a significant issue for sustainability for its ethical and environmental impacts both globally and locally. By consciously crafting our consumption choices and what we support with our bellies, we can make some huge strides toward a more sustainable relationship between one another and our planet.
Pied Piper Award (Greener Communications)
Who has the silver tongue and skips along like the pied piper, luring unsuspecting victims to a greener way?! This award goes to the event that has had an excellent communication and PR plan which has resulted in significant cultural or behavioural changes for the greener good within and beyond their event!
Greener Power Award
Event power is a hot topic in the realm of sustainability, and costs, and is also a hotbed for innovation. This award goes to the event that has successfully maximised its energy efficiency and adopted a power source that has the lowest impact on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Water & Sanitation Award
The winner of this award has shown clear environmental consideration in their water usage and sanitation provisions, by reducing water usage and waste, minimising production and poo mileage, eliminating unnecessary chemicals, and separating liquid waste streams to allow natural biological processes to harness valuable nutrients and conserve water.
Greener Innovation Award
This goes to the outstanding innovation, initiative,e or invention that has been a game changer in the green event space, that has disrupted business as usual, or has given a new solution to help turn something problematic into something good. This award can go to either an event, venue, individual or supplier that has stood out the most in the last 12 months.
AGF reveals the world's greenest events and festivals
Forty festivals and events from 14 countries have achieved AGF Certification for sustainability in 2024.
AGF (A Greener Future) is a leader in helping the global live sector become greener. AGF Certification is the world's first and most comprehensive standard for sustainability in the live events sector, for festivals and events reducing waste, and emissions, and enhancing equality and biodiversity.
Events and festivals from across the globe, of all shapes and sizes, have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and successfully certified events in 2024. These include Les Escales (FR), Bristol Harbour Festival (UK), Paléo Festival (CH), American Express Presents BST Hyde Park (UK), Telluride (US), Sziget Festival (HU), Rosendal Garden Party (SE), UEC Road European Championships (BE), and D’A Film Festival Barcelona (ES), whilst Green Gathering (UK), Øyafestivalen (NO), Paradise City (BE) and We Love Green (FR) each achieved ‘outstanding’ certification.
AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said: “Whilst the world is slowly catching up with legislation and better practices, it is great to see the festivals and events going the extra mile beyond what is legally required to protect and enhance biodiversity; reduce emissions and waste; prevent pollution; and enact positive change. These events are opting to be held to account, inviting detailed external scrutiny to ensure they are making the grade.”
To be certified, events undertake a thorough assessment based upon the AGF Framework, including self-assessment, site visits, and post-event evidence and data submitted to AGF assessors for an independent auditors’ report. The AGF Framework includes 11 key themes, including local environments & community, travel, food, energy, water, waste, EDI, and governance.
Øyafestivalen festival said:
“Øyafestivalen has a mission to diligently deliver one of the most sustainable festival experiences worldwide, employing strategies aimed at minimizing the negative effects and maximizing the positive effects of our festival on the environment, society, and economy. Achieving the Outstanding Certification for the 11th time is an important and motivating testament to our hardworking and passionate staff and volunteers. We are so proud of this recognition, and we are wholeheartedly committed to continuing this work in the years ahead.”
Open Air St Gallen festival said:
“We are delighted that OpenAir St.Gallen has been officially certified by A Greener Future! A Greener Future and its certification programme are to a certain extent the gold standard in the event industry - both in terms of ecological and social sustainability. OpenAir St.Gallen is convinced that as a society, our sustainable goals can only be achieved together. That's why it was important for us to challenge our sustainable engagement internationally and recognize our blind spots to continue to improve through exchange and therefore strengthen our commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and peaceful coexistence.”
“A huge thank you goes to all who have contributed to achieving this extensive certification with experience, support, and commitment. In total, almost 200 documents were collected over a period of more than three months and eleven 1:1 meetings were held during the festival to evaluate where OpenAir St.Gallen stands internationally with its sustainable measures.”
Festivals and Events making the grade in 2024 are:
Greener Festival and Event certifications - ‘Outstanding’
Green Gathering (UK)
Øyafestivalen (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
We Love Green (FR)
Greener Festival and Event certifications - ‘Highly Commended’
American Express Presents BST Hyde Park (UK)
Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Dockyard (NL)
Les Escales (FR)
Greener Festival and Event certifications - ‘Commended’
Bristol Harbour Festival (UK)
De Zon (NL)
Green Man (UK)
HERNAN CATTANEO WEEKEND X BNP (AR)
Komm Schon Alter (NL)
Northside (DK)
Paléo Festival Nyon (CH)
Rosendal Garden Party (SE)
Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (ES)
Sziget Festival (HU)
Open Air St Gallen (CH)
Uber One presents All Points East (UK)
Waking Life (PT)
Greener Festival and Event certifications - ‘Improvers’
Boomtown (UK)
Brockwell Live (UK)
D’A Film Festival Barcelona (ES)
Das Fest (DE)
elrow Town Madrid (ES)
elrow Town Marbella (ES)
European Short Pitch (FR)
Godiva Festival (UK)
In-Edit Festival (ES)
Jardin de las Delicias (ES)
Lambeth Country Show (UK)
Monegros Desert Festival (ES)
Phe festival (ES)
Primavera Sound Barcelona (ES)
RockyGrass & Folks Festival (US)
RZM Festival (ES)
Telluride Bluegrass Festival (US)
UEC Road European Championships (BE)
We Out Here (UK)
The International AGF Awards 2025 ceremony will take place during the Green Events & Innovations (GEI17) Conference, in partnership with ILMC, on 25th February in London.
The event is sponsored by Skydiamond and will feature the most innovative and green-aspiring global events, venues, organisations, and individuals from the last 12 months.
Last year’s roll call included 27 nominees from 12 countries, with nine taking home one of our prestigious awards. The top accolade – International Greener Festival Award 2024 – went to Belgium’s Paradise City, which also scooped the Greener Catering Award for its vegetarian and locally sourced menus.
There are more festivals and events currently completing their assessments, which will be announced in due course, and applications for 2025 assessments are open. Find out more and apply here.