Welcome

Welcome to the 17th edition of the UK Festival Awards!

It’s been a while, 3 years is too long but we’re back together to look back at the first full festival season since our enforced break. We’re together to celebrate and acknowledge each other’s vision, creativity, tenacity, and energy that powers our world-leading festival industry.

With almost 400 entries generating almost 200,000 votes, engagement with the UK Festival Awards is as strong as it has ever been, demonstrating the public’s continued love of festivals which will surely provide a good platform for everyone to face the challenges ahead.

This year you’ll notice two new categories: The one-off Positively Perfect Pivot Award, recognising the efforts made by festival organisers and suppliers during the Covid 19 pandemic, and the Sarah Nulty Community Impact Award, dedicated to Sarah in consultation with her family and colleagues, this award celebrates those festival that go the extra mile to have a positive impact on issues facing the communities that surround them. A reminder to us all to #bemorenulty

To reach the shortlist stage of the UK Festival Awards is no mean feat, we congratulate every one of you. But this year more than any, the fact that you and we are still here to celebrate together is a huge reward. Not that we ever doubt the UK’s appetite for a great festival, and you ability to provide them.

Cheers!

The UK Festival Awards team