2027 AGENDA
HOW IT GOESChoose 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
Roundtables foster dialogue and tackle specific challenges and solutions in the industry
FED Talks & Workshops—Festival Education Discussion—offer deep-dive conversations on specialized topics
Sessions are color-coded for easy navigation, so you can build the perfect schedule for your business goals.
Pre-Conference Day
Tuesday, February 2nd
Showstop® Procedure Course
You MUST BE REGISTERED to attend this training.
Tuesday, February 2, 2027 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm
In live events, safety risks can escalate in moments, from severe weather and crowd density to fire, structural collapse, and active threats. Each requires a fast, decisive response to prevent a tragedy. The award-winning, internationally accredited Showstop® Procedure course is designed to introduce a robust incident response framework managed by trained professionals. This course is for anyone who takes safety seriously: from event leadership, across strategic, tactical, safety, security and operational roles, as well as risk and crisis management teams. Join Steve Allen and Dr. Mark Hamilton for this highly detailed, hands-on training that's changing the standard for festival safety worldwide.
Learn more about Showstop® Procedure here.
FestForums attendees receive a 25% discount! Please contact admin@festforums.com to claim this offer.
DrinkStuff with DoStuff
Pre-Conference Get Together
You MUST BE REGISTERED for FestForums to attend this event.
Tuesday, February 2, 2027 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm
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.
Presented by:
Day 1
Wednesday, February 3rd
10:00 - 6:00 pm
⚲ 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.
Check out our FestForums Festivities:
-
Explore exhibit booths with partners leading the event solutions for your festival.
Pacific Ballroom
On the second floor (elevator accessible), the Pacific Ballroom hosts our Day One cocktail reception and all FED Talks, a central hub for networking and connecting with exhibitors.Terrace Ballroom
On the first floor beachside, the Terrace Ballroom hosts our roundtable discussions and two cocktail receptions, with stunning Santa Barbara views. -
Located in the Terrace Ballroom, the Networking Lounge is your dedicated space to work, connect with fellow attendees, and set up meetings throughout the conference. Whether you’re catching up on emails or making your next big industry connection, this is the perfect spot to get it done.
10:00 - 11:00 am
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Speed Networking
Presented by
Get to know your peers! Make new connections and put faces to names in this fast-paced session designed to spark conversations and collaborations.
11:30 - 11:45 am
⚲ Fireside Room
Opening Remarks
Join Pink Bows Foundation co-founders Michelle and Ty Dubiski as they take the FestForums stage together for the first time to share their deeply personal story. In honor of their daughter and sister Madison, they’ll speak on turning unimaginable loss into lasting purpose and their mission to make festivals safer for every fan. It’s a powerful and moving start to our 10th anniversary conference that no attendee will want to miss.
Michelle Dubiski
Founder, Pink Bows Foundation
12:00 - 12:10 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
12:15 - 1:15 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
State of the Industry
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Industry heavy hitters from film, music, food & beverage, and comedy dive headfirst into where festivals are headed in 2027, from AI shaking up operations to fans demanding more experiences than ever before. This is the big picture session that sets the tone for everything else. Expect bold predictions, hot takes, and maybe a few surprises.
Brandon Pankey
Live Nation Urban
Iris Midler
Chefs for Farmers
Abbey Londer
Netflix is a Joke Fest
Laurie Kirby
FestForums
1:30 - 2:30 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Festival Culture Around the Globe
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Pack your bags for a whirlwind tour of festival culture across the globe. Organizers from Iceland, Mexico, and the UK spill what makes their events tick and the wild challenges that come with running festivals in different markets. You will leave with fresh ideas you never knew you needed. Global inspiration, zero jet lag.
Daniel Espinosa Bautista
Festival Internacional Cervantino
Isleifur Thorhallsson
Iceland Airwaves & Sena Live
Katie Bignell
Film Festival Formula
Michelle Metter
Fast Forward
Amaya Fernandez
artistas creativos international llc
Laurie Kirby
FestForums
1:30 - 2:30 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
What Festivals can Learn from Sports
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In today’s competitive festival landscape, brands and entertainment properties must create immersive, authentic experiences that resonate far beyond the event. This panel brings together leaders in experiential marketing, brand strategy, partnerships and measurement to explore what modern audiences expect from on-site activations, how technology and storytelling are elevating engagement, and the strategies that turn brand moments into lasting loyalty. We’ll discuss how activations are customized to align with a festival’s identity and deliver the best ROI for these partnerships. Standout activations that rise above the noise are the name of the game!
