Forecast Vol.07 - New Shoots and Stories of Hope
It’s finally spring, so we thought we’d share some positive news to add to that glorious feeling of sunshine on your face and the days getting longer.
This positive news edition feels particularly important because we’ve spent a lot of time recently talking about the current climate and how hard it is to run an independent festival. Rightly so, festivals are having a tough time. But festival organizing is more than a profession; it's a calling embraced by those who thrive on creativity and perseverance. As an industry, we’re a scrappy, creative, industrious bunch of grafters.
Despite obstacles, our community has been diligently planning through the winter months, nurturing new ideas and initiatives that are now emerging like fresh shoots. These developments are vital, as they offer hope and a glimpse into a more promising future for independent festivals.
So grab a bunch of daffodils and put the kettle on. We’ve pulled together some there are obviously plenty more) exciting trends, new and reimagined events coming up in 2025, plus a couple of innovative initiatives poised to reshape the festival landscape in 2026.
SPOTLIGHT ON: REDRESSING THE GENDER BALANCE
Among strong and valid criticism of male domination of the music industry and some festival line-ups, AIF members consistently push to address the gender balance, as we outlined in our 2023 ‘Festival Forecast Report’.
HebCelt
The Hebridean Celtic Festival, known as HebCelt, is an annual music event held in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Since its inception in 1996, HebCelt has grown from a modest gathering into an internationally acclaimed festival, celebrating Celtic and traditional music alongside the region's rich Gaelic heritage. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Lews Castle Grounds, the festival features a diverse lineup of local and global artists, fostering a unique blend of community spirit and cultural pride.
Why should you care?
Organisers have programmed at least a 50:50 gender balance every year since 2014. This year, 70% of the acts will be female-led or have female members. Scottish pop legend Lulu will headline in what she has announced as her final touring year.
HebCelt proves that a remote location can be overcome if your values and offering are strong enough. It’s also injected millions into the local economy and earned accolades for its cultural and environmental initiatives.
Buy your tickets HERE
SPOTLIGHT ON: TRANSFORMATION AND RESURGENCE
These festivals have legacies in other events or are coming back in a different iteration.
Homestead
Credit: Found Festival (Towersey Festival)
Homestead is an intimate, over-25s-only festival debuting in July at Fernhill Farm in Somerset. The festival will host 1,500 attendees and feature a diverse line up of live acts and DJs spanning genres like soul, jazz, house, and electronica. Beyond music, attendees can enjoy a variety of talks, comedy performances, and culinary delights.
Why should you care?
Credit: Homestead (Shindig Festival)
Will and Jess, who spent many years organising Shindig, want to challenge the status quo by offering an ‘all-inclusive’ ticket. This includes breakfast (think Bloody Marys, oh hello), camping, access to all entertainment, talks, and workshops, with no added payment for elements such as VIP areas, parking, or campervan passes.
Buy your tickets HERE
Nozstock: Into the Valley
Established in 1998 by the Nosworthy family, Nozstock: The Hidden Valley evolved from a small gathering into a celebrated event, maintaining an intimate atmosphere with a capacity of around 5,000. Due to rising costs and challenges, Nozstock celebrated its final edition in 2024.
However, the good news is that the spirit of Nozstock continues this year, with a smaller one-day event with camping. Nozstock: Into the Valley (July 19) aims to capture the essence of the original festival but condensed into a one-day party with a capacity capped at 1,500.
Why should you care?
Credit: Nozstock Festival
Nozstock is a great example of an independent festival rising from the ashes to innovate into something new. Fans can anticipate a blend of music, art, and the community spirit that Nozstock was renowned for, but the one-day aspect means affordable tickets. You can also bring the kids if you want to.
Buy your tickets HERE
Found Festival
Found Festival is the new offering from the legacy of the Towersey Festival, one of the UK's longest-running independent music festivals, celebrating folk and world music among others. However, like many other festivals, it closed its gates in 2024 after 60 years due to economic challenges. Found Festival is a reimagining of that legacy for a new generation with a line up from the world of Americana, Folk, Country, Blues, World, and Roots Music. The new 2,000-capacity event focuses on musical and cultural discovery, connection and inspiration.
