International Festivals & Events Association

What International Festivals & Events Association does

The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) is a nonprofit membership trade association founded in 1955 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho (10400 Overland Rd. #356). It operates as the self-described "Premier Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide," serving executive directors, event managers, and practitioners across fairs, festivals, and community events in the US, Canada, and through eight regional affiliates spanning Africa, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East (MENASA), North America, and a Students affiliate. The organization employs between 11 and 50 people and has no parent company, external ownership, or venture backing.

IFEA's core offering is tiered group membership ($375-$2,505 annually, scaled by organizational budget from under $50,000 to over $3 million), with each membership covering one primary contact plus up to nine additional members and unlocking $3,000+ in stated member savings. Core products include the Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) program founded in 1983 with 250+ graduates and recertification; the quarterly 'ie' Magazine (rated the top member benefit); the annual Convention & Expo (71st edition scheduled October 5-7, 2026 in Tucson, AZ); and award programs including the Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards, Hall of Fame, Volunteer of the Year, and World Festival & Event City Award. Supporting products include an Event Resource Marketplace, Job Bank, IFEA PointsMap, affinity groups, webinars (including Sponsorship Mastery Masterclass), Foundation Legacy Scholarships, the Foundation Auction, and a jointly published Venue Safety & Security Magazine with Association Alliance partners (IAAPA, IAAM, OABA, IAFE). The platform is built on Saffire technology providing the website, membership database, event calendar, and online registration/purchasing.

Revenue is generated through membership dues (recurring subscription), convention & expo registration (transactional), certification fees, advertising and sponsorships in 'ie' magazine and at events, donations to the 501(c)(3) IFEA Foundation, plus ancillary sales of Pinnacle duplicate plaques ($40 each) and vintage festival posters from the Lesa Ukman Collection ($100-$5,500). Go-to-market is event-driven and community-driven: acquisition flows through the convention, regional affiliates, member referral discounts, and scholarship programs. Distribution combines direct online membership enrollment, affiliate channels, virtual affinity groups, and the in-person annual convention.

Name

International Festivals & Events Association

Legal name

International Festivals & Events Association

Website

https://ifea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFEA is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1955, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, serving festival and event professionals worldwide through tiered memberships, CFEE certification, awards, publications, and the annual Convention & Expo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meet & Invitational Organizers (MPAKADAC), Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Festival management certification
• Event industry education
• Membership networking services
• Industry awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual group membership fees based on organizational budget size, ranging from $375 to $2,505 per year, with tiered pricing for organizations from $50,000 to over $3 million in gross revenue. Includes one primary contact and nine additional members per organization.
2. Convention & Expo Registration: Revenue from annual convention registrations, including 2026 IFEA Convention & Expo in Tucson, AZ featuring the IFEA Foundation Night Party and Expo components
3. Webinar Programs: Live and on-demand webinar series providing ongoing education to members, including Sponsorship Mastery Masterclass webinars
4. Advertising & Sponsorship: Advertising opportunities in 'ie' magazine, on the website, and at events. Sponsorship opportunities for various programs and awards.
5. Foundation Fundraising: IFEA Foundation (501(c)3) raises funds through annual auction events, legacy scholarships, Fund for the Future campaign, and general donations to support educational programs.
6. Award Products: Sales of duplicate Pinnacle Award plaques ($40 each) and other award recognition products for winning organizations.
7. Vintage Poster Sales: Sale of vintage festival and event poster art from the Lesa Ukman Collection, with items appraised at values ranging from $100 to $5,500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

IFEA is a nonprofit membership-based professional trade association serving festival and event professionals worldwide. It sells tiered annual group memberships, the Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) professional certification program, the quarterly 'ie' Magazine, and an annual Convention & Expo, supplemented by industry awards (Pinnacle Awards, Hall of Fame, Volunteer of the Year, World Festival & Event City Award), educational webinars, Affinity Groups, and legacy scholarships administered through the IFEA Foundation.

