Festival Forecast 2025: An essential report on the state of UK independent festivals
Festivals have been falling at an alarming rate since the onset of the pandemic and Brexit.
Festival Forecast 2025 presents key numbers in the festival sector and the stories that they tell.
In 2025, the UK is home to 592 music festivals of which:
360 are greenfield events (fields, fences, stages – the classic setup)
232 are single venue or multi-venue festivals across cities and towns
That’s a sharp drop from the 800–900 that existed at the sector’s peak in 2018/19.
But it’s not all doom.
Festival Forecast 2025 also offers real solutions and real reasons to stay hopeful.
Inside this report, you'll find:
A breakdown of festival numbers, sizes and ownership
Why small and micro festivals are the norm, despite major festivals dominating headlines
The continued rising market dominance of Live Nation and what it means for the rest of us.
Data showing that AIF member festivals are more resilient within the sector
What AIF is doing to support its members and the independent sector.
An urgent call for action including a proposed Music Festival Tax Relief
