The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has revealed that 21 UK festivals have been cancelled, postponed or scrapped, with 100 more at permanent risk unless action is taken. The timing of this milestone suggests that the number of festival cancellations this year will surpass 2023 when 36 festivals cancelled before they were due to take place. The AIF warned that without intervention, the UK could lose over 100 festivals in 2024 due to rising costs and financial strain. The association launched a campaign, ‘The 5% For Festivals,’ which aimed for a VAT reduction on festival tickets that would save many event promoters from closure.
AIF CEO John Rostron stated that without the intervention of a VAT reduction to 5% on festival tickets over the next three years, the UK festival industry could see up to 100 festivals disappear every year. Last month, Herefordshire’s Nozstock Hidden Valley announced their final festival for 2024 due to soaring costs and financial risk. Consequently, the fan-favourite Shepton Mallet skating and music festival NASS announced they would no longer be putting on an event this summer as it was not economically feasible to continue. Meanwhile, rising costs also cancelled Dumfries’ Doonhame Festival for 2024. Bluedot announced a year off for the land to recover after being struck by heavy rain and cancellations last summer, while Nottingham’s Splendour has been cancelled for 2024 due to planning delays from a financially-struggling city council. In addition, Barn On The Farm has taken a fallow year due to financial constraints.
Speaking to NME about the cancellation and postponement of various music festivals, Oscar Matthews co-owner of Barn on the Farm, shared that festivals need more time to adapt to changes in the ways audiences attend gigs and the music they want to see. Matthews warned that the disappearance of smaller festivals, events, gig spaces and venues causes opportunities to disappear for new and emerging talent, which will inevitably have a knock-on effect further up the chain. The number one reason cited for last year’s festival cancellations was economic and financial pressures.
Rostron added that a number of festivals happened where everything seemed good on the surface, but they actually lost money, and some are in difficulty or might be in difficulty if there isn’t a good wind. Whilst these festivals aren’t physically vanishing, they might still need help, and their problems are worrying for the wider industry
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