The UK has lost over 249 festivals since 2019, counting the Covid years. The industry counts get reported every summer; the names behind them rarely do. This is the record, kept straight: 201 festivals cancelled, paused or closed since 2023, every one with a source, and where one comes back, we move it back into the directory.
Why we keep this list
Every summer brings another round of headlines about festivals folding, and a week later the names are forgotten. We think they are worth writing down. Most of the ones we lose are the independents: small, strange, run by people who built them out of love rather than a portfolio. They are the first to go when the calendar consolidates into a handful of big operators, and the hardest to replace. We are not neutral about it. If there is a weird little festival near you, go. Buy the early-bird, tell a mate, take the punt on the lineup you have never heard of. That, more than anything on this page, is what keeps one off next year's list.
36
lost in 2023
AIF count
78
lost in 2024
AIF count
43
lost in 2025
AIF count
20
lost in 2026
by 10 June
Why they fell
Of the 61 festivals here that named a cause, by category:
Rising costs / finances33 · 54%
Insolvency / administration12 · 20%
Council / licensing / planning7 · 11%
Organiser ended / stepped back7 · 11%
Weather / site damage2 · 3%
Causes classified from each festival's stated reason; many cite more than one, counted under the most specific.
2026 — 32 festivals
Womad GlasgowGlasgow, Scotlandlow ticket sales cited as main cause of cancellationNot returnedsource →
Electric Bay FestivalTorquay, Devontight budgets and difficulty booking headline acts; fifth-anniversary event scrappedNot returnedsource →
Black Isle CallingBlack Isle, Highland (Scotland)cancelled with hopes of a 2027 returnSkipped a yearsource →
Lochaber LiveLochaber, Highland (Scotland)cancelled with hopes of a 2027 returnSkipped a yearsource →
Show of HandsBruton, Somersetinsufficient ticket sales and awareness; postponed to July 2027Skipped a yearsource →
Red Rooster FestivalEuston Estate, Suffolkreduced ticket sales, rising operational costs and ongoing financial pressuresNot returnedsource →
Hardwick FestivalHardwick Hall, County Durhamrising costs and poor ticket sales; pressing pause to assess viabilityNot returnedsource →
Street Eats 'n' BeatsChelmsford, Essexfallow year; low ticket sales and costs 'gone through the roof' (power, fencing, infrastructure, security, artist fees)Skipped a yearsource →
Country On The Eye FestivalMelton Mowbray, Leicestershirecancelled end of May 2026Not returnedsource →
Godiva FestivalCoventry, West Midlandscouncil fallow year to keep the event affordable for the local communitySkipped a yearsource →
Cotswold FestSouth Cerney, Gloucestershirepostponed to 2027Skipped a yearsource →
Gone Wild FestivalPowderham Castle, Devonorganisers 'taking a break'Not returnedsource →
Gone Wild Festival NorfolkHolkham Hall, Norfolkorganisers 'taking a break'Not returnedsource →
Live at Leeds in the ParkTemple Newsam, Leeds, West Yorkshireno 2026 event; ensuring 'best possible version' for the futureNot returnedsource →
Nocturne LiveBlenheim Palace, Oxfordshireending after ten yearsPermanently closedsource →
OceanfestCroyde Bay, Devonfallow year after 28 years; planned 2027 returnSkipped a yearsource →
One Out FestivalApps Court, Surreyno 2026 event; website defunctNot returnedsource →
REYT FESTlow ticket sales linked to cost crisisNot returnedsource →
Wide Awake FestivalLondonOrganisers say it is 'just taking a break for 2026' amid ongoing Brockwell Park legal challenges; future editions not ruled outon-hiatussource →
Heritage LiveEast of EnglandAll three 2026 estate events (Sandringham Royal Estate, Audley End, Englefield Estate) cancelled at the 11th hour by promoter GCE Live; investment package fell through and ticket sales were far lower than averagecancelledsource →
Wireless FestivalLondonHeadliner Kanye West blocked from entering the UK by the Home Office following antisemitism controversy; major sponsors Pepsi and Diageo withdrew; full refunds issued to ticket holderscancelledsource →
SolfestNorth WestOrganising company placed into liquidation after 20+ years of operation; severe weather at the 2024 event caused substantial financial losses, compounded by rising infrastructure, production and staffing costs and declining ticket salesdefunctsource →
Highest Point FestivalNorth WestNo event in 2025 or 2026; organisers confirmed rising costs make continuation unfeasible; last held at Williamson Park, Lancaster in 2024 with Busted and Tom Odell headliningon-hiatussource →
Above Below FestivalSouth EastBoutique Chiltern Hills electronic festival pausing indefinitely following 2025 fallow year; organisers stated 'whether there will be another edition remains to be seen'on-hiatussource →
UK Black PrideLondonStrategic pause for 2026 to plan a larger 2027 comeback; organisation stated 'this is how we ensure we come back stronger, bigger and even more impactful in 2027'; last edition drew over 25,000 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Parkon-hiatussource →
Paisley Alive FestivalScotlandCancelled before its first edition could take place; ticket sales did not reach the level needed to deliver the event; Rag'n'Bone Man and Emeli Sande were booked to headline at Barshaw Park, Paisley on 4 July 2026cancelledsource →
Cliff Top Music FestivalSouth WestAxed after three years by organiser Stir Events due to rising infrastructure costs, ongoing planning objections and lack of positive support from Highcliffe; organiser Mandy Polkey vowed never to hold another event in the areadefunctsource →
Linton FestivalWest MidlandsFinal edition held in June 2026 at The Alma Inn near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, closing after 25 years; rising costs prevented the festival from continuing its charity fundraising missiondefunctsource →
