Connecting the live music industry

YOUROPE Brings Sustainability Workshop to Prague

August
27

YOUROPE and WIRE Group will bring their travelling workshop on socially sustainable festivals to Prague Music Week in November 2026.

The two-day event, titled “Workshop on how to create socially sustainable festivals”, will take place on 3–4 November at Pavilion Bohemia at the Prague Exhibition Grounds.

The workshop is the third edition of the initiative and will focus on issues including diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, equity and working conditions within the festival sector.

Founded in 1998, YOUROPE – The European Festival Association is a network for popular music festivals across Europe. As of April 2026, the association represented 138 festivals and associated members in 31 European countries. Its activities focus on strengthening cooperation and knowledge-sharing across the festival sector, including work around sustainability, event safety, diversity, inclusion and industry development.

Focus on social sustainability

WIRE, which stands for Wellbeing, Inclusion, Responsibility and Equity, brings together specialists from YOUROPE member festivals including Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Colours of Ostrava in Czechia and Rock en Seine in France.

The programme is designed for festival organisers and other live music professionals looking to develop more inclusive and socially sustainable events for audiences, artists and staff.

Initial sessions announced include creating diversity, equity and inclusion roadmaps for festivals, gender-balanced line-ups, parenting while working in the festival industry, and ageism and intergenerational solidarity.

The programme will also include a walking tour of Prague and a participants’ dinner.

First speakers confirmed

Speakers announced so far include Brechje Merckx of VESTROCK, Ilona Deuring of ESNS, Isabel Roudsarabi of Höme, Manon Osika of Rock en Seine, Marta Pallarès of Sound Diplomacy, Prof. Dr. Özgehan Şenyuva of Middle East Technical University and Pavla Slívová of Colours of Ostrava.

Further sessions and speakers are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Participation is free, with places limited. Registration for the full two-day workshop also includes free accreditation for Prague Music Week.