Christopher BarrettSlovakia’s 30,000-capacity Pohoda Festival picked up two awards at the European Festival Awards.
Staged at ESNS last night, 15 January, in Groningen, the 2025 European Festival Awards saw Access All Areas present the festival team (pictured) with the Best Medium-Sized Festival trophy, while the event’s Kristína Mlynárová won the New Kid on the Block award.
Among the others to win big at the event, which involved festivals from more than 30 countries, was Switzerland’s Paléo Festival Nyon, which was declared Best Major Festival. Serbia’s Exit Festival was presented with the Promoter of the Year trophy and ITB’s Steve Zapp won Agent of the Year.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ewald Tatar, the man behind some of Austria’s biggest festivals including Nova Rock, FM4 Frequency, Forestglade, Clam Rock and Lovely Days.
The public voting for the 15th edition of the YOUROPE-organised event saw 300,000 single votes cast, with festivalgoers responsible for selecting the winner of the main categories including Best Major Festival, Best Medium-sized Festival and Best Small Festival, as well as Line-up of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
The winners of the European Festival Awards 2025:
The Take a Stand Award – Sziget Festival (Hungary)
The Event Safety Award –Rock for People (Czech Republic)
Agent of the Year – Steve Zapp (ITB)
Best Small Festival – Dynamo Metalfest (The Netherlands)
Best Medium-Sized Festival – Pohoda Festival (Slovakia)
Best Major Festival – Paléo Festival Nyon (Switzerland)
Newcomer of the Year – Addison Rae (USA)
Line-Up of the Year – Lowlands (The Netherlands)
Promoter of the Year – Exit Festival (Serbia)
The Brand Activation Award – Pinkpop with Libresse (The Netherlands)
The Green Operations Award – Štěrkovna Open Music (Czech Republic)
The Award for Excellence & Passion – Stephan Thanscheidt, FKP Scorpio (Germany)
New Kid on the Block – Kristína Mlynárová, Pohoda Festival (Slovakia)
The Lifetime Achievement Award – Ewald Tatar (Austria)