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Irfan Rydhan
HalalFest, Inc.
Kerry Inman
Formerly with FIFA World Cup 2026™
Neil Wright
Fanatics
Niko Costas
RTEAM
1:30 - 2:30 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
FED Talk
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This talk strips away the mythology of festivals to focus on the small, human decisions that actually determine success. Drawing from decades inside major music festivals and immersive productions, Danielle Madeira shares how artist care, audience flow, brand behavior, and crew culture quietly shape events people remember — or don’t.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
2:45 - 3:45 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Unlocking Brand Partnerships
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Great brand partnerships don’t happen by accident. This panel brings together leaders from some of the most influential names in live events: SXSW, Live Nation, Live Nation Urban and C3 Presents. They’ll share how the biggest festivals and producers build brand collaborations that work, from finding partners whose values fit the event to structuring deals that deliver for the brand, the festival and the fans. Expect real stories of their biggest wins, along with a few partnerships that taught them what not to do. Whether you’re pitching your first sponsor or renewing your biggest one, come ready to take notes.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Nancy Magnuson
SXSW
Natalie Leary
Live Nation Urban
Rachel Core
C3 Presents
Suzanne O’Neill
Live Nation
2:45 - 3:45 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
The Future of Festival Sustainability
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Going green isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business. This panel dives into practical, real-world ways festivals are cutting waste, rethinking vendors, and reducing their footprint without breaking the bank, from clean power and water refill culture to the future of reuse systems under SB 54. Our speakers will share what worked, what flopped, how to tell your sustainability story in a way fans engage with, and what it takes to unite the entertainment community for real, lasting change. Walk away with ideas you can actually implement to lower your footprint and bring your audience along for the journey.
Madeline Weir
REVERB
Amy Dunn
Breakaway
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Lindsay Arell
ASM Global
Annie Farman
Outside Lands
2:45 - 3:45 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
Rooted in Community: Festivals as Changemakers
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Festivals have the power to do more than entertain, they can transform communities. This talk brings together changemakers working at the intersection of environmental justice, education, and community. Join us for an honest, inspiring conversation about how festivals and the people behind them can drive real, lasting change, from creating equitable access to resources to uplifting the communities they call home. Come ready to be challenged, inspired, and equipped to make your events a force for good.
Caroline Phillips
National Cannabis Festival
Evan Tzeng
Coalition of Festivals and Major Events (COFAME)
4:00 - 5:00 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Operations & Production
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Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes? This panel pulls the curtain back on the chaos, the logistics, and the split second decisions that keep festivals running smoothly. Production pros share stories from the trenches, including moments that tested their nerves and how they pulled through. Equal parts entertaining and educational.
Kat Cody
Jungle Lab Agency
Nick Chavez
Danny Wimmer Presents
Stacie Cline
SXSW
Tushar Joshi
Festival Pro
Rae Livingston
Another Planet Entertainment
Paula Perri
Paula Perri Events
4:00 - 5:00 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Brand Activations Pt. 1: The Brand Perspective
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For the world’s biggest brands, festivals are a chance to show up where fans are at their most engaged. In this session, leaders from brands share how they decide which festivals to invest in and what they need from a partnership to justify the spend. The conversation covers how brands measure success, from sales and sampling to content and long-term loyalty, and what makes them renew year after year. Festival organizers will leave knowing what brands are looking for and how to build partnerships that grow with each season.
Neil Wright
Fanatics
4:00 - 5:00 pm | WORKSHOP
⚲ Seaview Room
The Deal Room: Turning Sponsors & Brand Partnerships Into Predictable Revenue
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Festivals have the power to do more than entertain, they can transform communities. This talk brings together changemakers working at the intersection of environmental justice, education, and community. Join us for an honest, inspiring conversation about how festivals and the people behind them can drive real, lasting change, from creating equitable access to resources to uplifting the communities they call home. Come ready to be challenged, inspired, and equipped to make your events a force for good.
