Media & Press

More than a conference, FestForums serves as a dynamic hub where artists, producers, creators, technologists, and community builders come together to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and help shape the future of live experiences.

FestForums 2026 quietly came to life at the Mar Monte Hotel — and by the time the final toast was raised three days later, it had once again proven why it remains the “festival about festivals.”

The heart of Santa Barbara’s music scene, SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue, became the epicenter of the festival industry on the night of February 11, 2026.

It’s not everyday fans see Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter at the Soho Restaurant & Music Club or emerging talent Hunter Hawkins perform with the legendary Kenny Loggins.

Before the panels, keynotes, and awards took over the Mar Monte Hotel, this opening mixer offered something quieter and perhaps more meaningful—a reminder that the festival world still runs on human connection.

Several brilliant talents will be honored at this year’s FestForums®, to be held February 11–13, 2026, at the beautiful Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara, California.

FestForums wasn’t built for applause. It was built for the people who build culture.

#1 FestForums® is the B2B live gathering for festival producers, organizers, and industry leaders to learn and network all in one place.

Kirby takes a decidedly expansive and holistic view of festivals writ large to include broad swaths of culture, including music film, food, technology, art as well as wellness, existential matters and, as always, puppies (a FestForums hallmark).  

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laurie Kirby. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laurie below.

With an eye on the future of festivals, the event explored everything from launching groundbreaking festivals to implementing sustainable solutions, and, of course, redefining the experience of live events in the years ahead.

By Jamie Knee, the Montecito Journal

WristCoin Cashless recently attended the Fest Forums Conference in Santa Barbara to launch further into the US festival and event marketplace.

Renowned event professional and innovator, Tobi Olanihun, took center stage at FEST Forums 2025, where she joined an esteemed panel of global industry leaders to discuss the evolution of festivals as cultural touchpoints, community builders, and platforms for innovation. 

The festival began in 2015 and was conceived by longtime resident Laurie Kirby, a former entertainment lawyer. After a few years off during the pandemic, the festival has become an annual Santa Barbara event.

John Giddings (left), founder of Solo Agency, and promoter of the UK’s legendary Isle of Wight Festival, won Festival Promoter of the Year at the FestForums Awards. He received the award from Arthur Fogel (right), president of Live Nation’s global touring division. Picture by Claire Hart

Fest Forums is a gathering of festival organizers, producers, and industry experts who have scaled events from backyard passion projects to internationally recognized brands.

KEYT News Channel 3, News Channel 12 and KKFX Fox 11 News broadcast throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.

Isle of Wight Festival promoter John Giddings won an award at the FestForums Awards in the US this week.

The three-day conference, now at the Mar Monte Hotel, brings together festival producers, organizers and industry leaders to network, collaborate, and pick up tips about events in a single location February 12-14.

The renowned promoter behind the Isle of Wight Festival, John Giddings, was named ‘Festival Promoter of the Year’ last night at the FestForums awards in Santa Barbara.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – FestForums is organizing a benefit concert on Thursday, Feb. 13 to help those displaced by the recent fires.

Matthew Modine and Sophie B. Hawkins Among Featured Speakers at Live Event Confab

When Santa Barbara comes together to help those affected by a natural disaster, it does so with style, heart, and incredible talent. Case in point: on Thursday, February 13, SOhO Restaurant & Music Club will host a benefit concert organized by the newly formed Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation and FestForums. 

SANTA BARBARA, CA (CelebrityAccess) — FestForums, the annual business conference for the festival industry, announced that the iconic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has been named as the 2025 Festival of the Year.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-People who have played their shares of festivals performed during FestForums 2024 founded by Laurie Kirby

Alicia Silverstone shares her health journey at FestForums in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, CA (CelebrityAccess) — FestForums, the North American music conference for the festival industry announced plans for the seventh edition of the music industry confab, which will take place in Santa Barbara from February 15-17.

POWER FEST PANEL: The FestForums’ “What European and U.S. Music Festivals Can Learn From Each Other” featured (from Left) FestForums’ Laurie Kirby, Festival Productions’ Eugenié Jones “EJ” Encalarde, Primavera Sound’s Marta Pallarès, Roskilde Fest’s Signe Lopdrup and Goldenvoice’s Jenn Yacoubian. (Photo by Chris Jensen / FestForums)

Held from February 12-14, 2025, at the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA—along with some of the city’s most iconic music venues—this year’s FestForums was an electrifying convergence of festival industry leaders and visionaries.