The number of canceled UK festivals will double to 72 by 2024

In 2024, 72 UK festivals were canceled or postponed, a doubling of the figures compared to 2023.

The figures come from a new report from the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), which found that, including the 96 events lost during the COVID pandemic, a total of 204 festivals have disappeared since 2019.

By March this year, 21 British festivals had already been cancelled, postponed or scrappedincluded Nozstock Hidden Valley who announced in December that 2024 would be their final incarnation after 26 years due to “rising costs” and financial risks.

Elsewhere, the city’s favorite Shepton Mallet ice skating and music festival takes place NASS announced that they would not be hosting an event this summer or because it was “simply not economically feasible to continue”. Bluedot announced a year off so that the country will “desperately” recover after its existence hit by heavy rain and cancellations last summer and in April PennFest canceled their 2024 festival due to a “challenging economic climate”.

AIF CEO John Rostron called 2024 a “devastating period” for festival organizers in Britain. “The festival sector generates significant income every year in and around local economies and also for the Treasury,” he added. “We have campaigned tirelessly for targeted, temporary government intervention which, the evidence shows, would have saved most of the independent events that occurred in 2024.

“It is sad to see that this erosion is allowed to continue under this government. We have great events, which are in high demand, and we do everything we can. They need to take action, and now.”

Other festivals affected by rising costs include Dumfries’ Doonhame Festival which was canceled this year, Nottingham’s Splendor which was canned due to planning delays by a financially struggling city council, and Barn On The Farm, which lasted a fallow year due to financial constraints.

Speak with NME about the cancellation and postponement of various music festivalsOscar Matthews – co-owner of the Barn On The Farm festival: “It’s inevitable and it’s already started, but when you start losing smaller festivals, events, gig spaces and venues, the opportunities for new and emerging talent disappear to get on stage and showcase their music,” he said. “They will suffer and that will inevitably have a domino effect further down the chain.”

In February, AIF began campaigning to temporarily reduce VAT on festival tickets from 20% to 5%, to provide financial support to festivals that are close to cancellation.

It follows recent findings that The music industry contributed a record £7.6 billion to the country’s economy in 2023while the basic sector continues to struggle.

Hoping to secure a future for live music, the government decided recently supported a levy on arena-level performances with Britain’s smaller venues, festivals, emerging artists and promoters set to receive a contribution from larger gigs.

The model, similar to the one seen in football’s Premiere League and already in use in several countries in Europe, was recommended by MPs following a DCMS investigation in the spring.

Although the idea has already been adopted by major artists such as Cold play, Shikari enters, Sam Fender and most recent Katy Perry, who have all supported a levy Their upcoming UK tours have yet to see the music industry take action, leading to Calls for a clear deadline for taking urgent action are increasing.