2026 AGENDA

Wednesday, February 11th to Friday, February 13th

Choose your own adventure with up to 3 concurrent session tracks running throughout the conference.

Panels bring industry leaders together for essential conversations and exploring big-picture trends

Forum Discussions foster dialogue and tackle specific challenges and solutions in the industry

Drill Downs—our newest addition—offer deep-dive workshops on specialized topics

Sessions are color-coded for easy navigation, so you can build the perfect schedule for your business goals.

Pre-Conference Get Together

Join us the evening before FestForums officially kicks off for a casual get-together with fellow attendees. This is your chance to meet other festival professionals, make connections, and start building relationships before the conference even begins. Enjoy drinks, light bites, live music, and great conversation with the people who will shape the next three days—and potentially your next big partnership.

You MUST BE REGISTERED for FestForums to attend this event. 

Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm

⚲ La Lieff Winery (210 Gray Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101)

Day 1

Wednesday, February 11th

12:00 - 1:00 pm | REGISTRATION

⚲ Lobby

Registration

Welcome to FestForums Day 1!

Check in and pick up your badge at the registration desk in the lobby.

*lunch is NOT provided. Check out nearby eats here.

Hang with our emcees David (Panel Room) and Gail (Terrace Ballroom)!

1:30 - 1:45 pm

⚲ Fireside Room

Opening Remarks

Jennifer Love opens FestForums with a heart-centered experience designed to connect, ground, and inspire. Through storytelling, meditation, and shared reflection, she invites us to pause and feel the deeper pulse beneath every festival...the human heartbeat of connection. When we gather with heart, we remember why we celebrate at all.

Jennifer Love

Wholistic Wealth Therapist

1:45 - 2:00 pm

⚲ Fireside Room

Introduction

Join FestForums President, Laurie Kirby, as she officially kicks off FestForums! We’ll share what's new this year, highlight key sessions and networking opportunities, and celebrate the incredible festival community that makes this gathering possible.

Laurie Kirby

FestForums

2:00 - 2:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

State of the Industry

Laurie Kirby

FestForums

Denise Yamaguchi

Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival

Deron Delgado

Dirtybird Records

Kevin Lyman

Vans Warped Tour

Peter Baxter

Slamdance

Ryan Kruger

OEG Inc.

Presented by

2:00 - 2:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Activation to Action: How Brands Win at Festivals & Experiences

Doug Richter

Meritage Entertainment

Andrew Curtis

Peritus Live

Kate Bogolmony

LiveGauge

Katie Nevin

CAA

MC Curran

Spiegelworld

2:00 - 2:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

What Actually Matters (That No One Tells You) About Producing Festivals

Danielle Madeira

Madeira and Partners

3:00 - 3:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Breaking Barriers: Women in the Festival Industry

Tray Lehr

News Channel 3-12

Abbey Londer

Netflix is a Joke Fest

Helen Gover

All My Relations Celebration & Quiet Star Collective

Lisa Ogdie

Sundance Film Festival

Olga Rodriguez Santini

OCHOMASDIEZ

Tobi Olanihun

WOW!Connect & TEPS

3:00 - 3:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

What’s Cooking? Food & Beverage Festivals

Jamie Knee

Wine Travel Writer

Fred Brander

Brander Vineyard

Michelle Metter

Fast Forward Event Productions

Tess Hartwell

Flavour Events

3:00 - 3:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

Fans First: Harnessing the Power of Volunteers to Elevate Your Event

Jesse Gibson

Shift Happens Volunteers

4:00 - 4:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

The Art of Talent Booking & Artist Relations

Drew Deason

Artist Relations Specialist

David Silbaugh

Summerfest

Jordan Burger

Festival Agent

Karina Gonzalez

Wasserman

Queenie Donaldson

Queens Entertainment Group

Marc Solheim

Riot Fest

4:00 - 4:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Off the Wall: 30 Years of Vans Warped Tour

Kevin Lyman

Vans Warped Tour

4:00 - 4:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

What Sports Leagues and Festivals Can Learn From Each Other

Don Franken

World Class Sports

Chris Freet

WMT Digital

Kerry Inman

FIFA World Cup 2026™

5:00 - 5:30 pm | KEYNOTE

⚲ Fireside Room

Fest Talk

We’re revealing a last-minute, fascinating conversation that cuts far beyond festivals, business, or headlines. A surprise guest will join FestForums® for a rare, unfiltered discussion on power, influence, risk—and what actually happens behind closed doors where decisions are made that affect all of us- in this country and around the world.

