The Örvényesvölgy Festival (Vertigo Valley) has earned a major international award in Palm Springs, United States. The event from Zalacsány won the top prize from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA), celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, in the category of festivals with budgets between $50,000 and $500,000. The small village’s event is now officially recognized among the most prestigious festivals in the world.

The appearance of Zalacsány, a village of just 1,000 people, stood out among events from major cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Dublin, Sydney, and Rotterdam.

The IFEA is the world’s leading professional organization supporting the global community of festival and event organizers. Through its regional networks across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America, the organization works toward a shared vision. The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Grand Pinnacle Award is considered the “gold standard” and “Oscar” of the festival and event industry, rewarding innovation, professional excellence, and cultural contributions worldwide.

This year’s winners included the Vivid Sydney Festival (Australia), the Memphis in May International Festival and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses (USA), the Púca Festival (Ireland), and the Bangkok Art Biennale (Thailand).

“It is an incredible honor to see the Örvényesvölgy Festival ranked among the best in the world. This award represents not only the organizers’ achievement but also the success of the audience and local community”, said founders and main organizers Tamás Badacsonyi and Nikoletta Badacsonyi-Kovács.

“Following the awards ceremony, we were invited to speak at an international conference alongside organizers of Coachella and senior executives from the Walt Disney Company, to present how we built a successful, ticket-revenue-based festival without sponsors. The professional audience was eager to learn how this could happen on a field at the edge of a rural village, far from city infrastructure, and what magic captivated the international jury”, added Tamás Badacsonyi.

Since 2018, the Örvényesvölgy Festival has become one of Hungary’s most unique cultural events, held in the forests and hills of Zala. It brings soul, blues, and jazz stars—both Hungarian and international—into the heart of nature, while emphasizing sustainability, community building, and showcasing local values. In 2024, it hosted Matteo Bocelli’s first Hungarian concert, where the world-renowned singer performed with a symphonic orchestra. Although the 2025 edition was canceled due to illness, the festival will return in 2026 from June 26-28 with an impressive lineup of performers.

Tunde Baiyewu, lead singer of Lighthouse Family, is already confirmed, and further announcements are expected later this fall. “Two weeks ago we met with leading agencies in London to discuss the 2026 program, and soon we’ll hold talks in Los Angeles and Las Vegas as well. We’ve been invited to shows with artists who have never performed in Hungary before. We plan to announce more acts before Christmas!”, said Tamás Badacsonyi.

Source: Örvényesvölgy Festival