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(VIP-NEWS) – In June 2024, the UK saw 50 festivals cancelled, postponed or closed altogether, a significant increase from the 40 reported in May, according to the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).
The latest event to be cancelled for 2024 is the Geronimo competition in Northwich, scheduled for August 23-26. The popular competition, often dubbed “Glastonbury for kids” by the Everyday Mirror, has been widely praised by the British media.
The AIF warns that without action, the UK could lose more than 100 festivals by 2024 due to rising costs and financial pressures. The total number of UK festivals that have disappeared since 2019 now stands at 182. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has seen 96 festivals lost in 2020 and 2021 alone.
John Rostron, chief executive of the AIF, described the cancellation of the Geronimos Competition as “a sad milestone for the UK festival sector”. He stressed that this is a challenging time for independent festivals, which urgently need the new government to step in. “Our research suggests that around 100 festivals will fold before the end of the year, and many more will be at risk by 2025 unless they receive the financial support they need,” Rostron said.
In response to these challenges, the International Festivals Association launched the ‘5% for Festivals’ campaign in February 2024, calling for a temporary reduction in VAT on festival tickets to help promoters. The campaign aims to raise awareness among festival-goers of the difficulties promoters have faced over the past five years and encourage them to contact their local MPs to support a reduction in VAT on tickets. The AIF believes that a temporary reduction in VAT on festival tickets from 20% to 5% will help festival promoters rebuild.
The campaign is currently on hold as the UK prepares for a general election in early July, but the AIF continues to push for temporary financial support to save the remaining festivals from closure.
A full list of past festivals can be found here: lost festivals
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