Pinnacle Awards

International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and Haas & Wilkerson Insurance Announce the 2025 Pinnacle Award Winners

Boise, Idaho- The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA), together with long-time sponsor Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, proudly honored the 30th Anniversary of the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards on Monday, September 22, 2025, during the 70th Anniversary of the IFEA Annual Convention & Expo presented by atVenu, held this year in Palm Springs, California, U.S.A.

Sponsored by industry leader Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, the Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of festivals and events from around the world and continues to be the gold standard of achievement and inspiration for the global festivals and events industry. This year’s entries came from a diverse range of events across the globe — including submissions from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond — reflecting the growing international reach of the IFEA and the universal celebration of community and culture.

Winning organizations included the Cherry Creek Arts Festival (CO), Dublin Irish Festival (OH), Fur Rendezvous (AK), Pasadena Tournament of Roses (CA), Kentucky Derby Festiva (KY), Canada Together (Canada), Púca Festival (Ireland), Vivid Sydney (Australia), Festival Lent (Slovenia), ÖRVÉNYESVÖLGY FESTIVAL (Hungary), Baekje Cultural Festival (South Korea), Chiang Mai Flower Festival (Thailand), and many more.

In total, awards were presented across 64 categories, honoring excellence in areas such as Marketing & Communications (TV, Radio, Social Media, Print), Merchandising, Sponsorship, Accessibility, Emergency Preparedness, Children’s Programming, Educational Outreach, and more.

“We’re proud to celebrate this major milestone with our 30th year of the Pinnacle Awards,” said Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE, President & CEO of the IFEA. “These awards showcase the incredible innovation, passion, and dedication of festival and event professionals around the world. The Pinnacle Awards not only set the standard for excellence in our industry — they help elevate and inspire new ideas and best practices across all budgets and locations.”

Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) is The Premier Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide. In partnership with global affiliates under the umbrellas of IFEA Africa, IFEA Asia, IFEA Australia, IFEA Europe, IFEA Latin America, IFEA Middle East (MENASA), and IFEA North America, the organization's common vision is for "A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration." The Association offers the most complete source of ideas, resources, information, education and networking for festival and event professionals worldwide.

The Pinnacle Awards program continues to be the gold standard of achievement and inspiration for the global festivals and events industry.

Note: All winners are selected from those festivals and events that enter the competition. Each category is divided into four budget levels, and entries are judged within those levels according to the specific category’s criteria.

View the 2025 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award Winners

View Photos of 2025 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Recipients

About the Winners

For all entries, each winning festival/event receiving a Gold, Silver or Bronze award is selected from those festivals and events who enter the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition and are judged on the overall excellence of a festival / event based on the specific criteria and requirements of the specific category(ies) being entered, within each of the four separate budget categories. Festivals / Events recognized as an “IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Award Winner”, are entitled to use that specific language in sharing the news about a Pinnacle win, for the specific category(ies) won. Language declaring a Festival / Event / Parade / Program etc., as the “Best in the World by the IFEA”, is not correct or in line with the nature of the competition and will not be supported or endorsed by the IFEA.

Sponsor of the IFEA Pinnacle Awards

Haas & Wilkerson Insurance has proudly supported the IFEA and festivals and events industry for three decades. As the title sponsor of the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Program, they have helped to raise the quality and standards of excellence for festivals and events around the globe.

With over 80 years of entertainment industry experience behind them, they provide insurance programs designed for each event’s specific needs and have a long list of clients that includes festivals, fairs, parades, carnivals and more. Learn more about them at www.hwins.com.