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First UK Festival cancellation of 2025
January17
Liverpool’s Africa Oyé has announced a hiatus for 2025, marking the first UK festival cancellation
Liverpool’s Africa Oyé has announced a hiatus for 2025, marking the first UK festival cancellation of the year.
The decision comes after a record-breaking 78 festival closures in 2024, more than doubling the 36 cancellations recorded in 2023.
Africa Oyé, known as the UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture, will return in 2026.
Artistic Director Paul Duhaney attributed the hiatus to rising costs, which have surged by 30%, making the event financially unviable despite record attendance in 2024.
"With increased infrastructure and compliance costs, it is simply a case that without major investment to cover the costs of delivering a festival of this size safely, it would be irresponsible to go ahead with the event in 2025,” Duhaney explained.
The UK festival industry has faced mounting challenges, losing 211 events since 2019, including 96 to the pandemic. Many in the sector blame high operational costs, Brexit-related complications, and insufficient government support.
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has been campaigning since early 2024 for a temporary reduction in VAT on festival tickets from 20% to 5%, arguing the measure could save struggling events. However, no government action has been taken.
AIF CEO John Rostron warned of further losses without intervention: “Last year was one of the most turbulent times for the UK’s festival market with a record number of events disappearing from the calendar - despite strong sales. Festival promoters are used to working with fine margins, but they have been eroded to near zero since the pandemic with skyrocketing costs compounded by the impact of Brexit on some elements of the live music sector. This problem will not ease without direct Government support. Without intervention, the UK will keep losing these successful businesses and cultural cornerstones of communities all over the country.”
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