UK independent festivals commit to 2026 Safer Spaces campaign
Independent festivals across the UK have committed to a new 2026 Safer Spaces campaign led by the Association of Independent Festivals in partnership with Good Night Out.
By opting to take part in the 2026 Safer Spaces Campaign, AIF promoters behind the likes of Shambala, We Out Here, Deer Shed, End Of The Road, Y Not, Tramlines, Notting Hill Carnival and more have committed to creating safer, more inclusive environments for their combined audiences, performers and staff, and a messaging campaign that will be seen by millions of festival-goers.
As part of the campaign, AIF is providing a full toolkit of ready-to-use digital assets, editable signage, and expert-led training to help its members activate the campaign on the ground at their events.
The resources cover vital areas including recognising sexual harassment and violence, best practice event policy and response procedures, bystander intervention advice, and the fundamental work of prevention and consent education.
The training will be delivered by specialist facilitators from Good Night Out, the campaign for safer nightlife, who have been active since 2014 building capacity, raising standards and the essential skills for violence prevention and response across the industry, by supporting event organisers and independent festivals of every size and shape through their global accreditation programme.
Festivals taking part in the 2026 Safer Spaces campaign have committed to three key areas of work:
Spreading the word: Using the provided audience-facing campaign assets (socials, newsletters, and on-site signage) to make sure that Safer Spaces messaging is visible across advance their digital comms and event.
Empowering their team: Ensuring staff, volunteers and artist teams are briefed on a zero-tolerance policy to sexual harassment and violence. There will be clear BOH information and processes for reporting.
Gaining new knowledge: Endeavouring to send a relevant representative to an online training session with campaign partner Good Night Out Campaign and utilising resources provided and created during the session where relevant.
Sophie Evans, AIF Campaigns & Resources Manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to launch this vital campaign, empowering AIF member festivals of all sizes to evolve and amplify their work in creating safe, welcoming, and joyful spaces. As we head into the summer 2026 season, this initiative will reach a vast community of audiences, artists, and staff across the UK.
“Partnering with Good Night Out for this year's Safer Spaces activity brings crucial, evidence-based expertise to our membership. Their support ensures our collective training and communications are rigorously grounded in the latest research. Ultimately, this campaign highlights how central inclusivity and safety for all are to the ethos and spirit of independent festivals.”
Bryony Beynon, Founder, Good Night Out Campaign, said: “We're really happy to be back collaborating with AIF for their Safer Spaces 2026 campaign - supporting messaging that builds consent culture from the mosh pit to the campsite. We all know that fests at their best can be spaces of real magic, encounter and freedom, but we need to recognise that harm and harassment can still far too often be a feature of the experience, especially for marginalised people. Through specialised training, like the session we're running for AIF members this summer, we'll also help independent festivals think creatively about workable systems to make sure people feel included, welcome and safe at their events.”
As 20th festival falls in 2026, AIF calls on Government to extend support
20 UK festivals have announced a cancellation, postponement or fallow year in 2026 to date, AIF calls on the Government to extend support.
WOMAD Glasgow is the 20th event to fall this year, with organisers citing low ticket sales as the reason behind the decision to cancel. Similar reasons were given by Melton Mowbray’s Country On The Eye Festival, which also decided to cancel its 2026 edition at the end of last month.
A total of 43 UK festivals were cancelled, postponed or shuttered entirely last year, following a record 78 fallen festivals in 2024.
The new milestone comes following a recent and welcome announcement from the UK Government that will see a temporary reduced rate of VAT for children's tickets, meals and family attractions. With AIF having confirmed that family and children’s festival tickets will be included in these cuts, this will not only benefit large sections of the festival-going public via reduced ticket prices, but will also help ease ongoing pressure on some of the festivals themselves, many of which are still struggling to manage the pressure of high costs and cashflowing successful events.
AIF calls on the Government to continue support for the sector with three specific asks;
The above VAT scheme is extended for the 2027 season now, so that festivals can offer the same lower rates to families and children from the moment tickets go on sale in 2026 for next year’s events.
The Government’s upcoming Creative Industries Sector Plan and Music Growth Package, which will see £30m invested in music over three years, includes specific support for independent festivals.
The Government should pilot a Grassroots Music Festival Tax Relief to support independent grassroots festivals to sustain and grow their offer.
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “It’s incredibly tough to see vibrant and creative music festivals fall. Mostly, we’re seeing very strong demand from audiences, and some record sellouts, but independent festival promoters are seeing their margins become ever thinner, desperately trying to make ends meet while at the same time trying to keep their events as affordable as possible for the general public. We welcome The Great British Summer Saving initiative which will be helpful for family oriented festivals but we need earlier commitment to the reduction for 2027, and specific, sector-wide support to stem cancellations and boost the growth of new events.”
From Grassroots to Grammys: AIF launches first festival week 2026
Ahead of the summer 2026 season and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is launching a collective campaign to celebrate the ‘First Festivals’ of the UK’s artists, fans and festival-goers.
The campaign will run from Friday May 15 - Thursday May 21, highlighting the independent festival sector as the essential breeding ground for musical talent, showcasing the diversity and cultural impact of festivals that operate outside of the major corporate structures.
Driven by more than 200 festivals of every size and genre across the country, the campaign will run across TV, radio, social media and online. By focusing on the ‘power of the collective’, the AIF aims to demonstrate the immense scale of this British sector.
Every global headliner started somewhere and, during First Festival Week, festival promoters across the UK will be delving into their archives and unearthing footage that showcases the early stages and formative performances of artists that have moved up through smaller stages to become concert and festival headliners as well as much loved radio and broadcast favourites.
Meanwhile, festival-goers will also be encouraged to share photos and memories of their first festival experiences.
