Voting for the 7th annual UK Festival Awards open

The longlists for the annual UK Festival Conference and Awards (UKFCA) goes live Thursday 16th September at www.festivalawards.com, marking the start of the first round of public voting. Hundreds of festivals have been nominated from the world’s most vibrant festival market, with 15 Award categories for the public to decide.

In four weeks time, votes will be totted up and a shortlist for each category will be drawn-up, before a shortlist phase of public voting decides the final winners, who will be announced at a gala ceremony in front of 1,500 key festival industry figures at indigO2 at The O2 on November 18th 2010.

The categories open for public voting in the 2010 Awards are as follows:
• Best Major Festival in association with Tuborg
• Best Medium-Sized Festival
• Best Small Festival
• Best Overseas Festival
• Best Metropolitan Festival
• Headline Performance of the Year in association with Jägermeister
• Best Breakthrough Artist
• Feel-Good Act of the Summer
• Anthem of the Summer
• Best Dance Event
• The Grass Roots Festival Award in association with Robertson Taylor
• Best New Festival in association with Access All Areas
• Best Toilets
• Virtual Festivals’ Critics Choice Award
• Best Family Festival

A further five Awards will be decided by judging panels of industry experts:
Outstanding Contribution to Festival Production in association with TPi
Best Brand Activation in association with Brand Republic
Line-up Of The Year
Promoter of the Year in association with IQ
Lifetime Achievement Award in association with Music Week

Festival Awards Managing Director James Drury said: “It’s been a fantastic season, which has further demonstrated the British love of Festivals. The UK Festival Awards is the chance for the public to tell the industry which were their favourite events. Last year 500,000 votes were cast and we’re expecting even more people will get involved this time.”

Tickets for the Festival Awards UK Conference & Awards 2010 have now gone on sale via the exclusive ticketing platform HMV Tickets and are available in the following price structures. Delegates wishing to attend the Conference and/or Award events can combine ticket packages to suit their needs:
Platinum Ticket £145
• Table seat for Festival Awards show with some complimentary drinks at indigO2 at The O2 (12 seats per
table; option to buy full table available)
• Three-course gourmet meal with wine
• Entry to UKFA after-show party
• Delegate Bag

Conference only £60
• Full conference delegate pass to all sessions at British Music Experience, The O2, London
• Copy of the UK Festival Report
• Drinks reception
• Delegate Bag

Awards only £30
• Mezzanine access to the Awards show at indigO2 at The O2, London
• A Number of complimentary Drinks
• Entry to after-show party

More information on the Festival Awards UK Conference & Awards 2010 can be found at www.festivalawards.com and www.festivalconference.com, while tickets can be purchased directly from HMV Tickets by visiting
www.hmvtickets.com/festivalawards/events/1311