Festival Federation

In 2003, 20 major festival organisers founded the Federation of Music Festivals in Flanders (FMiV). In 2025, the federation expanded nationally, welcoming Walloon festivals into its ranks. This marked the birth of the Festival Federation, the umbrella organisation and representative body for recognised festivals in Belgium. The Festival Federation advocates for its members and the broader festival industry. This includes key topics such as cultural policy, artist status, copyright, infrastructure, fiscal matters, social security, labour relations, safety regulations, and non-profit legislation. The federation informs its members about these issues and engages with the relevant authorities. As a non-profit organisation, the federation's mission is to: ✅ Promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration among festivals ✅ Create a joint platform for festival promotion, both nationally and internationally ✅ Encourage artistic and business partnerships ✅ Support members through learning networks and continuity programmes ✅ Gather and distribute essential information for festival organisers ✅ Conduct research and studies to strengthen the credibility of festivals with authorities, sponsors, and the public With over 400 festivals attracting more than 5 million visitors annually, Belgium is a global leader in the festival industry. Belgian festivals are consistently ranked among the best in Europe and the world. By working together within the Festival Federation, we strengthen this position and build a sustainable future for the sector.