Kyle Kane
onSpark
5:00 - 5:30 pm | KEYNOTE
⚲ Fireside Room
Fest Talk
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Some of the best lessons in this business come from a candid conversation, not a slide deck. More to come soon.
Some of the best lessons in this business come from a candid conversation. Expect honest stories, a few surprises and big-picture thinking you’ll carry back to your own festival. More info coming soon!
5:10 - 5:45 pm | KEYNOTE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Designing Experiences People Can’t Stop Talking About
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Today’s audiences don’t remember the biggest event.
They remember the moment that made them laugh, gasp, cheer, cry, or immediately text their friends.
In a world where every festival, concert, restaurant, hotel, and brand is competing for attention, “good” has become invisible.
Extraordinary is what gets shared.
In this featured keynote, Chef Adrianne Calvo shares how she transformed a simple philosophy of creating unforgettable moments into an award-winning restaurant brand, national media platform, destination dining experiences, and luxury hospitality collaborations.
Through her proprietary WOW Formula™ and Triple S Method™, attendees will learn how to intentionally engineer the kinds of moments that create emotional connection, organic marketing, loyal fans, and businesses people will literally travel to experience.
Because nobody has ever told a friend…“You have to go. It was perfectly adequate.”
They tell stories about the extraordinary.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies for creating “I Can’t Believe That Just Happened” moments that transform guests into storytellers and experiences into movements.
Adrianne Calvo
Chef, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Influencer
5:10 - 5:45 pm | WORKSHOP
⚲ Seaview Room
Turnstile to Season Pass: What Festivals Can Learn from 100 Years of Performing-Arts Loyalty
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TRG Arts' Jill Robinson shares how performing-arts organizations turn one-time buyers into lifelong patrons, and how festivals can do the same.
Jill Robinson
TRG Arts
5:45 - 7:00 pm
⚲ Pacific Ballroom
Cocktail Reception
Let's get together and celebrate with drinks, small bites, and great company. Mingle with fellow attendees and get to know our exhibitors in the Pacific Ballroom.
Presented by:
7:00 - 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).
8:00 - 9:00 pm
⚲ SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue
10th Annual 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, 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
10th Annual FestForums Benefit Concert
2026 Charity Partner:
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.
Awards: Festival of the Year, Living Legend, Best Festival Activation at a Mid to Small Festival, Best Festival Activation at a Large Festival, Emerging Artist, Contribution to Festival Safety, Founding Spirit Award: Dave Mason Tribute
Performances by:
Day 2
Thursday, February 4th
8:30 - 10:30 am
⚲ Lobby
Registration & Breakfast
Welcome to FestForums Day 2! Check in and pick up your badge at the registration desk in the lobby.
Continental Breakfast is available in either the Pacific or Terrace Ballroom.
Check out our FestForums Festivities:
-
Explore exhibit booths with partners leading the event solutions for your festival.
Pacific Ballroom
On the second floor (elevator accessible), the Pacific Ballroom hosts our Day One cocktail reception and all FED Talks, a central hub for networking and connecting with exhibitors.Terrace Ballroom
On the first floor beachside, the Terrace Ballroom hosts our roundtable discussions and two cocktail receptions, with stunning Santa Barbara views. -
Located in the Terrace Ballroom, the Networking Lounge is your dedicated space to work, connect with fellow attendees, and set up meetings throughout the conference. Whether you’re catching up on emails or making your next big industry connection, this is the perfect spot to get it done.
9:00 - 9:45 am | WORKSHOP
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Making Even Better Decisions for Your Business
A Values-Based Mapping Workshop
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WHAT IT IS
Make tough decisions with more confidence. This workshop is a facilitated group experience that surfaces what you actually value, then maps those values onto how you make decisions, lead, and work together.WHO IT'S FOR
Leaders and founders, teams, departments and groups, especially those experiencing a transition (i.e., growth, a merger, restructuring, or a culture reset).