The campaign will launch in tandem with the start of the summer festival season, supported by BBC Music coverage in the run-up to Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Leicestershire’s 110 Above Festival counts Olivia Dean and Lola Young among its line-up alumni. Both played the event multiple times early in their careers, starting in 2020. 110 Above Festival Founder, Michael Lain remembers: “2020 was the year of COVID but, by September, we were able to have people in groups of six, two metres apart for a restricted attendance Camping Sessions edition. Both Olivia Dean and Lola Young were among the performers that year, and then Olivia came back later in the evening to do a set from a furniture van that her management had converted into a stage. For both Olivia and Lola, you only had to hear their voices once to know that they were going to be stars. They both returned to the festival to perform on the proper stage in 2021, and Lola came back again to make it three years in a row.”
Megan Evans, Director at Deer Shed in North Yorkshire, remembers an early appearance from CMAT: “She was mid-bill at Deer Shed 2022, tangoing with her keyboardist in front of a field full of families and children who had no idea they were watching a future festival headliner. Fast forward two years and one Mercury-nominated album later, CMAT made her triumphant return to Baldersby Park as Sunday headliner, closing out the main stage with her first-ever UK festival headline slot. For a generation of young Deer Shed festivalgoers, CMAT's journey from mid-bill act to festival headliner is one they can say they witnessed firsthand, and a testament to her ability to connect with every member of her audiences regardless of their age."
Inverness-Shire’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival has seen early performances from Twin Atlantic, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Emeli Sandé, Lewis Capaldi and others. “What’s amazing is seeing artists that have developed through the ranks over the years come back to play our festival later on in their career when they are household names,” says Event Producer Dougie Brown. “Twin Atlantic first played in 2008 on our Seedling Stage for new acts. There was a little bit of a buzz about them, but it was very early days. The crowd was having such a good time that the band had to get them to sit down so they could continue safely. They returned a number of times over the years until finally headlining in 2013 – and that was their first UK headline festival slot. It’s a similar story with Callum Beattie, who we’ve had a number of times over the years and now he’s got his first major headline slot with us this year after also selling out Glasgow’s Hydro earlier this year. Emeli Sandé also played our Grassroots Tent as a relative unknown. She came back 10-12 years later to headline the festival and we reminisced about previous crowds that were a fraction of the size.”
Hereford’s Nozstock presents Into The Valley has hosted very early performances from Idles and Ben Howard among others. “Ben Howard’s performance was around 2005 - incredibly early in Nozstock’s life and his career,” says Creative Director Ella Nosworthy. “It actually came about because he was the friend of a girlfriend of one of our team. They asked if he could play a set and I initially said no! He did end up playing and was very good, but we had no idea how successful he would go on to be. It was similar with Idles, who we had in 2016 prior to their debut album. You could see they had an amazing stage presence and clearly knew what they were doing, but you never can predict just how big a band will become. You book every act because you love them in that moment.”
The inaugural First Festival Week comes following the launch of here.live, a new discovery platform built by the AIF showcasing over 200 independent music festivals in the UK, where music fans can find and follow their next favourite artist at their next favourite festival as well as plan their festival journey.
“So many artists dream of headlining festivals, but the route to becoming a festival headliner often comes from years of playing across outdoor stages, in and out of tents and through multi-venue festivals,” says AIF CEO John Rostron. “Those first festival performances are so special for artists and audiences alike, and it’s a joy for us all when someone we have been supporting makes their way up to a bigger stage. First Festival Week is a way for us to share and celebrate all those stories, as well as our own experiences of heading to festivals for the first time, and picking out or discovering which will be the first festivals we head to this year.”
To join in during First Festival Week 2026 please tag @aif_uk on Instagram, use #firstfestivalweek2026 where relevant and point your audience to firstfestival.info.
AIF launches Independent Festival Directory
A newly launched Independent Festival Directory will increase visibility for the sector, making it easier for festival fans to discover independent events.
The directory has been put together by The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) - the UK’s national not for profit festival trade association, representing the interests of 153 UK music festivals.
Festival fans can sign up to use the directory at aifdirectory.com. The resource will enable people to explore festivals, follow the ones they love and find new ones to try.
The directory launched as part of AIF’s 2026 Festival Congress. The annual B2B gathering for independent festival organisers in the UK returned to Bristol Beacon today, Thursday 5 February, to a sold out crowd of 400 delegates from the independent festival sector.
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “Listening to our member festivals, we’ve known there’s been a problem that the bigger budgets of the corporate events can crowd out the independents when it comes to festival discovery. Trying to battle that out with them has been a zero-sum game. So we’ve moved to a new playing field. We know festival fans are increasingly seeking independent spaces, so we wanted to build something where they could find and follow their favourite festivals, as well as discover some new ones, without the corporates crowding them out.
“It’ll also be an incredibly helpful tool for festivals. After early bird and line up announcements, promoters have to spend a lot of money during the ‘hard yards’ that follow as they try to sell the rest of their tickets - putting significant resource towards ads, social media campaigns and more during that time. This directory allows them to come together in one space where independent festival fans will also gather - meaning greater discoverability and cross-promotion. It’ll make a big difference for many events.”
20+ suppliers pledge support for relaunched Fallow Festival Fund
More than 20 suppliers have backed AIF’s Fallow Festival Fund for 2026, pledging support for independent festivals that are navigating a hiatus and planning a return in 2027.
Following its inaugural year in 2025, the Fallow Festival Fund offers a collective of expertise, services, and product support from across the AIF network of suppliers and friends, covering production, legal, finance, event management, sustainability, ticketing and more. All are tailored to reduce operational pressure and build long-term resilience for those festivals that have been forced to take a fallow year.
Independent festivals have been navigating some of the toughest conditions the sector has ever known. Rising supply-chain costs, tightening supplier terms, staffing pressures, and the long tail of the pandemic and Brexit have created a landscape where even well-established events are under real strain.
Since 2020, more than 200 festivals have fallen. The Fallow Festival Fund was initially launched in February 2025 after a devastating year for the UK’s festival sector in 2024, with a record 78 events announcing a postponement, cancellation or complete closure over the course of the year - more than double the amount (36) that did so the year before.