This may be the most consequential conversation you hear this year, offering a firsthand perspective on what is unfolding on the world stage—straight from someone who has seen it up close and was personally involved.

5:00 - 7:00 pm

⚲ Pacific Ballroom

Cocktail Reception

Join fellow FestForums attendees to unwind, connect, and turn today's conversations into tomorrow's partnerships over craft cocktails and genuine camaraderie.

Presented by:

6:30 - 8:00 pm

⚲ SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue

Dinner On Your Own

Tonight's dinner is on your own—giving you the perfect opportunity to explore Santa Barbara's incredible dining scene! Join us at SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue for dinner before the awards and concert later tonight! Make your reservation by calling (805) 962-7776 and let them know you're with FestForums (SPOTS ARE LIMITED).

Other options include Costa Kitchen right here in Mar Monte Hotel for ultimate convenience, or venture out to nearby favorites like Convivo Restaurant & Bar or Reunion Kitchen + Drink and countless other amazing spots within walking distance. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a leisurely meal with new connections from the day, Santa Barbara has something for every taste and budget. Enjoy!

8:00 - 9:00 pm

⚲ SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue

FestForums Awards Ceremony

Join us for an inspiring celebration as we honor the festival industry's finest. This year's awards recognize Festival of the Year for outstanding excellence, Legacy of Excellence for lasting impact, Living Legend for a career of transformative impact, and Emerging Artist for the emerging talent shaping the future of festivals. Raise a glass to the visionaries, innovators, and trailblazers who make the festival world extraordinary.

9:00 - 10:30 pm

⚲ SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue

FestForums Benefit Concert

2026 Charity Partner:

Sponsored by:

Music meets mission at our signature benefit concert, where the festival community comes together for an unforgettable night of live performances supporting a worthy cause. Dance, sing along, and celebrate with fellow industry professionals while making a real impact. This is FestForums at its best—where the business of festivals meets the heart and soul of why we do what we do.

Performances by:

Day 2

Thursday, February 12th

8:30 - 10:30 am | REGISTRATION

⚲ Lobby

Registration

Welcome to FestForums Day 2!

Check in and pick up your badge at the registration desk in the lobby.

Hang with our emcees David (Panel Room) and Gail (Terrace Ballroom)!

8:30 - 10:30 am | BREAKFAST

⚲ Pacific Ballroom & Terrace Ballroom

Breakfast

Fuel up with a continental breakfast in both exhibit halls. It's the perfect opportunity to grab coffee, meet fellow attendees, and explore sponsor booths before the day's sessions kick off.

9:00 - 9:50 am

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Speed Networking

Brought to you by:

Make meaningful connections in minutes at our high-energy Speed Networking sessions, where festivals meet sponsors, vendors connect with decision-makers, and lasting partnerships are born in rapid-fire conversations. Hosted by Christopher Hampson—a trained actor featured in Netflix's Brassic—these dynamic sessions bring together festival professionals. Whether you're a festival organizer seeking partners or a vendor looking to break into the festival circuit, this is your chance to meet key industry players, exchange ideas, and turn brief introductions into big opportunities.

Hosted by:

Chris Hampson

Eventree

9:50 - 9:55 am | INTRODUCTION

⚲ Fireside Room

Opening Remarks

Legendary poet and lyricist Stephen Kalinich, whose 30-year collaboration with the Beach Boys helped define the California sound, opens the conference with an inspiring spoken word performance. Known as a "poetic genius" by Brian Wilson and having written classics like "Be Still" and "Little Bird," Kalinich brings the heart and soul of music to FestForums with his powerful voice of conscience and artistry. Let one of rock 'n' roll's most profound voices set the tone for today celebrating the transformative power of live music and community.

Stephen Kalinich

American Poet and Songwriter

10:00 - 10:50 am | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Ticketing For Success

Rebecca Throne

INTIX

Adam McCurdie

Humanitix

Alex Pucciarelli

Ticketing Specialist

Allie Wilson Stein

FEVO

Julia James Bakhaya

Elevate

Justin Andrews

Peachtree Entertainment

10:00 - 10:50 am | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

The Hive Mind: Building a Healthy Touring Ecosystem

Eddie Bernard

Slamdance

Aubrey Wright

Timeline Touring

Jonny Stiegler

The Beehive LA

Vinnie Ferra

The Beehive LA

11:00 - 11:50 am | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Safety & Security: Crowd Control to Crisis Management

Ken Deans

KD Productions LLC

Catherine Curtin

Crowd Cushion

Kristin Flickinger

Flickinger Consulting, LLC

Maddie Ward

End Overdose

Joseph Pred

Mutual Aid Response Services, Inc.

