Open’er, Montreux Jazz & EXIT festivals among winners at 2024’s European Festivals Awards

Open’er, Montreux Jazz and EXIT festivals were just some of the winning events at last night’s European Festival Awards. 

This year’s edition of the event took place last night in Groningen (15th January) on the opening day of this year’s ESNS. The 14th edition of the European Festival Awards also honoured Finland’s Juhani Merimaa with its Lifetime Achievement Award, while Vlad Yaremchuk of Music Saves Ukraine - a non-profit organisation focussed on providing immediate humanitarian help to the people of Ukraine - was also awarded the Award for Excellence and Passion.

Other prizes given away last night included Best Major, Medium-Sized and Small Festivals, the Green Operations Award and the Promoter of the Year, as well as New Kid On The Block - an award celebrating some of the industry’s most important up-and-comers - which was presented by none other than us here at DIY and won by Colours of Ostrava’s Filip Košťálek. 

The ceremony also featured performances from ace new artists including London’s newest pop icon Alessi Rose, German electronic duo Zimmer90, and our recent Class of 2025 inductees MRCY. Check out the full list of winners below!

The Take a Stand Award
Presented by: Take a Stand
EXIT Festival, RS

Line-Up of the Year
Presented by: IQ Magazine
Hellfest, FR

The Event Safety Award
Presented by: YES Group
Timișoara – Capital of Culture, RO

Agent of the Year
Anna Bewers, Wasserman Music

Best Small Festival
Gladiolen Festival, BE

Newcomer of the Year
Presented by: ESNS
Benson Boone, US

The Brand Activation Award
Lowlands & IKEA, NL

Best Medium-Sized Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival, CH

The Green Operations Award
Presented by: GO Group
We Love Green, FR

Best Major Festival
Presented by: See Tickets
Open’er Festival, PL

The Award for Excellence and Passion
Vlad Yaremchuk & Music Saves Ukraine, UA

Promoter of the Year
Presented by: Pollstar
Gadget Entertainment Group, CH

New Kid on the Block 2024
Presented by: DIY Magazine
Filip Košťálek, Colours Of Ostrava, CZ

Lifetime Achievement Award
Juhani Merimaa, FI