Sziget CEO: ‘We’re excited about what lies ahead’

Sziget CEO Tamás Kádár has told IQ he is bidding to take the festival to “the next level” after celebrating its 30th edition this summer.

The Hungarian event was held across 50 stages between 7-12 August, pulling in an average of 65,000 fans per day to the Óbuda island in Budapest.

“We wanted to conclude our first 30 editions with a spectacular, vibrant and colourful festival, to everyone’s satisfaction, and based on the feedback, it seems we have succeeded,” says Kádár. “Regarding ticket sales, we have noticed an increasing interest in full festival passes, and our goal for the future is to support six-day pass sales by developing services and programming to ensure that those who spend almost a week at the festival have a full scale experience.”

Despite the 2024 season being hindered by an apparent shortage of viable headliners, Sziget bucked the trend to construct a formidable bill. International artists to perform included Kylie Minogue, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Halsey, Fred Again.., Raye, Janelle Monáe, Skrillex, Overmono, Nia Archives, Tom Odell, Becky Hill and Fontaines D.C.

“Sziget Festival is characterised by its musical diversity, and our goal in inviting headliners was to ensure that every genre is represented,” notes Kádár. “Since Sziget is not a ‘genre festival’, we have a broader selection to choose from. Of course, we also sometimes depend on being lucky and a lot of hard work goes into it, but we also believe that Sziget’s reputation plays a role in assembling such a fantastic lineup every year.”

Having placed an emphasis last year on enhancing the festival experience, the 2024 event saw further improvements.

“In its first year, we had 43,000 visitors, mostly from Hungary, and now guests come from over 100 countries”

“Our services are exemplary among European festivals in terms of hygiene,” adds Kádár. “For example, mobile toilets have disappeared from the guest area and water-flushing container toilet blocks have been set up in several places, as well as several container shower blocks some with featuring joint singing under the shower.

“The visual world of Sziget has also become much more colourful, both in terms of the guest area and the programme venues. We have also made a lot of progress in sustainability, and in this area we are working further together with the international community of European festivals.”

Organisers also created “help zones” at the festival, whereby calm conditions and professional help was available for festivalgoers who asked for help due to panic, or any mental and psychological problems.

Another source of pride was the diversity of the audience, with fans attending from more than 100 countries.

“We are delighted that Sziget has become increasingly popular in the international market over the years,” notes Kádár. “In its first year, we had 43,000 visitors, mostly from Hungary, and now guests come from over 100 countries around the world, almost 10 times the number.”

First held in 1993, the community-built festival has hosted names such as Arctic Monkeys, David Bowie, Oasis, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Florence + the Machine, Radiohead, Tove Lo, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar.

“Our focus is on taking the festival to the next level, while staying true to the core values and unique spirit that define the Sziget experience”

“More than 30 years ago, we had a dream: a place where we could be together for a week, where everyone could experience their personal freedom, the atmosphere, and the ‘flow’ that a vibrant festival can provide, where different styles, programs, and cultures coexist,” says Kádár.

“Sziget has undergone significant changes over the past 30 years; while the first festival featured only 200 concerts, a few theatre performances, and a couple of films, this year there are 50 programme venues hosting 1,000 programs with over 600 performers, showcasing a much greater diversity of genres, which we have always strived for.

“Most importantly, Sziget has become a symbol over the years – a utopia where we can leave behind the worries of everyday life.”

Wrapping up, Kádár discusses his plans to take the festival forward from this point.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of Sziget,” he says. “This year’s festival marked our 30th edition, which is a significant milestone, and it reaffirms the enduring appeal of Sziget. Looking ahead, our focus is on taking the festival to the next level, while staying true to the core values and unique spirit that define the Sziget experience.

“We’re planning thoughtful changes that will keep us aligned with the evolving preferences of our audience. At the same time, we’re exploring new opportunities to enrich the festival in ways that remain authentic to what makes Sziget so special. Our commitment to creating a successful and continuously renewing event remains steadfast, with the enhancement of the guest experience as our main priority.”

He concludes: “The strong international interest in Sziget is a testament to its relevance as a global event, and our goal moving forward is to further strengthen that distinctive ‘Sziget vibe’ for both domestic and international visitors. We see immense potential for the future, and we’re excited about what lies ahead.”

Sziget’s return has been announced for 6-11 August next year. Revisit IQ‘s 2023 feature on 30 years of the festival here.

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