At the start of 2026, it is clear that the pressure on the independent sector remains acute, and more festivals will be forced to take a fallow year to weather harsh conditions. AIF member Electric Bay in Devon recently announced that it would not be taking place in 2026 and will take a year out to focus on delivering a standout return for its fifth anniversary in 2027.
Companies already signed up to support the Fund in 2026 include We Group & EventMasters, LS Events, Gigantic, Skiddle, Kaboodle by Weezevent, Eventree, Azorra, Lewis Silkin, A Greener Future, Attitude is Everything, TLT, Howden Music, Eventwise, Vintents, FestivalPro, Addi London, Discotech, Ticket Hype, Crescat, Amplead, Gigseekr and Silent Disco King (22). The list of supporting companies is continuously growing.
Promoters looking to apply for the fund as an independent festival taking a fallow year in 2026, and companies interested in supporting the fund, should visit aiforg.com/fallow-festival-fund or get in touch via info@aiforg.com
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “We are incredibly proud to be relaunching the Fallow Festival Fund for 2026. This initiative is central to the AIF’s core mission: to represent, support and help unique independent festivals to survive and thrive.
“We are deeply heartened by the generous support already pledged by industry suppliers and contributors. These pledges form a robust package for festivals entering a fallow year in 2026, providing the expertise, stability, and tools necessary to ensure a successful, long-term return for as many participants as possible.
“As an industry, we are at our best when we collaborate to protect the resilience, breadth, and vibrancy of the UK’s enviable festival culture. This fund stands as a testament to that collective spirit.”
Tushar Joshi, CEO at Festival Pro said: "Festivals coming back from a fallow year often face huge operational challenges, and we wanted to play a small part in making that process easier. This is our way of helping organisers get back on their feet with the right tools behind them, so that teams can focus on rebuilding great events and relaunching with confidence."
Rob Dudley, COO at We Group (We Are The Fair/We Are Ops/We Are Placemaking), said: “Supporting independent culture throughout the festival industry is at the heart of what we do and what we stand for as a company. Working with AIF to support independent festivals and enabling them to thrive is something we’re really proud to do. Both through our co-founder and CEO Nick Morgan’s work as Vice Chair of AIF and by getting behind important initiatives like the Fallow Festival Fund."
Jim McBride, Business Development at Gigantic Tickets, said: “Gigantic are proud to be supporting this year’s AIF Fallow Festival Fund. Our commitment to the independent sector is deep-rooted, and we understand the challenges independent festivals can face. By contributing to this collective effort, we hope to help safeguard these unique events for the future.”
Phil Hayes, Director at Citizen Ticket/Event Tree, said: "We are delighted to continue supporting the Fallow Festival Fund. There are so many reasons why it's important that festivals are able to take place, and we will do whatever we can to help make that happen. We look forward to seeing many independent festivals being relaunched in 2026, 2027 and beyond with some help from this important initiative. See you in a field somewhere this summer!”
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is the UK’s national not for profit festival trade association representing the interests of 170 UK music festivals. AIF Festivals collectively sell over 1.3 million tickets every year. AIF member festivals include some of the most successful and innovative festivals in the UK including the likes of Arctangent, Bloodstock, GreenBelt, Mighty Hoopla, Deershed, Valley Fest, End of The Road, Notting Hill Carnival, Pitchfork London, Field Maneuvers, Shambala, We Out Here and many more.
Nordic Wristbands UK to help fund AIF’s Music Festival Tax Relief campaign
Nordic Wristbands UK has partnered with The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and will contribute funds to the trade body’s ongoing campaign for a Music Festival Tax Relief.
Nordic Wristbands UK has committed 1p to the organisation’s campaign for every wristband ordered by an AIF member festival.
AIF urged the UK Government to implement a Music Festival Tax Relief in June last year, after a devastating period of fallen festivals over the 18 months prior. Such a tax relief would mitigate closures and help support the recovery and growth of the festival sector.
Mirrored on other Creative Tax Reliefs, such as the highly successful Theatre Tax Relief and Orchestra Tax Reliefs, the AIF proposal would support smaller festivals under 30,000 capacity with tax relief on eligible expenditure towards the creative and music elements that make up micro and small events.
Nordic Wristbands UK launched in 2026 to deliver sustainable event access wristbands. It is partnered with Finland's Nordic Wristbands, a global leader and pioneer supplying wristbands and RFID event access control products to leading international events and brands.
Nordic Wristbands UK will supply sustainable ROP wristbands for this year’s Festival Congress, the annual B2B gathering for independent festival organisers in the UK, which returns to Bristol Beacon on Thursday 5 February 2026.
Graham Brown, Nordic Wristbands UK, says: “We’re very proud to be launching Nordic Wristbands UK at AIF’s Festival Congress. I’ve been working in and around UK festivals for three decades and have seen first-hand the incredibly important, positive impact of independent festivals on our culture. It’s right that the UK Government recognises and supports the sector with the tax relief these smaller/mid sized festivals need, and deserve. We’re fully aligned with the AIF on this great Music Festival Tax Relief initiative, alongside the association's ethos to encourage environmentally friendly practices at UK festivals.”
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “The UK’s treasured music festival sector is still facing existential struggles. A targeted Music Festival Tax Relief is still the single most effective thing the Government can do to bring many of these businesses from the brink. We already have similar support for other creative businesses such as theatres and orchestras. Festivals’ contribution to the country both economically and culturally is vital. We’re hugely grateful to Nordic Wristbands UK for backing our campaign to drive this crucial change. The company has been a long term ally to the independent festival sector, and proceeds from this partnership will give our tax relief campaign a real boost. We look forward to welcoming them to this year’s Festival Congress in Bristol on February 5.”
