‘There’s a need to ensure thousands of festival-goers can enjoy themselves:’ how festival policing is changing in 2026

Festivals aren’t excluded from outside world risks. What are the solutions? NPCC events policing lead Tony Rowlinson speaks on safe policing and _______.

The post ‘There’s a need to ensure thousands of fes…

Milton Keynes festival Reggae Land officially partners with Jamaica Tourist Board

The partnership marks the first time the JTB has partnered with a UK music festival of this scale.

The post Milton Keynes festival Reggae Land officially partners with Jamaica Tourist Board appeared first on Festiva…

Latitude secures Henham Park home for next 20 years

David Byrne, Lewis Capaldi and Teddy Swims headlined Latitude’s 2026 edition.
The post Latitude secures Henham Park home for next 20 years appeared first on Festival Insights.

Live venues, clubs and pubs to receive 20% tax cut

“I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs,” PM Andy Burnham said on the announcement.

The post Live venues, clubs and pubs to receive 20% t…

Brighton’s festival for new music Mutations names first headline acts

Fat Dog and Mike D of the Beastie Boys headline a line-up of more than 90 emerging acts and new performers on 23-24 October.

The post Brighton’s festival for new music Mutations names first headline acts appeared f…

UK Government launches ‘Turn It Up’ initiative

The long-term music industry plan aims to help the music industry “grow, innovate and succeed” through a collective £45m package.
The post UK Government launches ‘Turn It Up’ initiative appeared first on Festival Insights.

‘Martyn’s Law isn’t about stopping events – it’s about making them safer’

Laura Gibb, executive director of Martyn’s Law at the Security Industry Authority, speaks on the new legislation and what festivals need to consider.

The post ‘Martyn’s Law isn’t about stopping events – it’s ab…

Heritage Live Festivals cancelled due to ‘far lower than average ticket sales’

Christina Aguilera, Eric Clapton and Lionel Richie were set to perform at the event series in August.

The post Heritage Live Festivals cancelled due to ‘far lower than average ticket sales’ appeared first on Festiva…

‘It’s just really good fun’: Download Festival on bringing daftness to Donington

Five, Vengaboys and bingo aren’t words associated with the rock and metal festival, but through talent buyer Dannika Webber Download are embracing the absurd.

The post ‘It’s just really good fun’: Download Festi…

Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues Festival announces Courtney Pine as headliner

The four-day market town festival will also welcome blues act The Cinelli Brothers, Errol Linton and Brit Funk Association.

The post Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues Festival announces Courtney Pine as headliner…

‘It’s about creating memories rather than simply selling food’: Smoke & Fire on celebrating food culture through festival BBQ

Ashley Peniston-Bird, founder and director of Smoke & Fire Festival, speaks on how a charity fundraiser became one of the UK’s biggest food weekenders.

The post ‘It’s about creating memories rather than simply sel…

Food experience brand Togather acquires Field Vision Bars

Togather says that the two businesses will “bring more than 60 event experts together on a single combined F&B [food and beverage] offer.”

The post Food experience brand Togather acquires Field Vision Bars appeared…

Jacqui Harris named managing director of Superstruct Entertainment UK

The former AEG Presents VP and general manager brings over 20 years of live entertainment and festival experience to the company.

The post Jacqui Harris named managing director of Superstruct Entertainment UK…

Scotland’s Findhorn Bay Festival announces first shows for 2026

Rachel Sermanni, Alan Bissett presents When Billy Met Alisdair and more amongst first names for the arts and culture festival.

The post Scotland’s Findhorn Bay Festival announces first shows for 2026 appeared f…

‘We can do exactly what we want’: debut festival Let Loose on leaping into the unknown

Vicky Parsons, co-founder and director of Let Loose Festival, on doing the unthinkable – creating a new festival for 2026.

The post ‘We can do exactly what we want’: debut festival Let Loose on leaping into the un…

ADE announces more than 250 acts for 30th edition

The debut announcement is the first wave in a programme that will feature 3,000 artists across over 200 venues.
The post ADE announces more than 250 acts for 30th edition appeared first on Festival Insights.

String of festivals cancelled due to extreme heat and weather

Electronic music festival Defqon.1, Garorock in France and Belgium’s Paradise City were all impacted by extreme weather events.