LJ Antonuccio
CoMuse®
9:30 - 9:45 pm | OPENING REMARKS
⚲ Fireside Room
Setting the Intention
Join Nick Strand as he helps you start the day grounded, focused and clear on what you want to take home from FestForums.
Nicholas Strand
Choose Your Attitude®
10:00 - 11:00 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
The Festival Marketing Playbook
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In a sea of festivals competing for attention, how do you stand out? Marketing leaders share their playbook for building buzz, growing audiences and creating campaigns that get noticed. They’ll cover storytelling, strategy and the thinking behind breakthrough moments, like Outside Lands selling out months in advance for the first time in decades. From social media and influencer partnerships to good old-fashioned creativity, this session is packed with ideas you can use right away.
Jessica Heasley
Event Marketer
Allie Wilson Stein
FEVO
Jesse Lawrence
FanIQ.One
Rebecca Cicione
Goldenvoice
Sarah Dempsey
Outside Lands
Taylor Severson
Zip
10:00 - 11:00 am | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
How to Maximize your Festival Monetization
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Going green is not just good for the planet, it is good for business. This panel dives into practical, real world ways festivals are cutting waste, rethinking vendors, and reducing their footprint without breaking the bank. Speakers share what worked, what flopped, and how sustainability can become part of your festival's story. Walk away with ideas you can actually implement to lower your footprint.
Veronica Hart
RWS Global
Brad Sweet
Same Same Presents & ShopTickets
Jennifer Love
LivWeal Team
Tiffany Baez
TikTrendz Digital
Chris Freet
WMT Digital
10:00 - 11:00 am | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
Travel & Hospitality
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From flights to hotels to making artists and staff feel at home, travel and hospitality logistics are a festival's hidden backbone. This FED Talk shares tips for smoother travel planning and creating a hospitality experience that keeps everyone happy. Practical advice delivered fast. Your travel coordinator will love this one.
Jason van Esso
Crewfare
11:15 - 12:15 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
The Art of Artist Relations
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Having the best of the best all in one place is what makes festivals magical. But how do you support talent to deliver the best performance for your audience? Hear from top industry professionals about what makes artists want to be on your next festival lineup.
Franz Hilberath
MP3 LABS
Avery McTaggart
TBA Agency
Brett Schaffer
WME Agency
Hilary Gleason
Backline
Jace Cohen
Versa
Jeff Consoletti
OUTLOUD Music Festival
11:15 - 12:15 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
What’s Cooking? Food & Beverage Festivals
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Hungry for ideas? This roundtable gathers organizers of food and beverage festivals to talk vendor selection, health regulations, and how to create a culinary experience people will not stop talking about. Expect plenty of practical tips and a few mouthwatering stories. Come hungry for inspiration.
Tanya Kollar
Outside Lands
Ben Andersen
Tuscon Foodie
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Katie Shaffer
Feast It Forward
Iris Midler
Chefs for Farmers
11:15 - 12:15 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
Dream Team: Building Inclusive Festival Crews
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Your team is your festival's secret weapon. This FED Talk dives into building strong, inclusive teams that can handle the chaos of festival season with a smile. Speakers share tips on hiring, training, and creating a culture where people actually want to come back next year. Quick, punchy, and packed with takeaways.
Matthew Hipp
Insomniac Events
12:30 - 1:30 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Beyond the Gate: Ticketing at Festivals
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Ticketing can make or break the fan experience, and this panel gets real about pricing, fraud, platforms, and everything in between. Speakers share what they wish they knew sooner and where the ticketing world is headed. Expect honest talk about the headaches and the hacks. A can't miss for organizers ready to level up their ticketing game.
Rebecca Throne
International Ticketing Association (INTIX)
Josh Ross
Humanitix
Julia James Bakhaya
Elevate
Tushar Joshi
Festival Pro
12:30 - 1:30 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Reel Talk: Film Festivals
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This session focuses on the unique world of film festivals, covering programming, venue logistics, and how to build buzz with filmmakers and audiences alike. Participants discuss what sets film festivals apart and share tips for making your event a must attend on the circuit. A great watch for film lovers and organizers alike.
