UK music festivals face collapse as costs surge and ticket sales slump

In 2026, over 20 music festivals in the UK, such as Womad Glasgow and the Where It All Began festival, have either been postponed or cancelled. The primary reasons for these cancellations include escalating costs for energy, labor, and artist fees, alongside reduced consumer spending. Womad Glasgow was called off due to insufficient ticket sales. Meanwhile, the Chai Wallahs collective decided to postpone Where It All Began after successfully raising £180,000 through crowdfunding, attributing the decision to disappointing ticket sales and a 10-15% rise in infrastructure expenses linked to the Iran conflict. Additionally, the Red Rooster festival has entered liquidation. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) reported 43 cancellations in 2025, 78 in 2024, and 36 in 2023, with AIF chief executive John Rostron highlighting a 60-70% increase in artist fees over the past five to six years.