Kitchener, Ontario
2026 FEO "SUSTAIN"
Conference
February 23 - 25, 2026
FEO Awards Program "Is Now Open"






FEO Award Recipients represent Ontario’s festivals and events' finest in the industry. Among others, awards program includes the Top 100- a select group well-known and respected celebrations in the province; Service Excellence – Highlighting the accomplishments of festival and event suppliers; Municipality of the Year – showcasing the most active Municipalities in the Province providing fun activities for their community; As well as a long list of Achievement Awards that cover a variety of categories such as Volunteer, Sponsor of the Year, Social Media Campaign, Best New Festival or Event and many others.
This year the FEO Awards Program is FREE to enter if you are a FEO Member in good standing from September 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025
Also this year we are opening up the Awards Program to Non-Members for a one time opportunity. There is a $100+hst fee for each Award Category you would like to enter. (next year you will NOT be able to enter in this way, you will need to be a FEO member to apply). Non-Members who wish to take advantage of this one time offer can click this Ticketpro link, pay your application fee, and then proceed with the application process.
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Important Instruction For Application Process
- You must submit a.pdf file that contains all of the required information asked of you in order to apply for the award. The entire .pdf entry must NOT exceed 10 pages (the application form does not count towards that total)
- You must complete and submit the application form for that specific award and it must be complete.
- Labelling your application, entry form and all supporting materials is vitally important. Please observe the following examples
(HillsideFestival-SponsoroftheYear-applicationform.pdf)
(SmallHalls-VolunteeroftheYear-Entry.pdf)
(EloraRiverfest-SocialMediaCampaign-Pic1.jpg).
Any documents or supporting materials NOT properly labelled will not be considered. - We are asking everyone to ZIP your entire application into one file and then email that ZIP file to awards@festivalsandeventsontario.ca. We still want a minimum of 3 or maximum of 5 high resolution photos that capture the essence of your festival/event. Those photos need to be individual files (not embedded in the .pdf). This year if you want judges to watch video files or listen to audio files, do NOT send those files....simply include the URL links in your .pdf that judges can go to watch or listen to the files. If you are unfamiliar with ZIP files, click here to learn how to do it...it's a very simple process and allows larger files to be sent using regular email.
- A panel of judges from across the Province will meet several times to review all applications and determine winners in each categories. Those winners will be announced at the FEO "SUSTAIN" Conference in Kitchener on Wednesday, February 25, 2025. If you are not able to attend, and you are a winner, there will be a $15 charge to ship awards to your office. If somebody you know is attending, plan ahead and ask if they can accept your award on your behalf and bring it to you.
- Deadline for entry is 5:00pm, Friday, November 28, 2025. ***there will be no extensions***
 Please follow instructions carefully and make sure if you are emailing in your entry, to send it to FEO Awards Co-Chair Jay Nijhuis at awards@festivalsandeventsontario.ca.
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*** NO FESTIVALS OR EVENTS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED INTO THE TOP 100. IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED YOUÂ MUSTÂ GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. ***
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Awards That Are Available To Be Won in 2026.

The Top 100 Award
Acknowledging industry excellence, this designation provides its recipients with a high visibility profile and marketing benefits unmatched by any other awards program in the province. Don’t miss out! The FEO Top 100 Festivals & Events Program is recognized by festival goers, peers and government officials alike as Ontario’s leading source of quality festivals and events happening across the province.

FEO Achievement Awards
Recognizing the accomplishments and successes of festivals and events by honoring best practices over many different categories within the industry across the Province of Ontario. The Achievement Award Categories include:
Sponsor of the Year
Best Promotional Campaign
Best New Festival or Event
Best Social Media Campaign
Best Volunteer Program
Best Festival/Event Series
The FEO Sustainability Award
The FEO Impact Award
The FEO Innovation AwardÂ
Click Here to Download the Achievement Award Requirements Brochure and Application Form to fill out.

Municipality of the Year Award
Recognizing the best in Municipal leadership and festival and event partnerships in the Province of Ontario.
Festivals and Events quantitatively create tremendous economic impact within your community and qualitatively engage your citizens on a collaborative level. However, perhaps you did not know that partnership support from your Municipality is a critical input to both the success and sustainability of your existing festivals and events and to the ability of your Municipality to attract new festivals and events. FEO is pleased to recognize those Municipalities that have created a supportive atmosphere for the achievement of successful festivals and events.
Three awards will be judged/presented, one from each of the following three(3) Municipality population categories: Population less than 50,000; Population 50,000- 150,000; Population more than 150,000
Click Here to Download the Municipality of the Year Award Requirements Brochure and Application Form to fill out.

Volunteer Awards
Recognizing outstanding commitment to volunteer excellence within the festival and event industry across the Province of Ontario.
The importance of volunteers to festivals and events is immeasurable. Many individuals contribute countless hours of their time to their communities, providing quality and memorable experiences to local residents and visitors alike. FEO is proud to recognize this commitment to volunteer excellence within the festival and event industry across Ontario with our annual Volunteer Awards.
FEO’s commitment to the festival and event industry is reinforced through the recognition of these individuals who have distinguished themselves by virtue of their service to their community through involvement with festivals or events.
Click Here to Download the Volunteer Award Requirements Brochure and Application Form to fill out.

Student Leadership Awards
Recognizing Ontario students with exceptional potential, passion and dedication who engage in activity with the aim of bringing communities together for the purpose of celebration.
Festivals and Events Ontario believes students pursuing a career in event management will have a tremendous impact on the growth and future of this budding sector. The Student Leadership Award is designed to recognize student’s efforts and accomplishments within the scope of festivals and events.
Click Here to Download the Student Leadership Award Requirements Brochure and Application Form to fill out.

Service Excellence Awards
Recognizing industry suppliers that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional services to festivals and events across the Province of Ontario.
Each year, Festivals & Events Ontario recognizes industry suppliers with the prestigious Service Excellence Awards Program. FEO understands that many suppliers work tirelessly behind-the-scenes supporting festival and event organizers and play a vital part in the success of Ontario’s festivals and events industry. This program celebrates the partnerships formed within the community, showcases creativity and recognizes innovation that suppliers bring to the table every day.Â
Click Here to Download the Service Excellence Award Requirements Brochure and Application Form to fill out.

FEO Hall of Fame Award
Since 2000, FEO has inducted 52 people into its Hall of Fame representing festivals, municipalities, organizations and events from across the province. Each individual named to the FEO Hall of Fame is someone who has dedicated their career to the festival and event industry and who has made a lasting contribution to their community, festival, event or organization.
Click Here to Download the FEO Hall of Fame Award Requirements Brochure and Application Form to fill out.