The post String of festivals cancelled due to extreme heat and weather appeared first…

All Points East announces free In The Neighbourhood festival

The free festival brings sports activities, live music, theatre, food and drink together across four days.
The post All Points East announces free In The Neighbourhood festival appeared first on Festival Insights.

Unsound 2026 announces first acts and commissions for Warsaw and Kraków festivals

Polish experimental music and arts festival Unsound will take place across two cities for the first time in its history: Warsaw (2–6 October) and Kraków (8–11 October). The two festivals will share the theme of S…

Nottingham’s Splendour Festival ends after 18 years

George Akins, DHP Family MD, puts the decision down to rising costs and financial instability across the industry.
The post Nottingham’s Splendour Festival ends after 18 years appeared first on Festival Insights.

ALSO Festival announces line-up for Future Music

The initiative for emerging talent brings Mica Bernard, Samfire, Mama Oh No and more to Warwickshire on 10-12 July.
The post ALSO Festival announces line-up for Future Music appeared first on Festival Insights.

12 Degrees Festival to launch in 2027

The festival celebrates contemporary jazz, electronic, indie and ambient in the South West.
The post 12 Degrees Festival to launch in 2027 appeared first on Festival Insights.

‘This is not a one-off issue’: DTN’s EU weather expert Paul Knightley on how extreme heat is impacting festivals

The summers are getting hotter and climate change is altering our landscapes. How can, and should, the festival industry react?

The post ‘This is not a one-off issue’: DTN’s EU weather expert Paul Knightley on ho…

Amaria BB joins ODUMODUBLVCK, Heartless Crew, Sneakbo and more at Afropark Fest

The Milton Keynes festival is a one-day celebration of Afro-Caribbean music, food, art, culture and heritage.

The post Amaria BB joins ODUMODUBLVCK, Heartless Crew, Sneakbo and more at Afropark Fest appeared first…

‘People love to brag about the first time they saw a band. That only happens in small venues’: Music Venue Trust’s Toni Coe-Brooker on building the UK’s biggest festival

The MVT’s campaigns and comms manager tells us about the truly UK-wide Everywhere at Once festival and why grassroots venues need to be saved.

The post ‘People love to brag about the first time they saw a band. T…

ArcTanGent becomes ‘UK’s first’ safe listening festival

The initiative “places hearing health and audience wellbeing at the heart of the live music experience,” says the festival.
The post ArcTanGent becomes ‘UK’s first’ safe listening festival appeared first on Festival Insights.

NOWIE launches second survey for women working in events industry

The UK-wide research project that will examine the lived experiences of women working within the events industry.
The post NOWIE launches second survey for women working in events industry appeared first on Festival Insights.

‘This festival is about bringing different generations into one space’: DJ AG on making TikTok hype IRL

The people’s DJ tells us about his upcoming festival AG Fest, and why community is key to what he’s doing.

The post ‘This festival is about bringing different generations into one space’: DJ AG on making TikTok hyp…

Eden Sessions adds more names to its summer series

The newly announced join the likes of Snow Patrol, The Maccabees, CMAT and MIKA, with the sessions taking place from 16 June to 15 July.

The post Eden Sessions adds more names to its summer series appeared first on…

Superstruct expands wellbeing partnership with OpenUp at summer festivals

Superstruct says the partnership will give artists access to certified psychologists and lifestyle experts through OpenUp’s digital platform.

The post Superstruct expands wellbeing partnership with OpenUp at s…

Geese announced for End of the Road

The festival is set to take place 3-6 September in Dorset.
The post Geese announced for End of the Road appeared first on Festival Insights.

AIF calls for UK Government intervention amidst growing number of festival cancellations

The festival association has said that 20 UK festivals have been cancelled, postponed or taken a fallow year so far in 2026.

The post AIF calls for UK Government intervention amidst growing number of festival…

WOMAD Glasgow cancelled

The festival was set to take place 3-4 July at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park for its inaugural year.
The post WOMAD Glasgow cancelled appeared first on Festival Insights.

The UK Festival Awards returns for 2026

This year’s event, powered by Festival Insights, will take place on 1 December at Manchester’s DIECAST – and festivals can enter now.
The post The UK Festival Awards returns for 2026 appeared first on Festival Insights.

