The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has said that 20 UK festivals have been cancelled, postponed or taken a fallow year so far in 2026.
Some of those festivals include WOMAD Glasgow which cancelled its first edition earlier this month. Norfolk’s Red Rooster festival was set to take place 28–30 May before it was cancelled due to rising costs, while Hardwick Festival (Stockton-on-Tees), Gone Wild (Exeter) and Live at Leeds In the Park and In the City have all taken a break for 2026. Melton Mowbray’s Country On The Eye Festival has also been cancelled due to low ticket sales.
The AIF says that a total of 43 UK festivals were cancelled, postponed or shut entirely in 2025, while that number was 78 in 2024.
In response, the AIF has called on the UK Government to extend a scheme to temporarily reduce the rate of VAT for children’s tickets, meals and family attractions to 2027. This current scheme includes family and children’s festival tickets.
The AIF has also asked that an upcoming Government scheme, known as the Creative Industries Sector Plan and Music Growth Package and will see £30m invested in music over three years, should also include support for independent festivals. Furthermore, the AIF has asked for a pilot scheme to be introduced that could provide tax reliefs to support independent grassroots festivals.
John Rostron, AIF CEO, said: “It’s incredibly tough to see vibrant and creative music festivals fall. Mostly, we’re seeing very strong demand from audiences, and some record sellouts, but independent festival promoters are seeing their margins become ever thinner, desperately trying to make ends meet while at the same time trying to keep their events as affordable as possible for the general public.
We welcome The Great British Summer Saving initiative which will be helpful for family oriented festivals but we need earlier commitment to the reduction for 2027, and specific, sector-wide support to stem cancellations and boost the growth of new events.”