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is the UK’s national not for profit festival trade association representing the interests of 170 UK music festivals. AIF Festivals collectively sell over 1.3 million tickets every year. AIF member festivals include some of the most successful and innovative festivals in the UK including the likes of Arctangent, Bloodstock, GreenBelt, Mighty Hoopla, Deershed, Valley Fest, End of The Road, Notting Hill Carnival, Pitchfork London, Field Maneuvers, Shambala, We Out Here and many more.
22 UK festivals awarded free AIF memberships and marketing support through Skiddle partnership
The UK’s independent festival scene has received a major boost as 22 grassroots festivals are announced as recipients of an industry-first support scheme from Skiddle and the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).
The initiative, created to champion and sustain the UK’s thriving independent events ecosystem, will provide winners with a free one-year membership to the AIF, granting access to a vast support network of expert peers and services, alongside a bespoke marketing support package from Skiddle.
The package includes:
- A featured listing in Skiddle’s Festival Guide, reaching millions of monthly visitors
- Editorial and content support to showcase their events and lineups
- Full website design and build, where necessary
- Paid media support to reach new audiences
- Dedicated account management from Skiddle’s festival experts
In addition, successful applicants will receive a free online event management course from Event Masters, plus a 30-minute brand consultation to help refine their festival’s positioning and audience strategy, and a free Songkick mailer to help boost promotion.
Some of the festivals selected to benefit from the joint scheme include Birmingham’s Caribbean Rocks, Chelmsford’s Street Eats ‘n’ Beats Festival, South London’s Priory Live, and Cheshire’s The Brit Fest.
Anthony Prophet, Commercial Director, The Brit Fest, said: “Initiatives like this are incredibly important. The partnership between Skiddle and AIF provides real, tangible support to independent festivals at a time when the sector needs it most. It gives voice, visibility, and opportunity to teams working hard behind the scenes, and we’d absolutely encourage others to get involved in future schemes.”
Since its formation in 2008, the AIF has been the collective voice of the UK’s independent festivals, leading vital initiatives such as Safer Spaces at Festivals and offering training, advocacy, and legal support to help events thrive. Including the 22 recipients of this bursary, AIF represents 171 festivals, with a total ticketed capacity of more than 1.35 million – now collectively larger than any of the major live music festival operators. Meanwhile, independent festivals outside of the AIF membership have an approximate combined capacity of 1.5 million, according to the association’s latest Festival Forecast, which was published in June.
John Rostron, CEO, AIF, said: “I’m incredibly grateful to Skiddle for recognising the value that AIF brings to independent festivals all year round, and opening up this new opportunity for so many to join our growing network.
“It’s a particularly important time for us as we create some new commercial opportunities for our members, and begin the hard work of trying to secure a music festival tax relief for grassroots festivals, all of which will be of enormous benefit to these 22 festivals we’re onboarding, thanks to Skiddle.”
Skiddle - one of the UK’s leading event discovery and ticketing platforms - has long championed independent promoters and festivals, helping audiences discover and support live music experiences of every size.
Duncan King, Head of Festivals & Partnerships, Skiddle said: “Driven by our long-standing commitment to the independent festival sector and a passion for supporting the incredible experiences the UK has to offer, we’ve teamed up with the AIF to help strengthen the industry for years to come.”
The bursary marks an important milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Skiddle and AIF, offering a lifeline of resources and visibility to festivals facing rising costs and competitive challenges. By helping emerging and established festivals alike, the partnership reinforces the shared
belief that independent music events are vital to the UK’s cultural and economic landscape, estimated to generate billions of pounds annually and support tens of thousands of jobs.
Festivals chosen to receive support:
Caribbean Rocks
Bexfest
Wentfest
Lazydays
Baltic Weekender
Valley Fest
Picnic and Pop
Priory Live
Street Eats 'n' Beats
Gemfest
The Brit Fest - Instagram, Facebook
Coalesce Festival - Instagram, Facebook
DAYS Festival - Instagram, Facebook
Stereofunk Festival - Instagram, Facebook
Summer Vibes - Instagram, Facebook
Betley Boogie - Facebook
Moovin Fest - Instagram, Facebook
Love to Be Festival - Instagram, Facebook
Latino Life in the Park - Instagram, Facebook
Maid of Stone Festival - Instagram, Facebook
FOMO Fest - Instagram, Facebook
GoatFest - Instagram, Facebook
AIP launches UK music promoter diversity database
The Association of Independent Promoters (AIP) has launched a diversity database that highlights the spectrum of live music promoters in the UK.
With more than 40 promoters having opted in at launch, the database is a live document that will continue to grow as it becomes a go-to resource for venues, agents, artists, journalists, conference organisers and gig-goers who want to strike a diverse balance in their businesses, programmes, coverage and experiences.
The resource has been developed by AIP in association with Women In CTRL, LOUDWOMEN, Black Lives In Music, MVT, AIF, AIE, LIVE, The FAC, Attitude Is Everything and Tonic Music.
UK Music and Come Play With Me have since joined the project to support the ongoing development of the database. AIP encourages other partners who wish to get on board and help the cause to get in touch at info@aiporg.com.
It includes promoters who are women/non-binary, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, d/Deaf and disabled and ethnically diverse.
The organisers will update the database every year and therefore encourage further sign-ups from promoters via the form here.
The music promoter diversity database comes following extensive research from AIP on the make-up of the independent sector in the UK, with findings released in the AIP Report 2024, published in May this year.
Regarding diversity, the report highlighted that 84% of survey respondents identified as men, 89% identified as white, and 83% said they were not living with a disability.
Anna Moulson co-chair said: “We’re pleased that so many promoters from underrepresented groups have signed up to the database for the launch, and hope it will encourage many more to do the same going forward. This is an important first step in creating a more diverse and inclusive live music industry.”