Product overview

The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) operates as a membership-based professional association offering a comprehensive suite of services for the global festivals and events industry. The core offerings include annual group memberships tiered by organizational budget, professional certification through the CFEE (Certified Festival & Event Executive) program, quarterly 'ie' Magazine publication, and the annual Convention & Expo. Supporting services include industry awards (Pinnacle Awards, Hall of Fame, Volunteer of the Year, World Festival & Event City), educational webinars and Event Management School training, Affinity Groups for networking, Job Bank, Event Resource Marketplace, Legacy Scholarships, Foundation Auction, and Venue Safety & Security Magazine. Student memberships are available at a reduced rate. The association maintains global affiliates across Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, and student groups worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CFEE Certification: Certified Festival & Event Executive professional certification program founded in 1983 with over 250 graduates, providing industry professionals with credentials to enhance their professional stature and career success.
• IFEA Foundation
• "ie" Magazine
• IFEA Pinnacle Awards
• IFEA Convention & Expo

Products and services

• IFEA Membership Annual group memberships tiered by organizational budget ($375 to $2,505 per year) for festivals, events, fairs, and celebration organizations, including one primary contact and up to nine additional members per organization.
• CFEE Certification Certified Festival & Event Executive professional certification program with core curriculum, recertification, and FastTrack option for festival and event professionals seeking credentials to enhance professional stature.
• 'ie' Magazine

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3,000 in member savings per person
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kaliff InsurancecoreOthersKaliff Insurance is the proud sponsor of the Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) professional certification program, believing that certified professionals are the cornerstone of a safe and successful festival and events industry.
• SecurEvent SolutionscoreOthersSecurEvent Solutions sponsors the IFEA Volunteer of the Year Award, demonstrating commitment to recognizing volunteers and bolstering event missions through active support.
• SaffirecoreTechnology or IntegrationSaffire powers the IFEA website platform, providing ticketing, event management, membership database, and e-commerce functionality for the association.
• IFEA Academy of Event EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in developing and maintaining the CFEE certification curriculum and professional education standards for the festival and event industry.
• IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation Alliance partner collaborating on the Venue Safety & Security magazine publication addressing life safety at events and venues.
• IAAM (International Association of Assembly Managers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation Alliance partner collaborating on Venue Safety & Security magazine for venue life safety issues.
• OABA (Outdoor Amusement Business Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation Alliance partner for Venue Safety & Security magazine collaboration addressing safety at outdoor events.
• IAFE (International Association of Fairs and Expositions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation Alliance partner for joint Venue Safety & Security magazine addressing safety standards across fairs and expositions.
• IFEA AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate representing IFEA members and advancing festival and event professionalism across the African continent.
• IFEA AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate serving festival and event professionals throughout Asia, including Korea where Professor Gang Hoan Jeong serves as President.
• IFEA Australia & New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate representing Australia and New Zealand festival and event industry professionals.
• IFEA EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate serving festival and event professionals across the European continent.
• IFEA Latin AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate representing festival and event professionals throughout Latin America.
• IFEA Middle East (MENASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate serving the Middle East and North Africa/South Asia region.
• IFEA North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional affiliate representing IFEA members throughout the United States and Canada.
• IFEA StudentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent affiliate connecting emerging professionals with the festival and event industry through education and mentorship.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): Leading association for convention and business events professionals. Comparable in operating conventions, education, and certifications — but focused on business events rather than festivals.
• National Association of Counties (NACo): Large U.S. association serving county governments — many of whom organize community festivals. Indirectly comparable as an association providing programming and recognition relevant to municipal event organizers.

Emerging players

• Eventbrite: For-profit event ticketing and management platform serving festival and event organizers. An emerging digital-native alternative to traditional associations, providing community, marketing, and ticketing tools that compete for IFEA members' attention and wallet.

Direct peers

• International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA): Global association for the attractions industry, including festivals and live events. IAAPA co-publishes IFEA's Venue Safety & Security Magazine and serves an overlapping member audience of venue and event operators.
• Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA): Trade association for outdoor amusement and event professionals. OABA is an Association Alliance partner with IFEA, jointly publishing safety content for a directly overlapping festival/carnival audience.
• International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM): Association for venue and assembly management professionals. IAAM partners with IFEA on the Venue Safety & Security Magazine, addressing overlapping member concerns around venue safety, events, and live entertainment operations.
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI): Largest association for meeting and event professionals with global chapters and certification (CMP, CMM). Directly comparable to IFEA in mission, member services, and event-driven engagement model.
• International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE): Trade association for fair and exposition professionals, overlapping with IFEA's festival/event member base. IAFE is an Association Alliance partner with IFEA on the Venue Safety & Security Magazine, confirming direct category overlap.
• Event Industry Council: Trade body for the broader meetings, events, and exhibitions industry offering the CMP certification. Comparable to IFEA in serving event professionals with credentials, education, and industry standards.

Others

• Saffire (Tessitura Network / community platforms): Technology vendor powering IFEA's website, ticketing, and member portal. An enabling ecosystem partner rather than a competitor; comparable as a vendor whose platform infrastructure underpins similar associations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IFEAWorldHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/IFEAWorld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/846167
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifeaworld
• Xx.com/IFEAWorld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Festivals & Events Association