“Another One Bites the Dust”: AIF Calls for Urgent Support as UK Festivals Keep Failing

Oh dear – it’s happened again. Another independent festival has joined the ever-growing graveyard of cancelled events, and this time it’s Somerset’s brand-new Homestead, which won’t even get the chance to open its gates. It was supposed to welcome 2,000 music lovers for a fresh slice of the festival pie, but sadly, the dream has been parked before it ever got going. That makes 39 festivals cancelled so far in 2025. And guess what? We’re not even halfway through the year yet. Yep. Ouch.

According to the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), this latest cancellation is yet another worrying signal for a sector that’s struggling to stay afloat. Last year was what they’ve called a “devastating” one, with 78 UK festivals falling by the wayside in 2024 – more than double the 36 that disappeared in 2023. And let’s not forget the 96 that were lost to Covid. Since 2019, a whopping 249 UK festivals have vanished. That’s a whole lot of wellies and glitter left in storage.

It’s not that the ideas or the audiences aren’t there. AIF’s CEO John Rostron says Homestead had all the right ingredients – a beautiful setting, a solid team, and real ambition – but the financial risk was just too high. “Instead of welcoming 2,000 people to this new festival,” he said, “we have yet another cancellation to add to the list.”

So what’s going wrong?

Rising costs, squeezed budgets, and unpredictable weather aren’t helping, but the main issue is that small and independent festivals just don’t have the financial buffer to absorb the risks that come with running these magical events. That’s why AIF is now officially calling on the UK government to step in with a Music Festival Tax Relief – something similar to the existing tax breaks that theatre and orchestra productions already receive.

This proposed relief would support smaller festivals (those under 30,000 capacity) by offering tax breaks on their creative and music-related spending – the stuff that actually brings the joy, the culture, and the unforgettable moments we all love festivals for. It could be the helping hand that stops festivals folding before they’ve even started, and gives fallow favourites the chance to return.

The AIF submitted the proposal to the government this week, and they’re urging festivals across the country to get involved and speak up. Because right now, if things don’t change, we risk losing not just a few niche events, but the very heart of the UK’s live music scene.

So, fingers crossed for some policy magic – before all we’re left with is memories and muddy boots in the attic.