The Association of Independent Promoters (AIP) represents, empowers and provides a vital support network to independent promoters across the UK. The association is made up of more than 150 + members across the country, representing thousands of events every year. Through lobbying, education, member support and resource development, AIP gives a voice to grassroots promoters and aims to bring positive change within the wider music sector in the UK by nurturing a vibrant, healthy, representative and sustainable independent scene.
Association of Independent Festivals and British Arts Festivals Association announce alliance
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has forged an alliance with the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) that will see the two trade bodies work together across events, data analysis, representation, training, resources, and more.
AIF and BAFA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding based on shared objectives to the benefit of both memberships – with AIF serving the independent music festival sector and BAFA representing multi-arts cultural events.
Through the MOU, both AIF and BAFA have committed to:
1. Host twice-yearly online member meetings that bring festival members of both organisations together to learn, share, and connect.
2. Work together to deliver in-person events in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
3. Publish joint reports on the state of the festival sector.
4. Support each other in increasing representation at sector meetings and increasing information flow between industry and public sector bodies.
5. Establish shared data points for surveying and reporting to members on trends that will help improve decision-making and event sustainability.
6. Produce shared resources and deliver shared training for members.
7. Offer cross-party access to BAFA Conference and AIF Congress.
8. Work together to grow and support the music and arts festival sector in the UK.
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “AIF’s membership is based on collaboration and cooperation between those working in the independent festival market, and this alliance with the wider multi-arts festival sector is an extension of that philosophy. There is already some significant crossover between our memberships. By working more intentionally together, we will all benefit from a greater diversity of insight, experience, and expertise.”
BAFA Director Fiona Goh said: ”BAFA exists to provide insight, inspiration, and connection for the arts festivals community through the networking, training, advocacy, and support that we offer. Our members create extraordinary work across the UK, and partnership supercharges that work, transforming what’s possible. We’re looking forward to BAFA and AIF working together more strategically in the future to the benefit of the whole festival sector.”
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is the UK’s national not for profit festival trade association representing the interests of 145 UK music festivals. AIF Festivals collectively reach over 3.3 million people every year, and AIF represents over 60% of all festivals in the UK that are 5,000+ capacity. AIF member festivals include some of the most successful and innovative festivals in the UK, including the likes of GreenBelt, Mighty Hoopla, Deershed, Valley Fest, End of The Road, Notting Hill Carnival, Pitchfork London, Field Maneuvers, We Out Here, and many more.
Founded in 1969, the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) is the national development agency for arts festivals, providing insight, inspiration, and connection for the arts festivals community through networking, training, advocacy, and support. It represents some 60 members across a broad swathe of the festivals industry, from individual single art-form and multi-arts festivals to festival groupings, universities and associated organisations, including BBC Proms, Cheltenham Festivals, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Hay Festival, Three Choirs Festival and Harrogate International Festivals.
21 live music agencies to attend AIF, AIP and MVT Grassroots Networking Day
A total of 21 live music agencies will be present at the recently announced Grassroots Networking Day, alongside members of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), the Association of Independent Promoters (AIP) and Music Venue Trust (MVT), which are jointly organising the event.
On Tuesday 14 October, bookers and programmers from independent festivals and grassroots music venues, promoters and booking agents will gather at 229 London for a day dedicated to building new relationships and developing alliances to work more effectively together.
The event will offer a structured platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and enhancing professional networks, as well as providing valuable opportunities to interact directly with independent agents.
Agents attending this year’s event include 13 Artists, Alan Bearman Music, Attitude Artists, Diplomats Of Sound, Earth Agency, Free Trade Agency, Heliocentric Entertainment, ITB, K2, Laughing Dog Music, Midnight Mango, Mother Artists, Nearfield Artists, One Fiinix Live, Playpen, Pure, Roam, Runway, Trust, Wasserman, and WME.
The remaining places at the event are reserved exclusively for members of the Association of Independent Festivals, the Association of Independent Promoters and the Music Venues Alliance.
Launched with the backing of Arts Council England, The Grassroots Networking Day has also since gained additional support from Creative Wales and The City Of Belfast to help venues, promoters and festivals attend.
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “The enthusiasm that has been shown from live agencies to engage with the members of AIF, AIP and The Music Venue Alliance is really encouraging. We look forward to a productive day and working together to further nurture the live grassroots eco-system.”
The AIP Board said: “The fact that we have had so many agencies eager to join us at this event shows that there is a real understanding of and appetite for what we are trying to achieve. It’s great to have this level of buy-in to furthering the live experience and business at a grassroots level.”
Music Venue Trust COO Beverley Whitrick said: “We are excited that agents have responded to this opportunity for face to face meetings with grassroots bookers, programmers and promoters. Bringing everyone together under one roof will undoubtedly lead to some exciting new relationships and, most importantly, great gigs for audiences around the country.”
AIP to launch UK promoter diversity database
The Association of Independent Promoters (AIP) is calling for contributions to a growing diversity database that will define the spectrum of live music promoters in the UK today.
The database will be launched in September 2025 and will be a go-to resource for venues, agents, artists, journalists, conference organisers and gig-goers who want to strike the diversity balance in their businesses, programmes, coverage and experiences.
AIP is currently encouraging sign-ups to the database from UK-based live music promoters, including those who are women/non-binary, LGBTQI+, neurodiverse, d/Deaf and disabled and ethnically diverse, via this form (see URL).
The resource is being developed in association with Women In CTRL, LOUDWOMEN, Black Lives In Music, MVT, AIF, AIE, LIVE and Tonic Music.
Anna Moulson co-chair said: “The lack of diversity is an industry-wide problem and we feel we are in a position to make a direct and significant contribution towards tackling it. It is well-known that greater representation leads to better businesses and, ultimately, better consumer experiences. With this new diversity database, a first-of-its-kind, we hope to raise awareness of UK promoters from underrepresented groups, backgrounds and communities. By doing this, we hope to contribute to a more inclusive, interesting and innovative live industry.”
