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Some festivals took the best out of moving to a digital format in 2021. They created innovative projects that turned the festival’s standard production upside down making it even more outstanding.

Some festivals rejected the idea of moving all their performances online. They simply could not accept that human contact was missing. These festivals are proud of having achieved this huge milestone, as one of them says: “The virus did not defeat our resilience”.

In 2021, the Afrobanana Republic Festival created the island’s first ever Virtual Reality music festival. This edition pushed the boundaries of what can be done in Virtual Reality as it was hosted on a new VR app called Somnus and it managed to capture the attention of the global music scene.

Off the Beaten Path chamber music festival in Kovachevitsa was founded by Bulgarian musicians who live and work in the United States and Europe. Even if this festival was not created long ago and soon after its creation they had to face the pandemic they seem unstoppable; they have produced a virtual programme and broadcasted a documentary film of the festival.

Patchlab Festival is designed to reflect on the roles and impact that digital technology has on society and the environment using digital art. For the past editions they developed something totally out of the box: art projects as mobile applications that are easy accessible for anyone and anywhere.

The Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival adopted a hybrid format during the pandemic. This situation showed them that streaming, using more digital techniques and embracing new interactive ways to produce the programme were the key to succeed in the future.

The Graphic Stories Festival on Graphic Design and Visual communication is known for connecting and empathising with its audience. The virtual wall designed for its 2021 edition proves this: its aim was that people could leave their own message and express how they felt during the confinement and the pandemic.

The Festival Khamoro achieved a major success during the unstable and challenging time of the 2020 and 2021 editions. They organised the festival programme throughout the whole year instead of producing it in one week. This allowed them to present Roma emerging artists to a wider audience than usually.

In 2020, EtnoKrakow/Crossroads Festival took on the formula OnEarth - OnAir - OnLine. The main theme of these concerts was a dialogue between the musicians and between genres. The festival managed to propose a very diverse line up, inviting exclusively artists that were currently living in Poland.

D'Jazz Nevers Festival took important decision for its 2020 edition that led them to meet and discover other audiences as well as to gain awareness on the inequalities of our society. They will reflect on this last point in future editions.

When the pandemic hit, the Istanbul Fringe Festival moved to online platforms with shows streamed on the festival's YouTube channel. To create more interaction, the festival programmed many side events: Workshops, online panels and artists speed datings to bring together international participants.

The Misteria Paschalia Festival is considered one of the most important early music festivals in Europe. Devastated by the fact of cancelling their 2020 edition, the team decided to put together an online festival at the same dates and create a kind of nostalgic edition presenting highlights from the history.