We Love Green (FR), Paradise City (BE), Green Gathering (UK) and Øya Festival (NO) have topped the list of the world’s greenest festivals and events in 2024, according to A Greener Future (AGF).

AGF Certification is the world’s first and most comprehensive standard for sustainability in the live events sector, for festivals and events reducing waste, emissions, and enhancing equality and biodiversity.

Forty festivals and events from 14 countries have achieved the certification for 2024, ranging from ‘outstanding’ and ‘highly commended’ to ‘commended’ and ‘improvers’.

These include Les Escales (FR), Bristol Harbour Festival (UK), Paléo Festival (CH), American Express Presents BST Hyde Park (UK), Telluride (US), Sziget Festival (HU), Rosendal Garden Party (SE), UEC Road European Championships (BE) and D’A Film Festival Barcelona (ES).

To be certified, events undertake a thorough assessment based upon the AGF Framework, including self-assessment, site visits, and post-event evidence and data submitted to AGF assessors for an independent auditors’ report. The AGF Framework includes 11 key themes, including local ecosystems & community, travel, food, energy, water, waste, EDI, and governance.

“These events are opting to be held to account, inviting detailed external scrutiny to ensure they are making the grade”

“Whilst the world is slowly catching up with legislation and better practices, it is great to see the festivals and events going the extra mile beyond what is legally required to protect and enhance biodiversity; reduce emissions and waste; prevent pollution; and enact positive change,” says AGF CEO Claire O’Neill. “These events are opting to be held to account, inviting detailed external scrutiny to ensure they are making the grade.”

Norway’s Øya Festival, which has received the ‘outstanding’ qualification for the 11th time, comments: “We have a mission to diligently deliver one of the most sustainable festival experiences worldwide, employing strategies aimed at minimising the negative effects and maximizing the positive effects of our festival on the environment, the society and economy. To achieve the Outstanding certification for the 11th time is an important and motivating testament to our hardworking and passionate staff and volunteers. We are so proud of this recognition, and we are wholeheartedly committed to continuing this work in the years ahead.”

Festivals and events making the grade in 2024 are:

Greener Festival and Event certifications – ‘Outstanding’
Green Gathering (UK)
Øya Festival (NO)
Paradise City (BE)
We Love Green (FR)

Greener Festival and Event certifications – ‘Highly Commended’
American Express Presents BST Hyde Park (UK)
Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
Dockyard (NL)
The Stopovers (FR)

Greener Festival and Event certifications – ‘Commended’
Bristol Harbour Festival (UK)
The Sun (NL)
Green Man (UK)
HERNAN CATTANEO WEEKEND X BNP (AR)
Come On, Old Man (NL)
Northside (DK)
Paleo Festival (CH)
Rosendal Garden Party (SE)
Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (ES)
Sziget Festival (HU)
Open Air St Gallen (CH)
Uber One presents All Points East (UK)
Waking Life (PT)

Greener Festival and Event certifications – ‘Improvers’
Boomtown (UK)
Brockwell Live (UK)
From A Film Festival Barcelona (ES)
The Festival (DE)
elrow Town Madrid (ES)
elrow Town Marbella (ES)
European Short Pitch (FR)
Godiva Festival (UK)
In-Edit Festival (ES)
Garden of Earthly Delights (ES)
Lambeth Country Show (UK)
Monegros Desert Festival (ES)
Phe festival (ES)
Primavera Sound Barcelona (ES)
Rockygrass and Rocky Mountain (US)
RZM Festival (ES)
Telluride (US)
UEC Road European Championships (BE)
We Out Here (UK)

The International AGF Awards, where certified events across a range of green categories will be crowned, will return on 25 February in London.

The awards take place directly after the Green Events & Innovations (GEI17) conference, held in partnership with the ILMC.

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BST Hyde Park, Sziget and Primavera Sound are among the latest recipients of A Greener Future’s (AGF) certification for sustainability in 2023.

AGF Certification is the world’s first and most comprehensive standard for sustainability in the live events sector, for festivals and events reducing waste, emissions and enhancing equality and biodiversity.

We Love Green (FR), Boom (PT), Boomtown Fair (UK), Dockyard (NL), Northside (DK), OyaFestivalen (NO) and Tremor Festival (PT) also received the certification for 2023. See the full list here.

To be certified, events complete a detailed assessment based upon the AGF Framework, including self-assessment, site visits and post-event evidence and data to the AGF assessors for an independent auditors report. The AGF Framework includes 11 key themes including local ecosystems and community, travel, food and drinks, energy, waste, EDI and governance.

“The best events in the world can also be the most sustainable”

Jim King, CEO of European Festivals, AEG Presents said: “We’re committed to our green targets at all AEG Presents European Festivals. The best events in the world can also be the most sustainable. To again achieve the Greener Festival Certification at both BST Hyde Park and All Points East is a testament to the hard work of the festival teams to realising this ambition.”

Ceremonies will take place at the Green Events & Innovations (GEI16) conference, in partnership with the ILMC, on 27 February in London. GEI will host the International AGF Awards where certified events across a range of green categories will be crowned.

AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said: “The AGF Framework for sustainable events has become extremely comprehensive over the last 15 years. Hats off to all festivals and events that are achieving this certification, which is no small feat.

“We not only need to prevent further pollution, waste, emissions and biodiversity loss, but we now also need to adapt to the changes already happening around us, as a result of climate change. These festivals and events are ahead of the curve and give many people hope, showing how we can all do things differently whilst having a tonne of fun at the same time.”

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