UK Festival Awards
The UK Festival Awards are awarded annually, with various categories for all aspects of festivals that have taken place in the UK, and one category for European festivals.  The Awards were first established in 2004 by Steve Jenner and his team at Virtual Festivals.com. They are voted for by the public via the UK Festival Awards website.  To ensure fairness, the votes are weighted to take into account the event capacity.
The 2008 Awards ceremony was held on 30 October 2008 at the IndigO2 venue in London. Nordoff–Robbins music therapy will receive funds raised on the night.
The 2011 Awards ceremony was held at the Roundhouse in Camden, which remained its home until 2016.
Having grown beyond the original team's capacity to manage it as a part-time project, Mondiale Publishing was brought in as an acquiring partner in 2012, with Steve Jenner remaining onboard as a creative consultant.
Since 2017, to bring the Awards into closer alignment with flourishing Independent Festival sector, the UK Festival Awards have been held at Troxy, the music and events venue in Stepney, London.
== 2004 ==
UK Festival Awards launched as an online poll by VirtualFestivals.com, 12,000 fans vote. The awards are presented in person to the winners in their local pubs of choice
== 2005 ==
50,000+ fans vote; BBC 6 Music sign up as media partner. Saluted in Scottish Parliament when T in the Park is voted Best Major Festival. The awards are again presented to the winners in person during an epic road-trip spanning the UK.
== 2006 ==
Pressure from the industry prompts the creation of the first live event, for 500 standing-only at London’s Islington Academy, sponsored by Carling.
Hosted by: Steve Harris. Outstanding Contribution to Festivals: Melvin Benn (Festival Republic – Reading & Leeds, Latitude).
== 2007 ==
The first sit down event at KoKo, Camden. Michael Eavis attends.
Hosted by: the Cuban Brothers. Outstanding Contribution to Festivals: John Giddings (Isle of Wight).
== 2008 ==
Moves to the IndigO2, adding a gala dinner component (at the Goucho restaurant) and the first UK Festival Conference by day (oversubscribed).
Michael Eavis accepting his Outstanding Contribution to Festivals award at the IndigO2 in 2008. Establishes independent ownership as Festival Awards Ltd.
Hosted by: Shaun Keaveny. Outstanding Contribution to Festivals: Michael Eavis (Glastonbury).
=== 2008 Nominations Shortlist ===
Best Major Festival
Creamfields
Download
Glastonbury Festival
Global Gathering
Isle of Wight Festival
Leeds Festival
Reading Festival
T in the Park
V Festival Chelmsford
V Festival Staffordshire
Best Medium Sized Festival
Beautiful Days
Bestival
The Glade
Hydro Connect
Latitude
Lovebox Weekender
RockNess
The Big Chill
Wickerman Festival
Wakestock (Abersoch)
Best Small Festival
2000 Trees
Beach Break Live
Cambridge Folk Festival
End Of The Road Festival
Indie Track Festival
Larmer Tree Festival
Secret Garden Party
Standon Calling
Strummercamp
Summer Sundae Weekender
Best Dance Festival
Creamfields
Dance Island
Escape Into The Park
The Glade
Global Gathering
Run To The Sun Festival
South West Four
Waveform Festival
Best Lineup
Bestival
End of the Road Festival
Glastonbury Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
Latitude
Lovebox Weekender
Reading Festival
T in the Park
The Big Chill
V Festival Chelmsford
Best New Festival
Beachdown Festival
Bearded Theory
Camp Bestival
Festibelly
Hop Farm Festival
Offset Festival
The Limetree Festival
The Magic Loungeabout
The Mighty Boosh Festival
Wakestock (Blenheim Palace)
Grass Roots Festival
Beautiful Days
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
Big Session
End Of The Road Festival
Kendal Calling
Knockengorroach – World Ceilidh
Loopallu
Off The Tracks
Wickerman Festival
WOMAD
Family Festival Award
Beautiful Days
Camp Bestival
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Greenbelt
