Festival cancellations continue despite a year of strong ticket sales, favourable summer weather and continued audience demand.
LONDON, 12 November 2026 — The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has revealed that 45 UK festivals have announced cancellations, postponements or closures in 2026, surpassing the 43 recorded throughout the whole of 2025.
The latest figures follow a record 78 festivals falling in 2024 and highlight the ongoing financial pressures facing the sector, despite a year of strong ticket sales, record sellouts at some events, favourable summer weather and the launch of new festivals.
Among the latest cancellations are Dundee's Doof in the Park, which has cancelled its 2027 edition after two successful years, growing to a capacity of 17,000, and Devon's GoldCoast Oceanfest, which has announced its closure after 26 years.
While audience demand remains strong across much of the market, rising production costs, increasingly tight margins and significant cashflow pressures continue to threaten the viability of independent events. Even under relatively favourable conditions, the economics of running an independent festival remain incredibly challenging.
The continued loss of festivals reinforces AIF's call for the Government to introduce a Grassroots Music Festival Tax Relief to support the survival, recovery and growth of the sector.
AIF CEO John Rostron said:
"45 festivals have now fallen this year, surpassing the total for the whole of 2025. It's a deeply concerning milestone, particularly in a year of strong ticket sales and favourable summer weather.
"Despite these positives, the economics of running an independent festival remain incredibly challenging. Organisers are working harder than ever to deliver brilliant events, but rising costs and increasingly tight margins mean strong demand alone is no longer enough to guarantee survival.
"Independent festivals are vital to the UK's music ecosystem, supporting emerging artists, creatives and local economies. We cannot afford to keep losing them.”
AIF continues to urge the Government to recognise grassroots music festivals as an essential part of the UK's cultural infrastructure and provide the sector with targeted support to secure its future.
The full list of festivals recorded as cancelled, postponed or closed in 2026 can be viewed at aiforg.com/festival-cancellations.