Independent ticketing platform Skiddle and the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) have selected 20 small and/or micro independent UK festivals, with capacities of 2,000 or fewer, to receive a fully funded AIF membership and a tailored promotional support package worth up to £5,000 to put towards their 2027 events.
The initiative marks the second time Skiddle and the AIF have partnered to support UK festivals, with last year’s scheme focused on a broader selection of festivals varying in size of capacity. A total of 22 festivals benefited from the same membership and promotional support, including Moovin Festival, GemFest, Love To Be Festival, and Caribbean Rocks.
Selected festivals for 2027 include Torquay’s Burn It Down Festival, which showcases metal, punk and hardcore; WILDHOOD Festival, an all-inclusive, family-friendly event; and Cardiff Psych and Noise Festival, an all-ages event celebrating psychedelic rock, noise rock and experimental music. The full list of selected festivals is included below.
Sturge Mazzocchi, Festival Director of LitFest said:
"I'm certain that this support, at such an important stage in LitFest's development, will help cement the foundations, its community and delivery of the festival for many years to come."
Small festivals make up a significant share of the events listed on Skiddle. In 2025, festivals with capacities of 2,000 or fewer accounted for 56% of all festivals listed on the platform, highlighting their importance within the festival community.
Speaking on behalf of Skiddle, Duncan King, Head of Partnerships, said:
“The UK is home to hundreds of exceptional boutique festival experiences, each offering something unique to a broad range of audiences, and we’re proud to work with so many of these events and their teams.
“Over recent years, the sector has suffered and we’ve lost many great festivals. Now, the tide is turning, and we’re seeing organisers hosting successful experiences and returning for future instalments.
“External pressures, including rising costs, continue to have an impact. By working with organisations like the AIF, we can help these festivals access education, networking opportunities and promotional backing, supporting their long-term future.”
John Rostron, CEO of Association of Independent Festivals, said:
“Micro and very small festivals are the foundation of the festival industry. It’s where creativity lives because the teams behind them are often doing everything with minimal resources. By Skiddle providing these 20 festivals with AIF membership, it means they won’t have to go it alone. They are joining a supportive community of organisers who share what works and what doesn’t.
We are incredibly grateful to Skiddle for supporting our grassroots festival sector for a second year and can’t wait to see what these festivals achieve for audiences in 2027.”
As part of Skiddle’s promotional support, selected festivals will receive a featured listing in Skiddle’s Festival Guide, reaching millions of monthly visitors, editorial support and paid campaigns delivered by the platform’s dedicated content and marketing team, and expert account management from Skiddle’s festival specialists.
Full list of selected festivals
BOIA
Burn It Down Festival
Buzzstock Music Festival
Cardiff Psych and Noise Festival
Country on the Coast
LitFest
Madchester Festival
Meltchester
Novacaine Festival
Open Arms Fest
Out & Wild Festival
Outer Town Festival
Outer Waves
SCOTTISH HOUSE & DISCO FESTIVAL
Supersonic Festival
The Festival of Vocal Arts
Vibrant open air
Westival
WILDHOOD Festival
Wood Fest