Future of Festivals - Der Podcast

It doesn’t matter how big your festival is, how much money you’ve spent, or who’s headlining. When the rain comes, when the wind picks up, or when the heat becomes unbearable, there’s only one question that matters: are you prepared?


More and more festivals are being forced to rethink, postpone, or cancel altogether. Because the ground can’t take it. Because safety can’t be guaranteed. Or because no one is willing to take the risk anymore. This panel brings real-world experience to the table. Vivian Belzaguy Hunter, who leads sustainability efforts at Ultra Music Festival and Ascendance Sustainable Events, shares what it means to plan for climate extremes at large-scale events. Oliver Guy Watkins from PMY Group contributes insights from the production and technology side, while Maarten van Denderen of No Risk adds the insurance and risk management perspective — a critical component as weather unpredictability grows.


Moderated by Linnéa Vågen Svensson of Greener Events, the panel explores why a solid safety plan isn’t something you add at the end, but something you build everything else around. Why sustainability and resilience are deeply interconnected. And why asking hard questions early on matters more than ever.


We’ll talk site layout, crisis communication, insurance, and crowd movement. But most of all, we’ll ask: how do we keep making festivals happen in a world where the climate has stopped playing by the rules?

Will booking soon be taken over by algorithms? Are AI systems already filtering out bands in advance – based on sound profiles, reach, or image? And will international touring still be necessary if DJs can perform as holograms on multiple stages at once?


In this panel, Isabel Roudsarabi (Höme) moderates a conversation with Marine Rivollet (2am Music), Alex Stevens (Bookr.fm), and Chang Liu (XR Remote Live), who bring insights from booking, festival strategy, and hologram technology to explore how touring, booking, and live experiences are evolving.


Moderation: Isabel Roudsarabi (Höme)


Speaker:


Marine Rivollet (2am Music)


Alex Stevens (Bookr.fm)


Chang Liu (XR Remote Live)

Festivals are creative spaces, but stage construction consumes enormous resources. With growing pressure to act sustainably, new approaches are needed. Materials like bamboo have already been used at festivals such as Mysteryland, but long-term strategies for reuse and energy efficiency are still rare. Can photovoltaic stage roofs supply power in the future? How can modular systems be designed to make both environmental and economic sense? What influence can architects like Michael Kelm from kpm3 have on more sustainable planning?


This panel discusses how circular thinking, smart materials and renewable energy can shape the future of event infrastructure. Architect Michael Kelm shares how sustainability can be built in from the start, not only in stages but also in expos and brand environments. Alex Prideaux from Special Structures brings insights into scalable structural innovations. Bob van de Pol from Masters of Bamboo adds practical experiences with bamboo construction in the festival context.


Moderation: Antje Osterburg


Speaker:


Michael Mikel Kelm (kpm3)


Alex Prideaux (Special Structures Lab)


Bob van de Pol (Masters of Bamboo B.V.)

Two dynamic global cities, two distinct approaches to festival culture, yet a shared vision: transforming urban spaces into vibrant cultural and economic hubs through innovative festival strategies.


Dubai and Berlin have become international beacons for event-driven tourism and cultural experience but how do these two metropolises shape their festival ecosystems differently, and what can they learn from one another?


In this dynamic Firechat, we explore the future of festivals through the strategic lenses of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism and Berlin's economic development and innovation landscape. Together, our speakers will discuss how festivals drive tourism growth, create economic resilience, foster international partnerships, and position their cities as premier global destinations.


Moderation: Stine Nehrmann


Speaker:


Suhaila Ghubash (Dubai Economy and Tourism Department)


Manuel Wrobel (visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office)