New report shows independent promoters as vital champions of local talent - but under threat
The Association of Independent Promoters (AIP) has released its first comprehensive report highlighting the composition, vital contribution and challenges of independent live music promoters in the UK.
The report is the result of a comprehensive survey distributed to the association’s membership of 150 promoters. It is the first of its kind to spotlight the vital role of independent promoters in the UK music scene, celebrating their work in providing a platform for local, national and international artists, as well as shining a light on the many hurdles the grassroots community is facing and their hopes for a more stable industry.
In particular, the report reveals independent promoters to be a keystone in the support and elevation of local talent. All respondents programmed local artists to some degree in 2024, with 26.42% featuring local acts in at least a quarter of their shows, and 51% featuring local artists in at least 51% of shows.
The data shows that 36% of promoters run over 100 gigs annually, including 19% who programme more than 200 gigs a year. This high output comes despite 34% of promoters reporting a decline in income over the past year.
Despite their crucial role in the live music ecosystem, 69% of promoters receive no external funding, with the vast majority taking on significant financial risk. 55% supplement their income with other work.
57% of those that answered the AIP survey noted that their mental health has been significantly or severely affected by their work.
Among the challenges faced by independent promoters is the UK's cultural VAT rate of 20%, which is substantially higher than European counterparts (Belgium 6%, France 5.5%, Italy 10%, Germany 7%).
The report also highlights a diversity challenge, with 84% of respondents identifying as men and only 14% as women. Additionally, 89% of promoters identify as white, indicating significant room for growth in representation.
In response to this particular threat, the AIP is to launch a UK promoter diversity database in September, and is currently encouraging sign-ups from UK-based live music promoters, including those who are women/non-binary, LGBTQI+, neurodiverse, d/Deaf and disabled and ethnically diverse..
The report underscores promoters' dedication despite difficult circumstances: 64% report having no access to formal training, yet 36% have offered to mentor others in the industry. Over half of respondents are working 5+ days per week on promotion, with 55% needing to supplement their income with other work.
AIP Co-Chairs Anna Moulson and Luke Hinton said: “This report is a really clear snapshot of the UK’s independent music promotion sector at present, detailing the many challenges we are facing but also the important part we play in artist development and the music industry eco-system. We’d like to thank AIP’s members for their help in putting this report together, and the candid responses that make it so valuable. This is the first edition of what will become an important ongoing health check for the sector - one that we hope will highlight our needs and help us thrive in challenging circumstances.”
Music Support partners with MHFA England
Music Support, the charity that helps anyone who works in the UK music industry experiencing substance use, addiction and/or mental health challenges, has partnered with MHFA England to launch a series of training films tailored to a UK music industry audience.
The short films, which act as case studies during MHFA England’s Mental Health First Aid training, are based on existing training materials, reshot to place them in settings more akin to a music industry audience. They feature a cast who represent a variety of industry roles both on stage and behind the scenes.
The films deal with low mood and possible depression, supporting somebody through a panic attack and recognising signs of psychosis.
This is the first time that a music organisation has partnered with MHFA England in such a way.
Many of the conditions that feature within the training programme are commonplace in cases that come before Music Support. The charity’s Helpline has seen a 51% increase in calls in the last year alone, with alcohol challenges being the biggest issue closely followed by anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Research carried out by Deloitte in 2024 revealed that the cost to employers from poor mental health rose to £51 billion in 2023-2024 from £45 billion in 2019. Deloitte’s study also found that 27% of UK employees either left their job in 2023 or were planning to leave in 2024, with 59% saying this was because of poor mental health.
Investing in staff mental health can have a huge impact on businesses. Employers see a return of £4.70 on average for every £1 spent on staff wellbeing. Organisation-wide early interventions, such as culture change and raising awareness of mental health issues, provide the highest return for employers, at £6.30 for every £1 spent.
MHFAiders gain the knowledge and skills to spot the signs of a person experiencing poor mental health, the confidence to start a conversation, and the tools to signpost appropriate support.
The training is proven to make a lasting difference. 92% of learners say they have a better understanding of mental health following their course.
Music Support’s Senior Learning and Development Specialist, Norman Beecher, said: “We were very excited for the opportunity to work with MHFA England in repurposing the case study films to become even more relatable to our music industry learners. The MHFA course empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills to foster wellbeing and break stigma, as well as supporting those in need with empathy and understanding. We have trained more than 800 UK music industry individuals to date and look forward to going from strength to strength with this new suite of materials.”
Vicki Cockman, Director of Training and Consultancy from MHFA England, said: “At MHFA England, we want our training to create a forum in which individuals can talk more freely about mental health and seek support when they need it, which is why we were really pleased when Music Support approached us with the concept of creating bespoke case study films for their learners. They have skillfully retained the essence of the original films whilst making subtle cast, venue and dialogue decisions to provide greater resonance with a music industry audience. This innovative initiative is the first of its kind for MHFA England and Music Support and we are confident that it will help us to further achieve our shared mission of training one in 10 people in mental health knowledge, awareness and skills.”
Carlene Annon, Crew Logistics Manager at Britannia Row Productions, said of their team becoming Mental Health First Aiders with Music Support: “At Britannia Row Productions, a Clair Global brand, we pride ourselves on being a people-led company and encourage and promote MHFA training to prevent difficult situations as best we can. The more people in our work environment that are trained gives us all a better chance of supporting each other in a meaningful way, reducing stigma and promoting positive mental health, as well as reminding us to practice self-care. We’re grateful to Music Support for holding sessions that undoubtedly contribute to the betterment of the live music industry.”
In addition to delivering Mental Health First Aid, Music Support also works with individuals and companies to create bespoke training programmes on a wide range of topics including addiction and recovery awareness, self-care, work-life balance and neurodiversity. One such collaboration with global promoter Live Nation has seen the charity provide tailored mental health training to more than 100 of their line managers in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of supporting mental health in the workplace.