Shanna Carrick
Film Pittsburgh
Vanessa King
Cart Before Horse Media
Fearon DeWeese
Napa Valley StreamFest
Katie Bignell
Film Festival Formula
12:30 - 1:30 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
Legal Issues Every Festival Faces
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Legal stuff might not sound thrilling, but trust us, you need this one. This talk breaks down the legal landmines festival organizers should know about, from contracts to liability to permits. Delivered in plain English with zero legalese overload. Knowledge is power, and this talk has plenty of it.
Michele Martell
Martell Media House
1:30 - 2:15 pm
⚲ Parking Lot
EatStuff with DoStuff & PuppiesPalooza
Join us for lunch presented by DoStuff to refuel for the rest of the afternoon sessions along with the cutest part of the conference: PuppiesPalooza. Play with adoptable dogs from a local shelter while you connect with fellow attendees over food and furry friends.
Brought to you by:
2:30 - 3:30 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Safe & Sound: Festival Safety & Security
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World-class events need world-class security and the best security strategies identify and prevent risks before they become emergencies. Learn from those at the front lines of event safety so you are prepared for the ever changing circumstances of the festival industry.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Danny Diaz
DSD Consulting Group
Joshua Field
EvenTech Systems
Matt Hudson
Rhino Staging
2:30 - 3:30 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Access for All: Building Festivals Everyone Can Enjoy
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Festivals are for everyone, and this roundtable is all about making that a reality. Participants discuss practical solutions for physical accessibility, sensory friendly spaces, and staff training that makes a real difference. The conversation is honest, helpful, and focused on action. Come ready to make your next event more welcoming for all.
Maria Odenkirk
The Mobility Queen
Tim Fischer
ADA Lift Rentals of America
Holly Maniatty
All In Events
Brandon Lingle
We Are Invincible
2:30 - 3:30 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
Coming Soon
-
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
3:45 - 4:45 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Technology Shaping the Festival Experience
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Technology is reshaping festivals faster than ever, and this panel gives you a front-row seat. Speakers follow the full fan journey, starting with customer support built for entertainment, which answers fan questions in real time and clears overflowing inboxes. They’ll cover how RFID, cashless payments and access control keep lines moving and revenue flowing, and how data capture and measurement build the infrastructure behind every great event. They’ll also explore how apps, AI-powered ticketing and fan intelligence are turning every interaction into deeper engagement.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Carey Archer
asqr.ai
Jordan
Feast It Forward
Mell Leis
WMT Digital
3:45 - 4:45 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Making Headlines: How Media Moves the Needle for Festivals
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Media coverage can make or break a festival. It shapes how fans discover an event, how quickly the word spreads and, ultimately, how tickets sell. This roundtable brings together journalists, editors and outlets covering the festival world to talk about the role media plays in a festival’s success. They’ll discuss what makes a festival story newsworthy, how coverage drives buzz and ticket demand, and how to build lasting relationships with press and content creators. They’ll also share how festivals of any size can earn meaningful coverage without a massive budget.
Kristin Owen
DoStuff Media
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Dominique Silva
Jensen Communications
Stephanie Seiple
Music Media Collective
3:45 - 4:45 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
Smarter Stages: AI at Festivals
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AI is here, and it is changing the game. This roundtable is a no hype, no jargon look at how festivals are actually using AI for marketing, ticketing, operations, and fan engagement. Participants share real tools, real results, and real talk about what to watch out for. Come curious, leave informed.
Beth Pepper
Black Promoters Collective
5:00 - 5:30 pm | KEYNOTE
⚲ Fireside Room
Fest Talk
-
Some of the best lessons in this business come from a candid conversation, not a slide deck. More to come soon.
Some of the best lessons in this business come from a candid conversation, not a slide deck. More to come soon!
5:00 - 6:00 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
It Won’t Happen to Us
Presented by
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Five years ago, November 2021, Travis Scott Astroworld concert left ten young people dead, hundreds injured, thousands traumatised. If you don’t believe that you should do everything you can to protect the people at your festival then don’t attend this.
No-one expects the unexpected – but shouldn’t they? Life-threatening incidents can develop without warning, and when they do, seconds matter.
