‘We eat and drink risk’: higher costs force more UK festival closures

Glasgow’s planned Womad event was cancelled because of low ticket sales, marking the 20th festival casualty this year as small and independent operators face a tough summer of belt‑tightening consumers, soaring energy and labour costs and fierce competition from deep‑pocketed rivals.

“Independent festival organisers basically eat and drink risk,” says Jon Collins, noting they must commit large sums a year in advance and hope ticket sales cover those costs. Margins have become tight and organisers struggle to absorb rises in fees and other expenses.

Longstanding events such as the Secret Garden Party have shut, new projects including Where It All Began were postponed despite smashing a £180,000 crowdfunding target, and the Red Rooster festival went into liquidation citing higher costs and reduced sales. The Association of Independent Festivals says more than 250 festivals have closed since before the pandemic, and while this year’s number of cancellations is lower than recent years, many organisers are taking fallow years.

United Kingdom, Glasgow

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