UK's Festival Crisis Deepens: Over 100 Music Festivals Set to Close in 2024
The UK festival industry faces a severe crisis, with over 100 music festivals projected to close in 2024. This rapid decline stems from multiple factors affecting the live music sector since the pandemic.
Festival crowd at outdoor venue
Key Factors Contributing to Festival Closures:
- 30% increase in operational costs
- Honoring pre-pandemic ticket prices while facing current inflation
- Brexit-related paperwork complications
- Rising artist touring costs
- Energy crisis impact
- Reduced ticket sales
Notable Festival Closures:
- NASS Festival (30,000 capacity)
- Leopollooza
- Long Division
- Nozstock The Hidden Valley
- Bluedot
- Barn On the Farm
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) proposes reducing VAT on festival tickets from 20% to 5% for three years to help the industry recover. This measure previously helped support the sector during COVID-19.
In 2023 alone, 36 music festivals canceled their events before opening dates, with many choosing to shut down completely rather than operate at a loss. Without immediate intervention, the UK risks losing a significant portion of its festival culture and live music heritage.
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