EFFE.eu is launched today as the most comprehensive guide to festivals in Europe. In Europe the arts are just a festival away, and this new website brings information on 760 of Europe’s best festivals to audiences across the continent and beyond. These festivals, recipients of EFFE’s quality label, come from 31 countries and range from the big and famous to the quirky. The website is live now at www.effe.eu, giving audiences far and wide access to these amazing cultural events.

This new guide to Europe's diverse arts and cultural festivals is designed to extend their reach to audiences across the world. Those who have never been to a festival can learn about events, while seasoned art-lovers can discover new experiences to combine with planned journeys - or performances worth making a special trip for. No longer restricted to summer, festivals occur year-round across the continent creating, promoting and fostering the enjoyment of the arts. The autumn festival season is just kicking off and www.effe.eu is the place to help you plan your cultural getaways.

Europe is not only about politics, it’s also about culture. Festivals are key drivers of innovation and provide a unique way to foster the cultural content for which Europe is famous.

Featured festivals are recipients of EFFE’s festival label. Almost 900 festivals from 31 countries applied for the EFFE Label. From these festivals, a large percentage programme music, dance, and theater, while others come from such genres as film, literature, photography and opera. EFFE’s almost 100 experts at the national level and its International Jury composed of eight distinguished festival directors evaluated festivals and made the final selection of those receiving this quality mark.

EFFE International Jury President Vincent Baudriller, Director of Lausanne's Theatre Vidy and former director of the Festival d’ Avignon, said: “From world-renowned dates in the cultural calendar, to eclectic events known only to switched-on insiders, we are happy that an extremely wide variety of festivals are included.”

The newly formed EFFE community will serve festival professionals with personal profile pages, news, events, discussion forums, as well as a platform to collaborate and exchange ideas.

“Bringing together such a diverse range of events under one single umbrella -- EFFE - Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe -- isn't easy. But it's also a deeply worthwhile exercise which can boost growth, push innovation and bring new experiences to citizens at a time when Europe desperately needs this,” said Darko Brlek, President of the European Festivals Association (EFA), the initiator of the project.

The EFFE Guide is also featured as a printed guidebook celebrating the Label and Award recipients, as well as inspiring articles on festival life. Get your copy now at www.effe.eu/effe-guide.