The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has launched a campaign to celebrate the ‘First Festivals’ of UK artists, fans and festival-goers.
The campaign running from 15-21 May, aims to highlight “the independent festival sector as the essential breeding ground for musical talent, showcasing the diversity and cultural impact of festivals that operate outside of the major corporate structures,” says the organisation.
During the campaign festival promoters will be unearthing photos and footage that showcase the early stages of artists who have gone on to play bigger stages. Fans are also encouraged to share photos of their first festival experience.
The First Festival Week campaign follows the launch of here.live a new platform built by the AIF to showcase independent music festivals in the UK.
Megan Evans, Director at Deer Shed in North Yorkshire, remembers an early appearance from CMAT: “She was mid-bill at Deer Shed 2022, tangoing with her keyboardist in front of a field full of families and children who had no idea they were watching a future festival headliner. Fast forward two years and one Mercury-nominated album later, CMAT made her triumphant return to Baldersby Park as Sunday headliner, closing out the main stage with her first-ever UK festival headline slot. For a generation of young Deer Shed festivalgoers, CMAT’s journey from mid-bill act to festival headliner is one they can say they witnessed firsthand, and a testament to her ability to connect with every member of her audiences regardless of their age.“
John Rostron, AIF CEO, said: “So many artists dream of headlining festivals, but the route to becoming a festival headliner often comes from years of playing across outdoor stages, in and out of tents and through multi-venue festivals.
Those first festival performances are so special for artists and audiences alike, and it’s a joy for us all when someone we have been supporting makes their way up to a bigger stage. First Festival Week is a way for us to share and celebrate all those stories, as well as our own experiences of heading to festivals for the first time, and picking out or discovering which will be the first festivals we head to this year.”
To join in during First Festival Week 2026 you can tag @aif_uk on Instagram, use #firstfestivalweek2026 where relevant.
