Pohoda Confirms Its Title as the Best Festival in Europe
At last night’s European Festival Awards ceremony in Groningen, Pohoda received two major awards. It was once again named Best Medium-Sized Festival in Europe, and Kristína Mlynárová, a member of the Pohoda team, won the award recognising young professionals.
15. January 2026
Pohoda competed for the Best Medium-Sized Festival title – awarded to the best European festival with a capacity of 10,000 to 39,999 visitors – in strong international competition. This success is particularly special as the festival has received the award for the second time in a short period, having also been named the best European festival for its 2023 edition.
Equally valuable is Kristína Mlynárová’s win in the New Kid on the Block category. Festivals are a team effort, and one of their key roles is to nurture the next generation of professionals for the arts scene. This respected award recognises young professionals in the festival industry, and it is great to see that, following last year’s nomination of Andrea Bláhová, the prize has now been awarded to another member of the Pohoda team, Kristína Mlynárová.
Kika Mlynárová – New Kid On The Block (photo: Michal Hradský)
“We are happy and excited. According to experts from the festival scene, Pohoda is the best festival in Europe. After a difficult year in 2024, this is a huge encouragement for us. In a way, it’s a miracle, and we are truly moved. Thanks to the support of our amazing visitors, as well as artists, partners, suppliers and the international festival family, we have experienced a rebirth that ultimately led to receiving the most prestigious award a festival can win. I am convinced this is important for the entire cultural scene in Slovakia; it is good news to feel respect for Slovak art in an international context,” says Michal Kaščák about the two awards at the European Festival Awards. He adds, “I am proud of our team. Recognition like this can only be achieved when people give their very best – maximum effort combined with attention to detail, as well as heart and passion. The award for Kristína Mlynárová as a professional from the young generation is further proof of the quality of the Pohoda team. We are looking forward to celebrating these successes together at the 30th edition of Pohoda this July at Trenčín Airport.”
Pohoda is The Best Medium-Sized Festival in Europe (photo: Michal Hradský)
Kristína Mlynárová from the Pohoda team is also delighted with her New Kid on the Block award, which recognises her as a young talent from the European festival industry, "I am grateful for this award, and it's a great encouragement for my future work in culture, festivals and the music industry. It's wonderful when you can work not only with your mind, but also with your heart. I truly appreciate that the EFA has recognised this, and that it is Pohoda in particular that inspires me to take this approach."
The European Festival Awards are the most prestigious awards in the European festival world, where expert juries and the public assess festivals from across Europe based on a range of criteria, from programmes to overall organisation.
This double success underlines Pohoda’s long-term mission – to bring world-class music, unforgettable experiences and a relaxed atmosphere that secures its place among the continent’s top festivals year after year.