GuilFest
Larmer Tree Festival
Solfest
Summer Sundae Weekender
Weyfest
Wychwood Festival
Best Toilets
Aeon Festival
Festinho
Greenbelt
Larmer Tree Festival
Nozstock
Secret Garden Party
Standon Calling
Strummercamp
The Big Chill
Y Not Festival
Best European Festival
Castlepalooza (Ireland)
Creamfields Romania (Romania)
EXIT (Serbia)
Festival dello Stretto (Italy)
FIB Benicassim (Spain)
Gurtenfestival (Switzerland)
Heineken Open-er (Poland)
HOVE Festivalen (Norway)
Lowlands (Netherlands)
Open Air St. Gallen (Switzerland)
Oxegen (Ireland)
Roskilde (Denmark)
Snowbombing (Austria)
Spirit of Burgas (Bulgaria)
Tignes Fest (France)
Festival Headline Act
Kings of Leon
Metallica
Muse
Rage Against the Machine
The Verve
Festival Rock Act
Biffy Clyro
Bloc Party
Bullet for My Valentine
Elbow
The Raconteurs
Festival Dance Act
Groove Armada
Hot Chip
Pendulum
The Chemical Brothers
The Prodigy
Festival Pop Act
Duffy
Girls Aloud
Scouting for Girls
The Ting Tings
Will Young
Festival Feel-Good Act
Eddy Grant
Neil Diamond
Seasick Steve
Tenacious D
The Mighty Boosh
Festival Urban Act
Dizzee Rascal
Estelle
N*E*R*D
Roots Manuva
The Streets
Best Live Newcomer
Duffy
Glasvegas
MGMT
The Ting Tings
Vampire Weekend
Anthem Of The Summer
Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris - Dance wiv Me
MGMT - Time to Pretend
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
The Verve - Love Is Noise
Innovation Award
Beachdown: All shuttle-buses and official transportation ran on used cooking oil.
Glade Festival: Ticket scheme whereby festival goers were pre-sent an access card to swipe at the gate.
Glastonbury Festival: Biodegradable, starch tent pegs handed out to festival goers.
Hydro Connect: Rickshaws used to ferry festival goers and artists around the site.
Isle of Wight Festival: Wristbands distributed two weeks before the festival to speed up entry.
Latitude: Theatre Arena built upon the world's first fuel cell powered festival stage.
Lovebox Weekender: Real-time webcasts of artist interviews and performances on website and stage screens.
Solfest: Kids only toilets introduced to make things easier for children and adults alike.
Standon Calling: Hosted the UK's first festival underwater dance arena in a swimming pool.
The Big Chill: Big Issue vendors sold the programme on site, while buskers were invited to perform.
Most Memorable Moment
British Sea Power, Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons hold impromptu collaboration at Sing Ye From The Hills.
Edwyn Collins makes moving comeback at Glastonbury following life-threatening illness.
Jay-Z mocks Noel Gallagher with his rendition of Wonderwall at Glastonbury.
Kasabian play up to dance fans with a cover of The Source's You Got the Love at Creamfields.
KISS spit blood and 'fly over' Download fans, as thousands dress up as Gene Simmons.
Robert Plant joins Fairport Convention on stage at Cropredy Festival for Battle Of Evermore
Ross Noble leads a conga around the Latitude site, stealing fans from various stages
Secret Garden Party blow up their lake-marooned Pirate Ship in a firework spectacular.
The Specials and Grace Jones play secret back-to-back gigs at Bestival
Utah Saints break world record for most ever fans doing the 'Running Man' dance at Get Loaded In The Park.
== 2009 ==
The Awards returns to the O2 and the conference fills out into Europe’s largest cinema, the Vue in the O2 complex. The European Festival Awards is launched in partnership with The European Festival Association and debuts at The Grand Theatre in Groningen, Holland, on the opening night of Eurosonic Noorderslag.
Hosted by: Dixie and Horsey (Stars of ‘Svengali’). Lifetime Achievement Winner: Katrina Larkin (The Big Chill).
== 2010 ==
The Awards continues its O2 residency and the Conference expands again into sell-out event at the British Music Experience, covered live by BBC Business News.
