450,000 visitors attended the 25th Sziget Festival

Around 450,000 people attended the 25. Sziget Festival, which took place between 9-15 August, the organisers said.

This is a 10 percent fall from last year’s record of 496,000 participants, Tamas Kádár, CEO of organising Sziget KFT, told MTI. Still, revenues of “several hundred million forints” are forecast, he said.

The festival was sold out on Wednesday, August 9, with American singer Pink’s concert drawing the largest audience, and on Saturday, August 12, when American rappers Macklemore and Ryan Lewis headlined the event.

Non-music events such as the midnight circus performances were also “wildly popular”, Kádár said.

The festival ran without any serious disruptions, Kádár said. The new access control system, which is based on individual identification, resulted in fewer accidents and less criminal activity, he said.

The main organiser Károly Gerendai – who, together with musician Péter “Sziámi” Müller, launched the festival in 1993 – noted that he is stepping down from active organising.

American investor Providence Equity Partners has bought a 70 percent share in Sziget Kulturális Szervezőiroda.

“The investor is taking advantage of the staff’s professional experiences and this will secure the opportunity to expand…” Gerendai said.

Featured image: MTI

ce: ZsK

Source: MTI