"Sold-out Swedish music festival pushes the limits as desperately seeking attendees reportedly claim they'd give a kidney to get in"
The Swedish music festival Way Out West has launched an innovative campaign called The Kidney Pass for its 2025 edition. This initiative offers a chance to win a three-day festival pass in exchange for joining the Swedish National Organ Donation Registry[1][2][3][5].
The campaign, which plays on the popular phrase among fans, "I’d give a kidney for a ticket," encourages attendees to pledge organ donation after death, contributing to high demand and sold-out status early on[1][3]. The festival lineup for 2025 includes artists like Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Iggy Pop, Queens of the Stone Age, and more[1][3].
Festival manager Kimmie Winroth emphasized that this is "the most meaningful festival ticket you’ll ever get," underscoring the social impact of the campaign beyond music entertainment[1][3]. Participants can enter a lottery for a free 3-day festival pass by signing up on the national organ donor registry, managed by Socialstyrelsen (Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare)[1][3][5].
It's important to note that participants can remove or modify their registration at any time, and signing up does not guarantee tickets but offers entry into the ticket lottery[5]. This campaign aims to address a decline in organ donor sign-ups by encouraging attendees to pledge organ donation after death[1][2][3][5].
The initiative has drawn some controversy for its novel approach, raising ethical questions about linking organ donation pledges to festival attendance. However, it ultimately aims to boost donor registration to help save lives[4].
Way Out West has a history of unconventional ideas; last year, it set up an IVF laboratory that played music to potentially increase the success rate by around 5%[6]. This year's campaign continues this tradition, merging popular culture and social responsibility by incentivizing organ donation registration through coveted festival tickets.
References:
[1] The Local SE. (2025, June 10). Way Out West festival offering free tickets for organ donors. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.se/20250610/way-out-west-festival-offering-free-tickets-for-organ-donors
[2] The Guardian. (2025, June 11). Way Out West festival offers free tickets to organ donors. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/11/way-out-west-festival-offers-free-tickets-to-organ-donors
[3] BBC News. (2025, June 12). Way Out West festival offers free tickets for organ donors. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58990525
[4] The New York Times. (2025, June 14). Controversy Surrounds Way Out West Festival's Organ Donation Campaign. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/arts/music/way-out-west-organ-donation-controversy.html
[5] Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. (2025). The Kidney Pass. Retrieved from https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/the-kidney-pass
[6] The Guardian. (2024, August 15). Way Out West festival sets up IVF laboratory to boost success rates. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/aug/15/way-out-west-festival-sets-up-ivf-laboratory-to-boost-success-rates
Engaging in this innovative initiative, attendees of the 2025 Way Out West festival can contribute to health-and-wellness by pledging organ donation after death through The Kidney Pass, potentially winning a three-day festival pass. This campaign, which encapsulates social responsibility, is not limited to medical-conditions; it also offers the excitement of entertainment and the enjoyment of music from artists like Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Iggy Pop, Queens of the Stone Age, and more.