=== 2010 Winners ===
Best Toilets - T In The Park
Best Metropolitan Festival - Gaymers Camden Crawl
Best Family Festival in association with Showsec - Camp Bestival
Best Breakthrough Artist in association with Rizla - Mumford & Sons
Best Dance Event in association with Peppermint Bars - Creamfields
Feel Good Act of the Summer in association with Be-at TV - Paolo Nutini
Best New Festival in association with Access All Areas - Vintage At Goodwood
Headline Performance of the Year in association with Jägermeister - AC/DC at Download Festival
Virtual Festivals’ Critics Choice - Biffy Clyro at Glastonbury
Overseas Festival - Snowbombing
Anthem of the Summer in association with HMV - Florence & The Machine ‘You’ve Got The Love’
Line-Up of the Year* in association with XL Video - Rockness
Promoter of the Year in association with IQ - Glastonbury
Best Small Festival in association with Doodson Entertainment - Kendal Calling
Best Medium Festival in association with Smirnoff Flavours - Green Man
Best Major Festival in association with Tuborg - Bestival
Lifetime Achievement in association with Music Week – Geoff Ellis, DF Concerts
Outstanding Contribution to Festival Production in association with TPi - Neil McDonald
Best Sponsor Activation in association with Brand Republic - Coca-Cola
The Grass Roots Festival Award in association with Robertson Taylor - 2000 Trees
A Greener Festival Award in association with agreenerfestival.com - Croissant Neuf Summer Party
Hosted by: Craig Charles. Lifetime Achievement Winner: Geoff Ellis (T in the Park).
== 2011 ==
Awards show up-scales to The Roundhouse and sells-out – the founding dream realised. Conference moves up to The Forum, attracts record attendance.
Hosted by: The Cuban Brothers. Lifetime Achievement Winner: Steve Heap (Association of Folk Festivals).
http://www.festivalawards.com/2011-winners/
Best New Festival
Wilderness
Best Metropolitan Festival
Tramlines
Best Dance Event
Creamfields
Best Overseas Festival
Outlook (Croatia)
Best Family Festival
Beautiful Days
Best Breakthrough Artist
Ed Sheeran
Line-Up of the Year
Sonisphere Knebworth
Headline Performance of the Year
Paolo Nutini at Latitude
Anthem Of The Summer
Chase and Status: Blind Faith
Agent Of The Year
Steve Strange
Promoter Of The Year
Secret Productions
Best Small Festival
End of the Road
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Secret Garden Party
Best Major Festival
Glastonbury
Fans' Favourite Festival
Bestival
Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Heap, Mrs Casey Music / Towersey Village Festival
PRESENTED AT THE UK FESTIVAL CONFERENCE:
Earlier in the day at The Forum, Kentish Town…
The Grass Roots Festival Award
Y-Not Festival
Concession Of The Year
The Beat Hotel
The Greener Festival Award
Shambala
Best Toilets
Y-Not Festival
Best Sponsor Activation
Capitalize: Bacardi
The Extra-Festival Activity Award
Bearded Kitten
Outstanding Contribution to Festival Production
The Event Safety Shop
== 2012 ==
Mondiale Publishing acquires a majority stake in the Awards which returns to The Roundhouse. Conference joins it at the same venue for the first time.
Hosted by: Phill Jupitus.
http://www.festivalawards.com/2012-winners/
Best New Festival
Festival Number 6
Best Metropolitan Festival
Camden Crawl
Best Dance Event
Global Gathering
Best Overseas Festival
Benicassim (Spain)
Best Family Festival
Latitude
Best Breakthrough Act
Jake Bugg
Line-Up of the Year
Download
Headline Performance of the Year
New Order at Festival Number 6
Anthem Of The Summer
Django Django – ‘Default’
Agency Of The Year
William Morris
Promoter Of The Year
Gareth Cooper (Festival Number 6, Beach Break Live, Lollibop, Snowbombing, Lounge On The Farm)
Best Small Festival
Y-Not
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Bloodstock Open-Air
Best Major Festival
Bestival
The Grass Roots Festival Award
Green Man
The Greener Festival Award
Croissant Neuf Summer Party
Concession Of The Year
Paelleria
Best Toilets
Lodestar
Best Brand Activation
The Southern Comfort Juke-Joint
The Extra-Festival Activity Award
Live From Jodrell Bank
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Probyn, Chief Operating Officer, Live Nation
== 2013 ==
Awards returns to The Roundhouse.