Ira Rosen

Temple University

11:00 - 11:50 am | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Leading the Festival Revolution: Leadership & Team Building

Beth Pepper

Black Promoters Collective

EJ Encalarde

Festival Productions, Inc.

Stephen Odom

Redrock Entertainment

11:00 - 11:50 am | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

Festivals with Purpose: Nonprofit Festival Issues

Ed Bailey

Austin City Limits Brand Development

Adam McCurdie

Humanitix

Michael Huth

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Stephanie Seiple

Music Media Collective

12:00 - 12:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Unlocking Brand Partnerships

Paula Beadle

Sponsorship Marketing Association

Nancy Kennedy

Sonoma International Film Festival

Noah Pilchen

Stern Grove Festival

Mark Harrison

SponsorshipX

Tiffanie Hauger

Breakaway Music Festival

Tyler Dunson

C3 Presents

Presented by

12:00 - 12:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

From Idea to Sellout: Building a Go-to-Market Engine for Emerging Festivals

Michelle Swing

StubHub

Adam Rapchik

StubHub

Dana Greer

Good Vibez Presents

Holly Doscher

Peachtree Entertainment

12:00 - 12:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

Changing the World One Beat at a Time: Social Impact at Festivals

Matthew Reich

Artist For Artist® / Artist For Action®

Evan Tzeng

Coalition of Festivals and Major Events (COFAME)

Marcus Allen

Broccoli City

1:00 - 2:00 pm | LUNCH

⚲ Parking Lot

Lunch & PuppiesPalooza

Take your lunch break to the next level with the most adorable networking session of the conference! PuppiesPalooza is back to bring together festival professionals and furry friends from local shelter Paw Works for an unforgettable afternoon of puppy cuddles, stress relief, and genuine connections.

Brought to you by:

2:00 - 2:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Marketing Your Festival to Create FOMO

Jesse Lawrence

FanIQ.One

Kayla Pendleton

Nashville Marketing

Kyle Kane

onSpark

Kyle Newport

Sunset Jazz Festival

Rebecca Cicione

Goldenvoice

Presented by

2:00 - 2:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Future-Proof Your Festival: Surviving Today and Building For Tomorrow

Rebecca Throne

INTIX

Brad Sweet

Same Same But Different Festival

Jason Webb

Tixel

Jamie Loeb

Nederlander Concerts

Mike Meehan

Leap Event Technology

Presented by

2:00 - 2:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

The Evolution of Festival Ecology

Katrina DeAngelis

Evolving Potential

Will Shares

The Ecology Dept.

3:00 - 3:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Operations & Production: Making it Happen

Kat Cody

Jungle Lab Agency

Brett Smiley

conCHAIRto

Jack Noordsy

Eventeny

Nick Chavez

Danny Wimmer Presents

Stacie Cline

SXSW

Tushar Joshi

FestivalPro

3:00 - 3:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Seaview Room

Talent Buying for Festivals

Joe Rinaldi

NIVA California & Music Box SD

Brittanie Phillips

Entertainment & Culture Strategist

Kyle Kernohan

TBA Agency

Shawn Radley

Kendall Booking

Presented by

3:00 - 3:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

Livestreaming is the New Standard

Howie Schnee

CEG Presents

Jon Romero

Volume.com

4:00 - 4:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Technology that Transforms

Dani Gildemontes Grossman

Audience Republic

Kristin Owen

DoStuff

Mike Rosenthal

Fanaply

Charles Hinnant

Rave Me Away

Mell Leis

WMT Digital

4:00 - 4:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Accessibility at Festivals

Brandon Lingle

We Are Invincible

Austin Whitney

Accessibility Live

Tim Fischer

ADA Lift Rentals of America

Haley Binder

Kulture City

4:00 - 4:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

Sneak Peeks: Upcoming Documentaries

Tracey Anarella

Director/Producer

Nicole Noren

Documentary Filmmaker, Jounalist

Jesse Lauter

Dayglo Presents

5:00 - 5:30 pm | KEYNOTE

⚲ Fireside Room

Laurence Juber Takes Flight with Wings

Nick Turner

Technology Innovator & Entertainment Marketer

Laurence Juber

Musician

5:00 - 5:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Reel Talk: Film Festival Issues

Robert Adams

Film Columnist

Beau Blanchard

California Film Institute & Mill Valley Film Festival

Jacquil Constant

Haiti International Film Festival

Michael Huth

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

5:00 - 5:50 pm | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

Where One Hears the Rain: Finding Your Voice and Crafting Your Story

Chris Epting

Award-winning Journalist

5:30 - 7:30 pm

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Cocktail Reception

Join fellow FestForums attendees to unwind, connect, and turn today's conversations into tomorrow's partnerships over craft cocktails and genuine camaraderie.

