The IFEA World Festival & Event City Award, was designed and created as a way for the global festivals and events industry to openly encourage, support, learn from and recognize positive local environments for festivals and events worldwide. Festivals and events create tremendous community and economic capital in the markets that they serve, but the partnership with and support from the local community, at all levels, is critical to the success and sustainability of existing festivals and events, as well as the ability to attract and encourage new events. Through this special award the IFEA is pleased to recognize and fly the flag of those cities and markets who have worked, through concerted efforts, to provide an environment conducive to successful festivals and events.

Recipients of the IFEA World Festival & Event City Award have already provided us with a sampling of standout programs and lessons learned in multiple areas including:

• Provision of an insurance coverage umbrella policy for all city events;

• ‘One-stop shopping’ for event permitting and municipal service needs;

• A common volunteer program shared by all city events;

• Provision of a music licensing umbrella agreement for all city events;

• Provision, maintenance and storage of non-proprietary equipment for all city events; Shared marketing campaigns;

• Provision of training seminars for city events to help ‘raise all boats’;

• Provision of all city permits at no-cost to events; Free/Discounted city services for events;

• And many more.

It is easy to imagine the positive impact – both social and economic – that such city/event initiatives (and new ones yet to be created) can have on host communities around the world.

For each year’s selected cities, the IFEA World Festival & Event City Award provides:

• A strong platform from which to recognize the success of current and on-going efforts by every component of your community;

• A clear positioning statement to encourage continued infrastructure, policy and process enhancement and expansion; and

• A powerful marketing statement for use in recruiting and encouraging new festivals, events and businesses.

To view a complete list of the IFEA World Festival & Event City Award Winners, Click Here.

Recipients of the IFEA World Festival & Event City Award are presented with their award at the IFEA Awards Ceremony at the IFEA's Annual Convention & Expo.

• Ballito-KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2012)
• Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (2010, 2018)
• Boston, Massachusetts, United States (2013)
• Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil (2012)
• Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Denver, Colorado, United States of America (2012)
• Des Moines, Iowa, United States (2017)
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• Dublin, Ohio, United States (2012, 2014)
• Edinburgh, Scotland (2010)
• Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (2010)
• Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea (2011, 2019)
• Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (2017, 2018)
• Grapevine, Texas, United States of America (2012)
• Greater Palm Springs, California, United States (2016)
• Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea (2017)
• Hampyeong-gun, Jeonlanam-do, South Korea (2012)
• Hidalgo, Texas, United States (2010)
• Hwacheon-Gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea (2013)
• Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (2011)
• Jinju-si, Gyeonsangnam-do, South Korea (2010, 2015)
• Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (2011)
• Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil (2011)
• Krakow, Poland (2016)
• Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China (2012)
• London, England (2012)
• Louisville, Kentucky, United States (2010, 2015)
• Maribor, Slovenia (2012)
• Meizhou Island of Putian City, Fujian Province, China (2011)
• Moscow, Russia (2018)
• New Taipei City, Taiwan (2017)
• Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• Nice, Côte d'Azur, France (2013)
• Norfolk, Virginia, United States (2010)
• Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (2010, 2013, 2018)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Port Macquarie Region, New South Wales, Australia (2017)
• Reykjavik, Iceland (2011)
• Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (2013)
• Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2010, 2015, 2019)
• Salvador, Bahia, Brasil (2010, 2013)
• São Paulo, Brazil (2011, 2014)
• Shanghai, China (2011)
• Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Taichung City, Taiwan (2018)
• Taupō, Waikato Region, New Zealand (2010, 2016)
• The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (2012)
• Tucson, Arizona, United States (2017)
• West Palm Beach, Florida, United States (2019)
• Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (2018)