AVA

What AVA does

AVA is an independent festival and conference platform operating in the electronic music and visual arts sector, founded in 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and formally registered as UP Productions Ltd (company number NI624668). The company produces a portfolio of interconnected events including the flagship AVA Belfast Festival at Titanic Slipways (12th edition in 2026), the AVA London Conference at venues including The British Library, Roundhouse, FOLD, HERE at Outernet, and EartH Hackney (9th edition in 2026, targeting 7,000+ attendees with 70+ speakers and 30+ sessions), the dual-city Creators Forum artist development programme, the IMMERSE 360° stage experience at All Together Now, the {PAIRED} dining and music series, the curated AVA Mix Series, and AVA Apparel merchandise. AVA serves three primary customer segments: electronic music enthusiasts attending live events, music industry professionals participating in conferencing and networking, and emerging artists/students accessing subsidized development programmes.

The business operates on a multi-revenue stream model: multi-tier ticketing (Early Bird Pro Pass from £151, General Pro Pass at £199, Student/Community tickets from £100 with payment plans from £30), corporate sponsorship from beverage brands (Red Bull as Major tier; White Claw, Asahi, and Jubel as Minor tier), merchandise sales via BigCartel, and strategic partnership fees (Ableton, PRS for Music, British Council, Arts Council England funding). Distribution relies on three ticketing partners—Resident Advisor, Festicket, and Dice—with on-site sales and direct website transactions. Marketing is multi-channel: organic social (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, X), YouTube and SoundCloud content, email newsletter, and earned media through Resident Advisor, Mixmag, and Time Out.

The core technology stack is festival production and event management rather than a proprietary software platform. AVA has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no public API, no mobile app, no patents, and no certifications. Its competitive differentiation rests on a community ecosystem (Creators Forum, diversity, inclusion, sustainability programmes), brand recognition in UK and European electronic music circuits (Mixmag, Guardian, Irish Times, The Independent endorsements), and the longevity of its independently-owned status—explicitly positioned as not part of a multinational festival group. AVA has hosted over 100 events since 2015 and maintains a streamed reach of over 25 million worldwide, with no disclosed funding rounds or external investors.

Name

AVA

Legal name

UP Productions Ltd

Website

https://avafestival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AVA is an independent festival and conference platform founded in 2015 in Belfast, operating the AVA Belfast Festival, AVA London Conference, Creators Forum artist development programme, and IMMERSE stage experience for electronic music enthusiasts, industry professionals, and emerging artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Festival & Conference Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM), Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ), Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE)

Keywords

• Electronic music festivals
• Music industry conferences
• Artist development programmes
• Festival event management
• Live music experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue through multi-tier ticketing for festival events and conferences. Includes Pro Passes, early bird pricing, student tickets, and deposit/instalment payment plans.
2. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors including Red Bull, White Claw, Asahi, and Jubel provide beverage sponsorship and brand partnerships for festival events.
3. Merchandise Sales: Apparel and branded merchandise sold through BigCartel online store and on-site during festivals.
4. Partnership Fees: Branded partnerships and collaborations with organizations including Ableton, PRS for Music, British Council, and others for conference programming and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AVA produces and operates an annual portfolio of electronic music festivals and industry conferences, including the AVA Belfast Festival at Titanic Slipways and the AVA London Conference. Its programming combines live multi-stage performances, masterclasses, AV installations, club showcases, and the Creators Forum artist development programme, supported by sponsorship, ticketing, and merchandise revenue streams.

Product overview

AVA is an Audio Visual Arts Festival & Conference platform offering a portfolio of interconnected events and programmes focused on electronic music, visual arts, and immersive technology. The core offerings include the annual AVA Belfast Festival - a two-day outdoor multi-stage event at Titanic Slipways featuring music, conference, and workshops; AVA London Conference - London's leading three-day electronic music industry conference with keynotes, AV shows, and networking; Creators Forum - artist development programme with studio access and mentoring in both Belfast and London; IMMERSE - signature 360° immersive stage experience at All Together Now; AVA Mix Series - curated music recordings; {PAIRED} - dining and music experience series; and AVA Apparel - merchandise. The platform also includes the AVA Forum for industry discussions. Since 2015, AVA has hosted over 100 events and festivals, streamed to over 25 million people worldwide, and nurtured hundreds of artists through its conferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creators Forum: Artist development programme for emerging DJs and electronic music producers.
• IMMERSE
• IBILE x AVA

