The Goulash Disco festival is a perfect example of how to turn crowdfunding into a continuous source of funding.
Goulash Disko is a global underground music festival on the island of Vis, founded by Yves Taquet, a Belgian who made Croatia his home more than a decade ago. Every year at the end of summer, thousands of fans from across Europe gather on the Adriatic coast to celebrate music from every corner of the world.
What makes Goulash Disko unique is how it is funded. Instead of relying on big sponsors, the festival turns to its audience. Each spring, fans pre-purchase tickets and rewards through a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule, and the campaigns typically reach their goal within an hour of launch.
The results speak for themselves. In 2021, the campaign raised €50,000 from 207 backers. For the festival’s 10th anniversary in 2023, it raised €95,755 from 333 backers, reaching 383% of its €25,000 goal and securing the festival’s budget months before the first note was played.
This is crowdfunding at its best: not a one-off fundraiser, but a continuous source of funding built on a loyal community. Year after year, the festival stays financially stable and independent, and its fans become true co-creators of the event.
Discover more on the Goulash Disko website and Facebook.