UK festivals in danger as cancelled events reach 60

In 2024 alone, the UK has seen the postponement, cancellation or complete closure of 60 festivals.

The most recent, Cambridge’s Secret Garden Party, announced that this year would be its last and burned the main stage at the end of its July weekend.

This is said to have symbolised the challenges facing independent festivals.

Without intervention, it is expected that the UK will see more than 100 festivals cease to exist this year due to unpredictable and rising costs.

“The number of festivals forced to cancel, postpone or shut down entirely in 2024, largely because of unpredictable costs and a credit crunch within the sector, shows no signs of slowing,” said Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) chief executive, John Rostron.

“The urgent need for government intervention through a temporary reduction in VAT on ticket sales to 5% remains.

“We hope that the new Labour government will take swift action to save many successful festival businesses that are facing this existential threat.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought about the demise of 96 events, festivals have been on a downward spiral.

Last year saw 36 close their doors and the total number that have disappeared since 2019 is 192.

This led to the AIF launching the 5% For Festivals campaign that encouraged people to contact their MPs and lobby for a VAT reduction on tickets.