Products and services

• AVA Belfast Festival Annual two-day outdoor multi-stage electronic music and visual arts festival held at Titanic Slipways in Belfast, featuring multiple performance stages, the Creators Forum artist development programme, and a conference at The MAC with talks and workshops.
• AVA London Conference Three-day electronic music industry conference in London featuring keynotes, masterclasses, headline AV shows, installations, and club events across multiple venues, attracting 7,000+ attendees with 70+ speakers and 30+ sessions.
• Creators Forum Ten-day artist development programme for emerging DJs and electronic music producers delivered in Belfast and London editions, providing studio access, one-to-one mentoring, workshops, skills sessions, industry guest feedback, and connection to the wider festival context.
• IMMERSE 360-degree immersive stage experience featuring cutting-edge visuals, sweeping views, and signature production, built by UP! Productions in collaboration with Visual Spectrum.
• AVA Mix Series Curated music mix series featuring exclusive recordings from festival artists and invited DJs, distributed via SoundCloud and YouTube.
• AVA Apparel Festival merchandise including heavyweight pullover and zip-up hoodies, scarves, tees, embroidered caps, and festival accessories, sold online via BigCartel and on-site during festivals.
• AVA Forum Invite-only and application-based industry sessions bringing together artists, managers, festivals, music venues, distributors, and digital streaming platforms for focused discussion on the future of the music industry.
• IBILE x AVA Restaurant Experience Pop-up West African restaurant experience celebrating flavours, music, art and culture, launched at AVA Belfast 2026 with limited brunch seatings during festival weekend.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ events hosted since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UP! ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Belfast-based production specialists and the entity that creates and delivers AVA Festival. UP! Productions provides technical expertise and innovation for ambitious live experiences. Founded by Conor McTernan, UP! Productions has been integral to AVA since its inception in 2015.
• Resident AdvisorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe global platform at the heart of electronic music culture, connecting communities through events, editorial and ticketing. Primary ticketing partner for AVA events, handling ticket sales and event discovery.
• Red BullmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld-leading brand championing music, creativity and culture through boundary-pushing artists, events and ideas. Provides sponsorship support for festival events.
• White ClawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium hard seltzer providing refreshing drinks and vibrant energy to festival moments.
• AsahiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJapan's iconic super-dry beer brand, delivering crisp refreshment and elevated moments across music, culture and nightlife.
• JubelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFruit-infused lager made for good times, delivering easy-drinking refreshment across the festival weekend.
• AbletonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe pioneering music technology company empowering artists and producers to create, perform and push sonic boundaries. Supports AVA London conference through workshops and installations using Ableton Push and Move.
• PRS for MusicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampioning songwriters, composers and publishers by ensuring creators are rewarded for their work. Presents sessions on music publishing at AVA conferences.
• British CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFostering creative connections and cultural exchange between artists and communities across the globe. Partnership supports international artist exchange and cultural programming.
• EarthPercentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic industry climate foundation supporting impactful environmental action through collective giving. Moby's EarthPercent charity partners with AVA for climate action sessions.
• War ChildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting children affected by conflict, using the power of music and community to create meaningful change.
• PPLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK music licensing organisation for over 150,000 performers and recording rightsholder members. Supports Creators Forum Belfast edition and conference programming.
• PRS FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the next generation of artists, creators and music industry talent across the UK. Supports AVA Belfast Talks & Workshops programme.
• ChariTea matemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic, Fairtrade drinks with a social purpose, supporting communities around the world with every bottle sold. Returns for third consecutive year as AVA's club forum partner.
• b:electronicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriving innovation and collaboration across electronic music through talent development, education and international exchange. Brings 'The Music Supply Chain' forum to AVA London.
• AFEM (Association for Electronic Music)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2013 with 297 member companies across over 40 countries. Presents industry sessions on promoter development, music licensing, and expert networking at AVA London.
• Roundhouse Creative StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Creators Forum London 2026, providing rehearsal and recording spaces, technical support and professional environment for cohort development.
• The British LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue for AVA London daytime conference. Partners with Ableton on British Library Sound Archive exploration projects.
• No Tags PodcastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVital voice in contemporary music culture, spotlighting stories, ideas and communities shaping what comes next. Presents live edition at AVA London.
• IBILEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPop-up Contemporary West African Restaurant celebrating flavours, music, art and culture. Partnership brings brunch experience to AVA Belfast 2026.
• AMPS StudiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional recording and production facility and accredited sound training space in Belfast. Host venue for Creators Forum Belfast 2026 programme.
• Lyle & ScottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIconic British fashion brand blending heritage style with contemporary culture and music.
• teamLabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned art collective from Japan operating at intersection of art, science, technology and nature. Presents immersive installation at AVA London 2026.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Movement (Detroit Electronic Music Festival): Long-running electronic music festival with integrated industry/educational programming. Comparable to AVA Belfast on outdoor, multi-stage electronic music delivery with conference elements.
• Junction 2: London-based electronic and techno festival. Directly competes with AVA for the London electronic music festival audience, sponsor inventory, and summer festival calendar slots.
• International Music Summit (IMS): Annual electronic music industry conference in Ibiza. Closest direct B2B peer to AVA London, focused on industry thought leadership, networking, and sponsor activation in the electronic music vertical.
• Sonar (Advanced Music Festival): Barcelona-based festival and congress combining electronic/advanced music with a technology and creative industries conference. Closest analogue to AVA's dual festival-plus-conference model, though at significantly larger scale.
• Time Warp: Long-running techno/electronic music event with editions across Europe and Latin America. Comparable on electronic music curation and multi-venue event production at a more international scale.
• Creamfields: UK's largest dedicated electronic music festival, operating multi-stage outdoor events. Direct competitor for electronic music audiences, headline talent, and UK sponsor budgets.
• Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE): The world's largest electronic music conference and club festival, pairing B2B industry programming with multi-venue nightlife events. Directly comparable to AVA London in conference format and electronic-music vertical.
• Dekmantel Festival: Amsterdam electronic music festival with strong curatorial identity, visual art and conference-style talks. Comparable to AVA on festival curation, multi-stage format, and indie positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Boiler Room: Global electronic music streaming platform and live event producer. AVA has partnered with Boiler Room (Belfast editions) and competes for the same electronic music culture audience, though Boiler Room is fundamentally a media/streaming business rather than a festival operator.

Emerging players

• All Points East: London multi-day music festival in Victoria Park. Competes with AVA London for the same London summer festival attendee and sponsor pools, though focused on broader (not exclusively electronic) music programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AVAFestival_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AVAFestival
• Facebookfacebook.com/avafestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ava-festival
• Instagraminstagram.com/avafestival
• TikToktiktok.com/@avafestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 AVA