Philadelphia has been recognized on the global stage for its leadership in festivals and events. The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) – The Premier Association Supporting and Enabling Festival and Event Professionals Worldwide – has named Philadelphia a 2025 World Festival & Event City, honoring the city’s commitment to fostering environments where festivals and events can thrive and positively impact communities.

The announcement was made during the IFEA Annual Convention & Expo, presented by atVenu in Palm Springs, California, on September 22, 2025. Philadelphia joins a distinguished list of international cities. The full list of 2025 IFEA World Festival & Event Cities is:

  • Dublin, Ireland
  • Dublin, Ohio, United States
  • Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
  • Historic Kailua Village, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, United States
  • McAllen, Texas, United States
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  • Songkhla, Thailand
  • Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Recognition of Collaboration and Community

The IFEA World Festival & Event City Award was created to encourage, support, and recognize positive local environments for festivals and events worldwide. Festivals and events generate tremendous cultural, social, and economic value for the communities they serve, but long-term success depends on strong partnerships and support at every level.

Entries were reviewed by an international panel of industry experts, making this recognition the only global honor of its kind. Each city’s submission was evaluated on a comprehensive range of criteria, including:

  • Community Overview – providing the judges with a deeper understanding of each community and the infrastructure in place to host and/or support those producing and attending festivals and events.
  • Community Festivals & Events – illustrating the diversity and success of current festivals and events serving each market’s residents and visitors.
  • City / Government Support of Festivals & Events – demonstrating the strength and depth of support from each applicant city and other governmental bodies (county, state, taxing districts, etc.) as it pertains to festivals and events.
  • Non-Governmental Community Support of Festivals & Events – highlighting the commitment and direct support provided by community individuals and organizations. Without this support, most festivals and events could not achieve the level of success that these important partnerships help to build.
  • Market Leveraging of the “Community Capital” Created by Festivals & Events – demonstrating how the city and its partners maximize the branding and marketing opportunities provided by festivals and events to generate return in other areas.
  • Extra Credit – an opportunity for each city to highlight additional programs, services, and event-related resources not covered in the above categories (e.g., local university event management programs, certified professionals, shared event-resource programs, etc.).

Philadelphia Also Receives Prestigious Pinnacle Awards

In addition to the World Festival & Event City honor, Philadelphia also took home multiple IFEA Pinnacle Awards, sponsored by industry leader Haas & Wilkerson Insurance. The Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes outstanding accomplishments of festivals and events from around the world and continues to be the gold standard of achievement and inspiration in the global festivals and events industry.

Philadelphia received recognition across several categories, including:

  • Gold: Best Multimedia Component (Philadelphia Marathon Weekend)

  • Gold: Best Promotional Photograph (Philadelphia Eagles Championship Parade)

  • Silver: Best Single Social Video

  • Silver: Best Children’s Programming (Philadelphia Marathon Weekend)

  • Bronze: Best Event Mobile Application (Philadelphia Marathon Weekend)

  • Bronze: Best Instagram Site (Philadelphia Marathon Weekend)

  • Bronze: Best On-Site Decor (Philadelphia Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony)

  • Bronze: Best Green Program (Philadelphia Marathon Weekend)

  • Bronze: Best Parade (Philadelphia Eagles Championship Parade)

These awards reflect the creativity, dedication, and collaborative efforts of the City’s event organizers, partners, and staff who work year-round to create memorable, high-quality experiences for Philadelphians and visitors alike.

Building Toward 2026 and Beyond

As Philadelphia prepares to host international audiences for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, this recognition underscores the city’s capacity to deliver world-class events through effective planning, collaboration, and community engagement.

Philadelphia’s selection as a 2025 World Festival & Event City is a testament to the city’s ongoing dedication to creating opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the best of what Philadelphia has to offer, together.