Bristol’s Simple Things announces first acts for 2026

This year’s multi-venue festival is guest curated by Squid, Shabaka and Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller.
The post Bristol’s Simple Things announces first acts for 2026 appeared first on Festival Insights.

‘People working in the industry think they don’t have a right to be unhappy because of the position they’re in’: Music Support on the importance of festival safe spaces

Co-founder Matt Thomas and trustee Claire Haffenden on the vital need for music industry mental health support.

The post ‘People working in the industry think they don’t have a right to be unhappy because of the…

St Osyth Summer Sounds unveils music offering for 2026

The free community festival takes place on 18-19 July at the St Osyth Priory, Clacton-on-Sea.
The post St Osyth Summer Sounds unveils music offering for 2026 appeared first on Festival Insights.

Shambala announces full line-up for 2026

More than 260 new additions have been unveiled for the Northamptonshire festival.
The post Shambala announces full line-up for 2026 appeared first on Festival Insights.

Latitude adds Everything Everything, The Adam Buxton Band and more for 2026

More than 30 acts have been added to the festival’s 2026 line-up.
The post Latitude adds Everything Everything, The Adam Buxton Band and more for 2026 appeared first on Festival Insights.

Fatboy Slim, D Double E, Lucy Spraggan and more announced for Everywhere At Once

The festival from the Music Venue Trust (MVT) and The National Lottery will host more than 2,000 artists across over 400 grassroots venues, it says.

The post Fatboy Slim, D Double E, Lucy Spraggan and more…

‘The festival market is splitting in two’: TagMix’s Steve Jenner on real-time content is transforming festival marketing

‘It’s clear that festivals are seeing the importance of beaming live shows into people’s homes, and that those buying the tickets aren’t their only audience.’

The post ‘The festival market is splitting in two’: T…

UK’s Competition and Markets Authority ‘alarmed’ by dominant music industry firms operating a ‘climate of fear’

The CMA has called for a “full market investigation” into the live music industry before the end of 2026 over concerns toward Live Nation and potentially other companies.

The post UK’s Competition and Markets A…

‘It’s the supply chain that really gets hit the hardest’: insurance broker Charlie Austen talks about protecting yourself against public festival furore

Charlie Austen, broker at the event insurance company Vento, shares the hows and whys a festival may be able to avoid a Ye-esque controversy.

The post ‘It’s the supply chain that really gets hit the hardest’: insur…

Refugee Festival Scotland 2026 announces programme

The annual festival ‘showcases the music, dance, food, art, film, language and ideas that enrich diverse communities.’
The post Refugee Festival Scotland 2026 announces programme appeared first on Festival Insights.

Oslo’s Øya Festival finalises line-up for 2026

Iceage, Arthur Verocai, Rochelle Jordan and more than 20 acts join this year’s festival.
The post Oslo’s Øya Festival finalises line-up for 2026 appeared first on Festival Insights.

‘Independent festivals cannot survive if fear dictates culture’: Shindig Festival on booking Bob Vylan and standing strong

Simon Clarke and Melissa Kidd from Shindig speak on sticking to your guns, even when the UK government gets involved.

The post ‘Independent festivals cannot survive if fear dictates culture’: Shindig Festival on…

Anti-tout law backpedaled in King‘s Speech

“There is no need for further consultation – the evidence and support for action are already overwhelming,” said one industry figure.
The post Anti-tout law backpedaled in King‘s Speech appeared first on Festival Insights.

Bristol’s St. Paul’s Carnival scaled back due to safety concerns and rising costs

Bristol’s St. Paul’s Carnival, which has been running since 1968, is set to be scaled back for 2026 due to what organisers say is due to public safety concerns and “an unacceptable level of operational and finan…

Shindig to go ahead as planned, says organisers

The festival, set to take place 21-24 May, is headlined by the punk act Bob Vylan.
The post Shindig to go ahead as planned, says organisers appeared first on Festival Insights.

Ticketmaster cuts around 350 global jobs

The cuts roughly represents about 8% of the ticketing giant’s workforce.
The post Ticketmaster cuts around 350 global jobs appeared first on Festival Insights.