DGTL festival, which takes place at the NDSM Docklands in Amsterdam from 3 to 5 April, was the big winner at the 2026 International AGF Awards, which recognised the most environmentally-friendly festivals, venues, tours and event organisations around the world.
Organised by A Greener Future (AGF), the awards, which took place alongside the Green Events & Innovations (GEI) Conference in London, saw awards presented in ten categories, with this year’s finalists including 28 nominees from 14 countries.
DGTL won the top prize at the event, the International Greener Festival Award, as well as the Greener Transport Award. Judges praised the festival’s use of renewable energy, public transport and cycling access, and plant-based food offering.
“We are very happy with this recognition,” the festival’s sustainability manager, Esmee Bouwmeister, commented. “It’s really important that AGF and things like this exists because it creates a playing field and standard, and we learn from it a lot.”
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena won the International Greener Arena Award. As M&S Arena’s Dominic Parker noted, “we are on a journey to get net zero by 2030, and this shows we are on the right track”.
Other winners included the Estonian Fashion Festival (Circular Event Award); India’s Echoes of Earth (Community Action Award); Belgian festival Paradise City (Greener Catering Award; Norway’s Øyafestivalen (Greener Power Award); and Portugal’s Boom Festival (Water & Sanitation Award).
Elsewhere, Spain’s Sonidos Líquidos received the Pied Piper Award for sustainability communications, while the Greener Innovations Award was presented to Sam Fender’s ‘People Watching’ European tour, which relied 100% on fully electric trucks.
“I can’t tell you how proud we are to get this nomination and award,” commented Owain Davies of OD Management and Richard Burnett of KB Events, who accepted the award on behalf of the Sam Fender tour. “The commitment from Sam and Owain to try and attempt [a fully electric truck tour], its groundbreaking. We’re at the frontline of driving sustainability at a transport perspective.”
Finalists in the 2026 International AGF Awards were selected from all AGF certified greener events, festivals and arenas over the past year, with top scores across key sustainability criteria. All applicants undergo a detailed assessment, site visits, and analysis by AGF auditors. Additionally, green innovations from festivals and events were selected and are judged by an independent jury.
Full list of 2026 International AGF Award winners
- International Greener Festival Award (Supported by Earth Positive) – DGTL (NL)
- International Greener Arena Award (Supported by Universal Pixels) – M&S Bank Arena, (UK)
- Greener Transport Award (Supported by KB Event) – DGTL (NL)
- Circular Event Award – Estonian Fashion Festival (EE)
- Community Action Award – Echoes of Earth (IN)
- Greener Catering Award (Supported by Peppermint Bars & Events) – Paradise City (BE)
- Pied Piper Award – Sonidos Líquidos (ES)
- Greener Power Award (Supported by GeoPura) – Øyafestivalen (NO)
- Water & Sanitation Award – Boom Festival (PT)
- Greener Innovations Award (Supported by L-Acoustics) – 100% eHGV European Tour @ Sam Fender (UK)
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