Boundary BrightonSouth EastPermanently closed after 10 years at Stanmer Park, Brighton; organisers announced 'the time has come for Boundary Brighton to close this chapter' citing extremely difficult economic climate for grassroots live musicdefunctsource →
Discovery Festival DundeeScotlandPostponed to confirmed July 2027 dates at Slessor Gardens; organisers cited escalating costs and impact of competing events including BBC Radio 2 in the Parkpausedsource →
Discovery Festival PlymouthSouth WestPostponed to 11-13 June 2027 after organisers stated they had explored all possible options; escalating costs and wider pressures on the event sector cited; 2026 tickets remain valid for 2027pausedsource →
Discovery Festival DarlingtonNorth EastPostponed to 2027 alongside sister events in Dundee and Plymouth; escalating costs and broader pressures on the event sector cited by organiserspausedsource →
2025 — 55 festivals
Black Deer In The CityLondoncancelled due to poor salesSkipped a yearsource →
Cheltenham Tribute FestivalCheltenham, Gloucestershirecancelled by promoters due to late submission of licence applicationNot returnedsource →
Holbeach Music & Beer FestivalHolbeach, Lincolnshirefinancial pressuresNot returnedsource →
In The CityLiverpool, Merseysidelack of ticket salesNot returnedsource →
Cambridge Folk FestivalCambridge, Cambridgeshirecancelled 2025 edition (running since 1965); says it will return in 2026Skipped a yearsource →
Africa OyéLiverpool, Merseysideno 2025 event; rising costs of 30% despite record attendance in 2024; promised return in 2026Skipped a yearsource →
Live From The Yardcancelled for second year running due to rising costs and ticket salesNot returnedsource →
BecksFestlicence application withdrawn after local community concernsNot returnedsource →
Down At The Abbey (2025)Reading, Berkshirepostponed 2025 edition; hopes to return in 2026Skipped a yearsource →
Homesteadnew festival announced cancellationPermanently closedsource →
Fieldviewcancelled 2025 event; does not look like it will returnPermanently closedsource →
Kubix FestivalSunderland, Tyne and Wearpromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Monument Festivalpromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Wannasee PenrithPenrith, Cumbriapromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Wannasee Southpromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Jukebox SunderlandSunderland, Tyne and Wearpromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Jukebox BingleyBingley, West Yorkshirepromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Stone Valley Midlandspromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Stone Valley NorthCounty Durhampromoter Wannasee went bustPermanently closedsource →
Stone Valley Southpostponed one week before event due to financial challengesNot returnedsource →
WestworldFestlosses from 2025 postponement plus increasing financial pressure; festival finishedPermanently closedsource →
Peterborough On The GreenPeterborough, Cambridgeshirenew festival cancelled 10 days before the event due to poor ticket salesPermanently closedsource →
Portals Festival"not financially viable in its current form"Permanently closedsource →
Little Lindino 2025 event after site challenges; hopes to return in 2026Skipped a yearsource →
Killin FestivalKillin, Perthshire (Scotland)postponed; small volunteer team lacked capacityNot returnedsource →
Tunes On The Sandspostponed until 2026 due to factors beyond organisers' controlSkipped a yearsource →
Beam Me Up Festivalteam careers/responsibilities; can't devote the time neededPermanently closedsource →
Booze & Blues Festivalcancelled for 2025; no reason givenNot returnedsource →
Roadhouse FestivalBodiam, East Sussexnew event cancelled before first edition; will not returnPermanently closedsource →
Noisily FestivalBarkestone Wood, Leicestershirecancelled without notice; no reason givenNot returnedsource →
Let's Rock ExeterExeter, Devon2025 edition cancelled, ticket holders refundedSkipped a yearsource →
Medicine FestivalWasing Estate, Berkshirefallow year to give the team a break; back in 2026Skipped a yearsource →
Yaxley FestivalYaxley, Cambridgeshirereduction in core organiser teamNot returnedsource →
Monmouth RisingMonmouth, Monmouthshire (Wales)debut cancelled; inability to use the showground prompted re-evaluationNot returnedsource →
Global Rhythm Festivalincreased financial pressures on the events industry (11,000 attended in 2024, its 14th year)Not returnedsource →
St Neots FestivalSt Neots, Cambridgeshirevolunteer team taking a year off to recoverSkipped a yearsource →
Barn On The FarmGloucestershirefallow year 2024 citing rising production costs, extended to a second gap year in 2025Not returnedsource →
LeopalloozaCornwallended after 2023 edition; rising costsPermanently closedsource →
Bluedot festivalJodrell Bank, Cheshireannounced a year off in 2024 so the Jodrell Bank site could recover from 2023 weather damageSkipped a yearsource →
Nozstock: The Hidden ValleyHerefordshireorganisers ended the festival after 26 years citing soaring costs and financial riskPermanently closedsource →
NASS FestivalShepton Mallet, Somerset"just not economically feasible to continue"Permanently closedsource →
Escape Into The ParkSwansea, WalesNot returnedsource →
Secret Garden PartyAbbots Ripton, Cambridgeshireended after 2024 edition; organisers said 'the boutique festival model has broken'Permanently closedsource →
Counts and the underlying names come from the Association of Independent Festivals' Five Percent For Festivals campaign plus press reports (Music Week, NME, Pollstar and others); our list includes some sourced non-AIF cancellations, so per-year totals can differ slightly from AIF's official figures. "Not returned" means a cancellation where no comeback has been confirmed; some of these festivals may yet return. Spot an error or a festival that's back on? Tell us and we'll fix it.