Jana Watkins, VP of Human Resources at Live Nation said “Music Support understands our business and the complex, unique challenges employees face in the live entertainment sector. Live Nation has partnered with the charity here in the UK for several years now, working with managers on how to support their teams when it comes to mental health. Employees are given the chance to input into the programme and specify areas where they need support, which has resulted in targeted content and output. It’s a game changer.”
If you would like to find out more about Music Support’s Mental Health First Aid training and bespoke courses please visit https://www.musicsupport.org/training/ or contact learning@musicsupport.org
Fallow Festival Fund launched at Festival Congress
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and Citizen Ticket have partnered to create the Fallow Festival Fund, a new package to support independent uk festivals forced to take a fallow year.
The fund was launched today at the 2025 Festival Congress - the AIF-organised annual B2B gathering for independent festival organisers in the UK, with Citizen Ticket this year’s headline sponsor.
It comes after a devastating year for the UK’s festival sector in 2024, with a record 78 events announcing a postponement, cancellation or complete closure over the course of the year - more than double the amount (36) that did so the year before.
Four festivals have already been cancelled in 2025, with three of those opting to take a fallow year in efforts to return in 2026.
Combining the fallen festivals of 2023, 2024 and 2025 with the 96 events lost to Covid, the total number of UK festivals to have disappeared since 2019 is now 214.
Whilst many festivals have gone for good, there are now over a dozen festivals that have been forced to take a fallow year, using the time to attempt to make the necessary changes in order to return.
The Fallow Festival Fund will offer festivals a support package in order to help them return. AIF will offer a free one-year membership to the organisation, so they can access the trade body’s services and resources and support from the network of 150 member festivals. AIF already offers this to any existing member who takes a fallow year, and is now extending it to independent events outside its membership.
Meanwhile, Citizen Ticket has pledged free use of their industry leading ticketing and bookings platform for festivals and events selling up to 2,000 tickets. Promoters running a larger event can sell their first 2,000 tickets free of charge. Citizen Ticket has also pledged free use of Eventree, the industry leader for accreditation and event management at UK festivals.
Financial donations to the Fallow Festival Fund will enable AIF to buy support from third parties to offer fallow festivals a number of other key services such as time on a legal helpline to review contracts, a financial health check which may bring about savings or improve cashflow, a production consultancy - to review current processes; site layout; improving energy use or to help refresh their production offer for a return, and a revenue review consultancy to improve or add income streams to their event. More services will be added to meet festivals' particular needs in response to demand, and as funds allow.
An industry-wide call has been made for further financial or service donations from festival suppliers and other organisations across the music business who are able to help.
Speaking to delegates at Festival Congress, upon announcing the Fallow Festival Fund, Phil Hayes, CPO at Citizen Ticket, said: “At TicketSellers, and now Citizen Ticket, we’ve been working in the independent festival space for 25 years. We’ve seen it all - foot and mouth disease, the pandemic, the cost of living crisis… Every time a crisis hits we’ve done our best to support small and independent festivals in any way we can. We’ve partnered with the AIF on Festival Congress 5 times and we wanted to take our partnership to the next level with this fund raiser. We are urging other suppliers who are able to offer something to please do so before more festivals are forced to cancel.”
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “Three out of the four festivals that have cancelled this year are taking a fallow year in the hope of returning in 2025. There will be more festivals out there who are close to making this call. Being there alone trying to make your event work is tough. I know how much festivals value being a part of the AIF community, particularly when times are hard. It’s good to have people around you who can listen, understand and offer support. Phil came to me with this suggestion, and it speaks volumes about him and his spirit that Citizen Ticket and other suppliers to the festival sector really want to help too. Every contribution - small or big - will make a difference and I hope that as the year goes on some of those events in a fallow year will be supported by this fund and have the tools, techniques, innovations and confidence to give them the lift they need to return in 2026.”
Those who can offer services or discounted services to festivals on fallow years should contact AIF at info@aiforg.com.
Festivals interested in taking advantage of the fund and package of support should register their interest HERE
For more information, visit www.aiforg.com/fallow-festival-fund
AIF reveals programme for Festival Congress 2025
After one of the most turbulent years for the independent festival sector - with some of the fastest sellouts for some shows but also a record number of cancellations - the first wave of sessions for the 2025 Festival Congress programme has now been revealed, including an extension of the event into a second day.
The annual B2B gathering for independent festival organisers in the UK returns to Bristol Beacon on February 5, with more than 150 industry professionals already registered on the list of delegates. Due to demand from festival operators, a new addition extends the opportunity for networking along with an open session for emerging young professional talent and students into the following day.
Organised by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), with Citizen Ticket as headline sponsor in 2025, Festival Congress includes lightning talks, interactive breakout workshops and provocative panels with handpicked experts, inspiring individuals and organisations from across the festival and event world.
Alongside Citizen Ticket, the 2025 edition is also sponsored by Azorra, Tysers, Tixel, PRS For Music and Togather.
The programme will cover a range of important topics that are facing independent promoters right now, unpicking current problems and future challenges, brokering new collaborations, and exclusively revealing some new solutions for independent festivals. Forward thinking sessions will cover the Value of Independence, Degrowth, Festival Discovery and reveal new schemes devised by AIF or partners that will empower and benefit independent festivals in 2025. A panel on Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill (aka Martyn’s Law) will help all operators get up to speed with practical actions they can undertake now. A real life case study with an independent festival promoter, Tysers Insurance and Azorra Legal will walk through a festival from this season, some incredible challenges they faced, and how the right (or wrong) support can make or break an event. The day programme will conclude with a panel from festival organisers bringing events back from fallow years; returning unexpectedly, and also revealing two brand new independent festivals - one for 2025 and one for 2026. Many other workshops and talks are announced today,
There will be three bespoke networking sessions for multi-venue festival organisers, Welsh festival organisers, and event production agencies (Event Production Network), with a view to helping peers from each of these groups tackle challenges, find collective solutions and forge new connections.