The panel will explore the importance of robust safety architecture, clearly defined authority, competent personnel and effective communication in responding to emergencies.
Drawing on lessons from historical high-profile incidents in the live entertainment and major events industry, the discussion examines how the internationally accredited Showstop® Procedure has driven awareness to introduce a structured framework for making and implementing critical safety decisions when they matter most.
Importantly, it also considers how recognised training, documented procedures and demonstrable competence can provide valuable evidence of reasonable and proportionate safety precautions, strengthening an organiser's or venue's position should their decisions and actions subsequently come under legal, regulatory or media scrutiny.
A must-attend for anyone who cares about the safety of everyone on your festival site.
Kyle Olsen
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Mark Hamilton
Pink Bows Foundation
Tami Richter
SXSW
Colin Lish
Headline Security Management
Graham Brown
Pink Bows Foundation
5:00 - 6:00 pm | FED TALK
⚲ Seaview Room
An Inside Look
-
Coming Soon!
David Hazan
DLH Marketing
Tyler Grill
Peachtree Entertainment
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!
Day 3
Friday, February 5th
8:30 - 10:30 am
⚲ Lobby
Registration & Breakfast
Welcome to FestForums Day 3! Check in and pick up your badge at the registration desk in the lobby.
Continental Breakfast is available in either the Pacific or Terrace Ballroom.
Check out our FestForums Festivities:
-
Explore exhibit booths with partners leading the event solutions for your festival.
Pacific Ballroom
On the second floor (elevator accessible), the Pacific Ballroom hosts our Day One cocktail reception and all FED Talks, a central hub for networking and connecting with exhibitors.Terrace Ballroom
On the first floor beachside, the Terrace Ballroom hosts our roundtable discussions and two cocktail receptions, with stunning Santa Barbara views. -
Powered by Rock-It Cargo
Located in the Terrace Ballroom, the Networking Lounge is your dedicated space to work, connect with fellow attendees, and set up meetings throughout the conference. Whether you’re catching up on emails or making your next big industry connection, this is the perfect spot to get it done.
10:00 - 11:00 am | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Roots & Routes: Honoring Where the Industry Came From and Where It’s Going
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In honor of FestForums' 10th anniversary, industry veterans gather to look back at how far the festival world has come, share stories from the early days, and talk about what is on the horizon for the next ten years. This is a heartfelt, fun, and inspiring session that celebrates the people who built this community. Grab a tissue and a drink, you might need both.
EJ Encalarde
Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans
Kevin Lyman
Vans Warped Tour
10:00 - 11:00 am | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Building the Next Generation of Live Events Fans
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Today's young fans are tomorrow's festival lifers, if you play your cards right. This FED Talk explores how to create experiences that hook younger audiences and turn first timers into lifelong fans. Speakers share creative ideas for engagement that go beyond the usual playbook. Fun, fresh, and future focused.
Tucker Miller
Boomjam Festival
Tom Russell
C3 Presents
Stephen Grybowski
Rock & Roll Playhouse
11:15 - 12:15 pm | PANEL
⚲ Fireside Room
Brand Activations Pt. 2: The Agency Perspective
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Brand activations are becoming a staple at major festivals. But beyond partnering with the right brands, choosing the right agency to develop the experience is key. See what makes a memorable experiential brand activation so your partners can feel they are a part of your festival experience, not just signage.
Jessica Heasley
Event Marketer
Aja Bradley Camp
Conversate Collective
Colin Montemarano
G7 Entertainment Marketing
Doug Richter
Meritage Entertainment
Joe Lucchese
Groundswell Experiential
Nitu Desai
Idlewild Experiential
11:15 - 12:15 pm | ROUNDTABLE
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Class is in Session: Q&A with Kevin Lyman
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Kevin Lyman, creator of the Vans Warped Tour, is a giant in the festival industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask him your burning questions and see what the next generation of festival operators have at the top of their minds.
Kevin Lyman
Vans Warped Tour
12:30 - 1:30 pm
⚲ Terrace Ballroom
Closing Reception
Join us for our closing reception to reflect on the wealth of knowledge, countless connections, and meaningful memories made over the past three days – and past 10 years – of FestForums. Thank you for joining us!