Sensorial Design as a Mediating Practice in Leisure Events: Atmospheres of Engagement at the Boom Festival in Portugal

Abstract

Leisure spaces, particularly transformational festivals, function as civic arenas where political and social discourse unfold through shared atmospheres. Recognizing these as multi-sensorial constructs integrating perceptions of space, culture, and philosophies of life, this article examines the Boom Festival as a case study to analyze how its intersubjective atmosphere fosters shared emotional experiences, enabling a distinct style of political engagement. Adopting an ethnohistorical and sensorial ethnographic approach, based on participant observation from 2010 to 2024, this study illuminates how bodily experiences and discourses interact to shape the festival’s ideological and experiential landscape. Findings reveal that Boom’s curated environment acts as a performative space where spatial and sensory strategies articulate forms of alterity.