Those seeking specialist advice, or wanting to ensure they meet some organisations can attend one-on-one sessions which are available for delegates to pre-book with PRS for Music and the Azorra legal team using the form at festivalcongress.co.uk/schedule.
A post-conference after party will allow conversations to roll into the night. It returns to Lost Horizons with street food provided courtesy of sponsor Togather and late night entertainment, which will be announced in January.
On the following day, February 6, AIF and BIMM Bristol will host two new special sessions as Festival Congress expands its footprint in host city Bristol.
The Connection Sessions will provide an opportunity for festivals and suppliers to meet with each other and a handpicked cohort of 20 young emerging talents over a free networking brunch provided by AIF. Festivals and suppliers wanting to attend can register their interest at festivalcongress.co.uk/schedule.
Then, the Future Festival Sessions - lead by BIMM and BIG TEAM - will host a free to access panel of four independent festival organisers in conversation, lead by Cat Kevern (NOWIE). It’s a chance for the emerging talent of tomorrow to learn from current independent festival professionals. Students, young professionals and those wanting to break into festivals who wish to express an interest in attending this free panel can register at festivalcongress.co.uk/schedule.
John Rostron, CEO of AIF CEO, said: “This has been an incredibly tough year for the UK’s independent festival sector, but this event never fails to make me proud of our community. We have record cancellations this year - 78 so far - but we also have some incredible stories to celebrate. Through this hardship AIF membership has grown to record numbers, and the independent festival community is together to take this fight on. The Festival Congress is the biggest date in our calendar to meet, discuss challenges and exchange ideas, but it's also an opportunity to witness our strength in numbers and the sheer resilience, creativity and camaraderie that keeps us all going.”
AIF to launch skills programme for Welsh festivals and festival freelancers
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is to launch a dedicated skills and development programme for Welsh music festivals and associated freelancers, backed by funding from Creative Wales.
Spanning six months, The Welsh Music Festivals and Festival Freelancers Skills and Development Programme will be free to access for festivals operating in Wales and freelancers in Wales for whom some or all of their work is in the festival sector.
The course will be mostly delivered online, including two digital channels for 24/7 networking, learning and sharing between festivals and freelancers. Up to 40 of the participating festivals will also be given the chance to attend Festival Congress in person, with full access to the event and bespoke, in-person sessions tailored to the cohort.
Sessions for festivals will cover topics including volunteering; financial planning and budgeting; improving spend per head; adapting to extreme weather; festival accessibility best practice; EDI for teams; artists and audiences; waste separation regulations and more as determined by the cohort’s needs.
For festival freelancers, topics will include contracts (negotiation and templates); pay (including third party options, and setting standard rates in festivals); mental health and wellbeing support; increasing job opportunities and more.
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “This is a really exciting programme that will bring together a large cohort of festivals and a similarly large grouping of festival freelancers in Wales. The two groups will access a wide array of free training, resources and support, as well as coming together to help us create other bespoke support for their needs. I’m particularly excited to be piloting this kind of offer to festival freelancers, who may sometimes be supported by regular employers, agencies or trade unions, but often fall through the gap as they move between different companies or jump between different sectors to secure work. Freelancers are essential to the festival world, and so being able to provide new training to support them during their time in the sector will be enthralling.”
Suzi Green, Tour Manager and founder of The Back Lounge, who is supporting and advising on the programme said: “I'm thrilled to be part of AIF 's initiative to identify and support Welsh festival and event freelancers. Drawing from my own experience - working onsite, tour managing performers, attending festivals as a passionate fan, and advocating through The Back Lounge peer support group - I’m more than aware how isolating and challenging freelancing in this industry can be. Given our economic climate and many festivals facing uncertainty, I’m confident this initiative will provide insight into some of these issues and provide a legacy of support for the future.”
Festivals in Wales and Freelancers in Wales who do some or all of their work in festivals (or want to work in festivals) can register interest in this free skills programme.
Tickets for AIF Festival Congress 2025 on sale
Initial details for the 2025 Festival Congress have been revealed, with the annual B2B gathering for independent festival organisers in the UK returning to Bristol Beacon on February 5.
Organised by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), and with Citizen Ticket announced as headline sponsor in 2025, Festival Congress' format includes lightning talks, breakout workshops, keynotes, fireside chats and a host of experts and inspiring individuals and organisations from across the festival and event world.
Around 400 delegates will enjoy a full day’s conference and a full evening’s social networking event. Places are restricted to independent festival organisers and their teams, key supporting organisations and festival suppliers.
Some of the country’s leading festivals and suppliers have already bought tickets for the 2025 event during a pre-sale period for AIF members, with representatives from the likes of Beat-Herder, Black Deer Festival, Deer Shed Festival, Field Maneuvers, Fire In The Mountain Festival, From The Fields, Green Gathering, RADAR Festival and Truck Festival already set to attend.
Phil Hayes, chief product officer at Citizen Ticket, said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring Festival Congress for the fifth time this year. Some of you may be reading this and thinking, Citizen Ticket? They’ve never sponsored Congress before, and I’m looking forward to explaining why TicketSellers is now Citizen Ticket and talking about queues, dynamic pricing, and how to sell out a festival in 60 seconds. As the independent festival sector continues to face challenges, it’s more important than ever that we all work together through events like Festival Congress and the AIF. We especially look forward to meeting a larger than ever group of festivals following the absorption of the AFO.”
John Rostron CEO of AIF, said: “There’s a lot of energy going into planning Festival Congress as our association of independent music festivals is the largest and strongest it’s ever been. Promoters and operators are united by their enthusiasm for the great events they run, and the challenges they face together. We’ll have panels, speakers and sessions that support independents in being the best they can be, with some dedicated strands for operations, marketing and for those running multi-venue festivals too. Lots to come and lots to watch out for.”
Tickets, delegates and more information can be found at festivalcongress.com