The UK festival scene faces a challenging 2024, with 72 festivals either cancelled, postponed, or permanently ceasing operations—twice as many as the previous year. The stark figures come from the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), which also reported that 204 events have vanished from the British calendar since 2019. Almost half of these losses—96 events—occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economic Struggles and a “Devastating Period”
AIF CEO John Rostron described 2024 as a “devastating period” for the festival industry, citing sustained economic challenges from the pandemic, high inflation, and shifting consumer trends as key culprits.
Earlier this year, the AIF raised alarms about the precarious state of the sector. By March, 21 festivals—including Standon Calling, Neighbourhood Weekender, Doune The Rabbit Hole, and Tokyo World—had already pulled the plug on their plans. Long-standing events such as Nozstock The Hidden Valley also announced that 2024 would mark their final year.
By mid-year, the tally had climbed to 40, with cancellations affecting dance-centric events like El Dorado, Riverside, and NASS. More recently, Hampshire’s Cosmic Roots, Kent’s Alfresco, and others like Camp Bestival Shropshire and Highest Point have joined the growing list of casualties.
The Call for Government Intervention
The AIF has repeatedly called for targeted governmental support, including a reduction in VAT on ticket sales from 20% to 5%. Rostron emphasized the significant economic contribution of festivals to local communities and the UK Treasury, lamenting the lack of governmental action to preserve these cultural mainstays.
We have campaigned tirelessly for targeted, temporary government intervention which, evidence shows, would have saved most of the independent events that have fallen in 2024
While the UK Government recently introduced a voluntary levy on arena concert ticket sales to support grassroots music venues, the implementation details remain unclear. The AIF argues that such measures are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.
An Industry in Flux
The current state of the UK festival sector is a stark reminder of its vulnerability amidst broader economic uncertainties. As organizers, artists, and fans grapple with these changes, the hope remains that swift and effective interventions can prevent further losses in the years to come.
For now, the UK festival calendar faces an uphill battle, and many are left wondering how many events will be able to weather the storm and return in 2025.