Boom Festival, which is held biannually in Idanha-a-Nova, was nominated in five different categories at the awards by the Greener Festival Awards (AGF) and picked up the prize for “Greener Creative”.


Organisers of the Boom Festival work independently to support a sustainable culture through “creating spaces, art facilities and environments based on the principles of environmental sustainability and social ethics and this was recognised by the independent jury”, said the festival organisers.


A spokesman from AGF said: “Boom Festival provides a uniquely creative space that allows the restricting confines of modern-world thinking to dissolve, revealing an inseparable and wonderful connection with nature and each other.


“The Boomland is a work of art in itself, with the festival structures and sculptures merging seamlessly and using natural materials and permaculture techniques. As well as the physical structures and artwork, Boom provides a space where scientists, shamans, indigenous tribes, activists, academics and artists can come together to nurture good ideas for healing the human spirit, and bringing communities together in a new paradigm of acceptance and understanding that encourages happiness and wholeness.”


To be considered for an AGF award, festivals must undergo a detailed assessment, a site visit, and analysis as part of the evidence-based Greener Festival Award scheme. Winners are those who scored highest across ten categories throughout 2018. The International Greener Festival Award is the highest overall scoring festival, across all festivals that were assessed globally and this year the award went to DGTL Amsterdam.


Boom festival has been held since 1997 and takes place during the full moon, it has already participated in the planting of 720 new trees since 2005 through the reforestation programme “Boomland”, while other sustainable initiatives from the festival have included the recycling of 40 percent of all rubbish and the use of biodegradable products.


The next Boom Festival will be held between 28 July and 4 August 2020.