This thesis investigates environmental sustainability practices and strategies within European music festivals from an organiser's perspective, structured around three interlinked research domains. Each domain corresponds to a primary objective:

Employing a multidisciplinary theoretical framework that combines insights from festival management, sustainable event management, greening decision-making, and environmental certification, the study utilises a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from surveys are analysed using statistical methods, including bivariate correlations, to facilitate robust cross-cultural comparisons between festivals in Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) and Southern European countries (Italy and Spain). These analyses are enriched with qualitative insights from thematic interviews with industry experts, deepening the understanding of the complex interactions at play. Significant findings reveal that specific festival dimensions are likely to significantly influence environmental strategies and behaviours.

Furthermore, the research not only updates existing theoretical frameworks, such as Mair and Jago’s model (2010), but also introduces new theoretical constructs to better conceptualise the greening process within the music festival industry. The conclusions provide actionable insights for stakeholders across the live music industry and suggest directions for future research to advance sustainability within the festival sector.