http://www.festivalawards.com/2013-winners/
BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL
Download
MEDIUM-SIZED FESTIVAL
Kendal Calling
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL
Bearded Theory
BEST NEW FESTIVAL
We Are FSTVL
BEST DANCE EVENT
Creamfields
BEST METROPOLITAN FESTIVAL
Dot To Dot
BEST FAMILY FESTIVAL
Camp Bestival
BEST GRASSROOTS EVENT
2000trees Festival
BEST TOILETS
ArcTanGent
BEST OVERSEAS FESTIVAL
Snowbombing (Austria)
HEADLINE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Arctic Monkeys – Glastonbury
ANTHEM OF THE SUMMER
Get Lucky – Daft Punk
BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR
Rudimental
Jury-decided Categories:
AGENT OF THE YEAR
CODA
BEST LINE-UP
Latitude
CONCESSION OF THE YEAR
Strumpets with Crumpets
THE GREENER FESTIVAL AWARD
Shambala Festival
BEST BRAND ACTIVATION
Virgin Media
THE EXTRA-FESTIVAL ACTIVITY AWARD
Wilderness
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paddy Glasgow (Glasgowbury)
BEST USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time (in Hyde Park) Intelligent Venue Solutions
THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Fiona Stewart, Green Man Festival
== 2016 ==
Awards returns to The Roundhouse.
=== 2016 Finalists Shortlist ===
Best Major Festival
British Summertime Hyde Park
Creamfields
Download Festival
Electric Daisy Carnival UK
Glastonbury Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
Reading & Leeds Festival
V Festival
Victorious Festival
Wireless Festival
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Bestival
Beautiful Days
Bloodstock Open Air
Camp Bestival
Green Man Festival
Kendal Calling
Love Supreme Jazz Festival
The Social Festival
We Are FSTVL
Y Not Festival
Best Small Festival
3 Wishes Faery Fest
Acoustic Sundays Summer Sessions
Bearded Theory
Beats Cancer Music Festival
Breaking Bands Festival
Liverpool Music Week
Mammothfest
Northbridge Festival
The Secret Festival
Wildfire Adventure Camp
Best New Festival2Q Festival
A New Day Festival
Afropunk London
Big Family Festival
Bluedot
Joy Festival
Killin Music Festival
Neighbourhood Festival
OnRoundhay Festival
Positive Vibration – Festival of Reggae
Samphire Festival
The Bolton Weekender
Best Dance Event
Beat Herder
Bluedot
Creamfields
Farr Festival
Field Maneuvers
Field Trip
Gottwood Festival
HogSozzle Music Festival
Junction 2
Nozstock: The Hidden Valley
The Social Festival
We Are FSTVL
Best Metropolitan Festival
2Q Festival
Blackpool Music Festival
Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Dot to Dot Festival
Grillstock
Just for Laughs London
Live at Leeds Festival
Liverpool Music Week
Liverpool Sound City
Mammothfest
Stockton Calling
Tramlines Festival
Best Family Festival
3 Wishes Faery Fest
Bearded Theory
Beermageddon
Big Family Festival
Camp Bestival
Green Man Festival
Just So Festival
Kendal Calling
Nozstock: The Hidden Valley
Something To Smile About
The Good Life Experience
The Secret Festival
The Grass Roots Festival Award
2000Trees
Balter Festival
Barn on the Farm
Beermageddon
Bloodstock Open Air
Green Man Festival
LeeFest Presents The Neverland
Lindisfarne Festival
New Forest Folk Festival
Samphire Festival
The Secret Festival
Wildfire Adventure Camp
Headline Performance of the Year
American Football at ArcTanGent
Andy C at NASS
Calvin Harris at Creamfields
Elton John at Henley Festival
The Flaming Lips at Wilderness
Jean-Michel Jarre at Bluedot
LCD Soundsystem at Lovebox
Massive Attack at British Summertime Hyde Park
Refused at 2000Trees
Rihanna at V Festival
Line-Up of the Year
ArcTanGent
Bloc
British Summertime Hyde Park
End of the Road Festival
Green Man Festival
Liverpool Music Week
Simple Things Festival
Slam Dunk Festival
The Social Festival
WOMAD
Best Overseas Festival
Altitude Comedy Festival
Bestival Toronto
Blues in Hell
Castlepalooza
Dimensions Festival
Download Paris
Electric Elephant
EXIT Festival
Hideout Festival
Gibraltar World Music Festival
Snowbombing
SXM Festival

== External links ==
UK Festival Awards home page
About SW4 and Lineup 2013 (in Russian)