The UK Festival Awards, powered by Festival Insights, has announced its 2026 shortlist.
With over 400 applications and 30,000 public votes, the shortlist reflects the breadth of the festival industry, from inner-city festivals in Bristol and Leicester to international festivals in Portugal and Germany. The shortlist also features a mix of free-to-attend and council-led festivals.
The awards take place at DIECAST in Manchester on 1 December 2026. Tickets include a sit-down meal, welcome drinks and live performances and are available here. More information on timings will be available soon.
View the full shortlist below.
Independent Festival of the Year sponsored by TAMI
King’s Cross Summer Sounds
Labyrinth on the Thames
RADAR Festival
Shambala Festival
St Osyth Summer Sounds
The Big Retreat Festival
Arts & Culture Festival of the Year
Bristol Pride
Caribbean Carnival
London Children’s Literature Festival
National Festival of Making
NI Science Festival
Winchester Books Festival
Family Festival of the Year sponsored by TicketTailor
Big Feastival
Elderflower Fields
London Children’s Literature Festival
Shambala Festival
Victorious Festival
WILDHOOD Festival
Inner–City Festival of the Year
Bristol Harbour Festival
King’s Cross Summer Sounds
Leicester Riverside Festival
Liverpool Sound City
Rochdale Feel Good Festival
The Great Escape
Micro Festival of the Year
110 Above Festival
Burn It Down
Compass Festival
Compton Festival
King’s Cross Summer Sounds
Sunrise Film Festival
Small Festival of the Year sponsored by VENTO
Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Liverpool Sound City
Outbreak Fest
RADAR Festival
Rock N Roll Circus
Stowaway Festival
Medium Festival of the Year
2000trees Festival
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
Kendal Calling
Latitude Festival
Mighty Hoopla
Truck Festival
Large Festival of the Year
All Points East
Boomtown Festival
Cambridge Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
Parklife Festival
Reading and Leeds Festival
Initiative for Emerging Talent
Compass Festival
FOCUS Wales
Leicester Riverside Festival
Liverpool Sound City
Rochdale Music Stories and Feel Good Festival
Truck Festival
Line–up of the Year sponsored by Tysers Live
Diaspora Calling!
Latitude Festival
Liverpool Sound City
Love Supreme JAZZ Festival
Rock N Roll Circus
Tramlines Festival
Festival Performance of the Year sponsored by Spartan Crew
Calvin Harris at Parklife Festival
Ezra Collective at Love Supreme Festival
Outbreak Presents Bring Me The Horizon
PRESIDENT at Takedown Festival
Susan Boyle at Summer’s End Angus
The Cure at Isle of Wight Festival
International Festival of the Year
Adriatic Sound Festival
Afro Nation
Electric Castle
Open’er Festival
Rock am Ring
Rock for People
Accessibility & Inclusion Award
Breaking Bands Festival
Bristol Pride
Isle of Wight Festival
Mighty Hoopla
Tramlines Festival
Victorious Festival
Festival Infrastructure of the Year
Boomtown Festival
Rhuddfest
Wychwood Festival
Festival Production of the Year sponsored by Video Illusions
Boomtown Festival
Creamfields
Nene Valley Rock Festival
Outbreak Fest
Reggae Land
Tech Innovation of the Year sponsored by AV Matrix
Changemaker Cards at Boomtown Festival
Maui Festival App at Maui Festival 2026
The TagMix iPhone App at Mighty Hoopla
Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by Something Something
Bearded Theory
Country on the Common
Love Supreme Jazz Festival
Tramlines Festival
Victorious Festival
Y Not Festival
Culinary Experience of the Year sponsored by The Liquor Collective
ALSO Festival
Big Feastival
Craft Brew Festival
Deva Fest
Fields to Fork
Love Supreme Jazz Festival – Ottolenghi Restaurant Experience
Brand Experience of the Year
FlixBus at FORWARDS Festival
Jubel at Tramlines Festival
Salomon at krankbrother presents: Sammy Virji
Superdry & Co at Boardmasters
Tia Maria at Wilderness
VodafoneThree at Reading Festival
Promoter of the Year sponsored &merch
2000trees & ArcTanGent
DHP Family
JBM Music
Superstruct UK
U-Live
Artist Agency of the Year sponsored by Midnight Mango
Coalition Presents
From The Whitehouse
GetComedy
ROAM
THE·TEAM
Charity Initiative of the Year
Beat The Streets for Framework
It’s in the Bag Cancer Support
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation
St Richards Hospice
Stamp Out Spiking
The Truck Trust
The Green Award
Boomtown Festival
FORWARDS
The Green Gathering
The Sarah Nulty Community Impact Award
Bonfest
Bristol Pride
Compass Festival
Festival of the Sea
Victorious Festival
Woo Fest
Industry Recognition Award
Winner to be announced on the night