Presented by:

7:30 - 9:00 pm

⚲ Santa Barbara, CA

Dinner On Your Own

Tonight's dinner is on your own—giving you the perfect opportunity to explore Santa Barbara's incredible dining scene! Costa Kitchen right here in Mar Monte Hotel for ultimate convenience, or venture out to nearby favorites like Convivo Restaurant & Bar or Reunion Kitchen + Drink and countless other amazing spots within walking distance. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a leisurely meal with new connections from the day, Santa Barbara has something for every taste and budget. Enjoy!

9:00 - 10:30 pm

⚲ Fireside Room & Terrace Ballroom

Fest After Forums: Music Showcase, Karaoke, & Tasting

Sponsored by:

FestForums is known for its epic afterparties, and this year we're splitting the party into TWO rooms because, well, more is definitely merrier. Whether you're ready to grab the mic and show off your inner rockstar or vibe out to incredible live performances, we've got you covered. Join us in either or both:

  1. PANEL ROOM: Music showcase featuring talent you need to know about

  2. EXHIBIT HALL B: Open karaoke (we've seen some LEGENDARY moments here)

  3. GREEN ROOM: Sugarlands Distillery Tasting

Grab dinner on your own, then join us for what will surely be a night to remember. Bring your energy, bring your crew, and get ready to see your fellow producers in a whole new light.

Day 3

Friday, February 13th

9:45 - 10:00 am | INTRODUCTION

⚲ Fireside Room

Driving New Revenues with Drone Light Shows

A quick overview of Open Sky Productions and how drone light shows enhance festivals and large events, showcasing the creative possibilities, technical execution and revenue generation possibilities.

10:00 - 10:50 am | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Scaling Up: Starting a New Festival

Stacy Horne

Stern Grove Festival

Brad Sweet

Same Same But Different Festival

Desiree Ashe-Bradford

Events by DAB, LLC

Mark Lord

Funkyard Music Festival

Ryan Slone

Universal Attractions Agency

Meredith Walsh

FlowJam Festival

10:00 - 10:50 am | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Advanced Festival Issues: Mastering Scale & Complexity

Anika Grant

Idlewild Experiential

Beau Blanchard

California Film Institute & Mill Valley Film Festival

Matt Hanrahan

The Outlier Entertainment Group

Cort Lawrence

Raw Cereal

11:00 - 11:50 am | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

Outside Days: Creating Best-in-Class Revenue-Generating IP Events

Christopher Jerard

Outside, Inc.

Michael Roberts

Outside, Inc.

Joe Lucchese

Groundswell Experiential

Mike Raspatello

Raspatello + CO

11:00 - 11:50 am | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Sustainability: Green is the New Gold

Ron Dorfman

Skywell

Vivian Belzaguy

Ultra Music Festival

Zoe Berman

Sound Future

11:00 - 11:50 am | DRILL DOWN

⚲ Seaview Room

From Beds to Brands: Inside the Branded Bubbl Village at Sundance

Hayley Melidonis

Bubbl

12:00 - 12:50 pm | PANEL

⚲ Fireside Room

AI’s Impact on Music & Film

Mike Wald

Coastal Intelligence

Avi Reichental

XoponentialWorks

Esosa Ighodaro

Black Women Talk Tech

Jacob Phillips

Whisper Lane Capital

Scott Ross

Digital Domain

12:00 - 12:50 pm | FORUM DISCUSSION

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Show Me the Money: Festival Financing

David Hazan

DLH Strategic Marketing

Josh Pearlman

Creative Riff

Allison Shaw

Pure Imagination Festival

Max Wagner

Riot Fest

1:00 - 2:00 pm

⚲ Terrace Ballroom

Closing Reception

Hosted by WOW! CONNECT, An end-to-end event management system for everyone by event organizers. 

As we wrap up, let’s share stories over champagne, craft beer and yummy snacks while you see the magic created by WOW! CONNECT.