Credit: Found Festival (Towersey Festival)
What should you care?
Found Festival is another example of independent festival organiser pivoting for a new future and creating a different type of legacy from their original offering. It’s got a music programme that’s about head-turners, not headliners, and supports grassroots music from artists that people have yet to discover.
Buy your tickets HERE
SPOTLIGHT ON: DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY
Grassroots Rising
Credit: Chai Wallah’s
Grassroots Rising is an ambitious new festival initiative spearheaded by Si Chai, founder of Chai Wallah’s, in response to the increasing pressures on independent festivals. Taking place from June 18-21, 2026, during Glastonbury’s fallow year, it aims to be a "festival of festivals," bringing together independent festivals, venues, and promoters with the focus on collaboration over competition.
Hosted at Secret Garden Party’s grounds it will operate under a community-benefit model, funded and shaped through a membership-based crowdfunding system, with participants actively involved in its creation.
The festival also hopes to address the growing disparity between grassroots artists and commercially supported acts, ensuring independent talent gets the platform it deserves.
“We’re not here to compete with the independent scene, we’re here to bring it together. In exchange for your collaboration and involvement in the creation of Grassroots Rising, you will get an invite to a restorative, energising, inspiring, and innovative cooperation; steeped in new experiences, musical discoveries, meaningful connection, and a return to the heady days of true festival culture, and not only that, it’ll be serious value for money, as it should be.” – Si Chai, Chai Wallah’s.
Why should you care?
Grassroots Rising is a radical reimagining of what independent festival culture could look like with collaboration at its heart. It promises not only affordable tickets but also an immersive and meaningful experience, reconnecting people with festival culture that is free from commercial constraints.
The festival is also committed to re-engaging young audiences, offering subsidised tickets and hands-on industry experience through student-led production teams. It aims to make a real impact — not just for one weekend, but for the future of independent music and culture.
Watch out for the Crowdfunder opening this summer and keep an eye on things HERE.
Show of Hands
Show of Hands Festival is set to launch over the May Bank Holiday in 2026, bringing together an eclectic mix of live jazz, electronica, hands-on workshops, craft, storytelling, and—because why not—hot air ballooning! The festival aims to revive the free-spirited days of festival revelry devoid of polished perfection. They’re rejecting over-curated, overly polished events in favour of something more organic and immersive.
And there's an exciting twist — this festival will be shaped by radical collaboration. Instead of top-down decision-making, Show of Hands will invite its entire community — attendees, artists, and crew — to help define the future of the event. Through an autumn vote, festival-goers will have a say in shaping the "festival lore," setting the direction of this unique experiment in co-creation. We’re here for it.
Why should you care?
If you've ever dreamed of helping build a festival from the ground up, now’s your chance. Show of Hands is committed to community participation. The organisers are starting with just one rule: “No proposal shall undermine the festival’s future, its community, or spread hate.” That means this is a festival where your presence shapes what the festival looks like in the future.
Support the Crowdfunder HERE.
SPOTLIGHT ON: ATTRACTING A YOUNGER AUDIENCE
Chippenham Folk Festival
Chippenham Folk Festival is a long-standing celebration of English folk – dedicated to keeping traditional music, dance, and storytelling alive. Recognising the challenge of engaging younger generations to folk, the festival is actively working to bridge the generational gap. This year, they’re launching Shooting Roots, a new youth event offering immersive workshops for 11-17-year-olds spanning across a range of English folk arts including craft, dance, theatre, song and storytelling.
Why should you care?
As folk audiences grow older, the survival of this rich cultural heritage depends on fresh engagement. This new initiative is a fresh attempt at ensuring their future by inspiring a new generation. If you care about folk music, tell your friends with teenagers.
Get your tickets HERE
SPOTLIGHT ON: FUNDING WIN
Westival:
A positive news story from Wales showcasing how funding can be a lifeline. The boutique Welsh festival is heading into its 7th edition. Last year they welcomed 2,500 festival goers for a weekend of music from across the spectrum with spirit of community and togetherness. Westival also prioritises up-and-coming artists with 80% of slots given to developing talent.
Credit: Westival
Why should you care?
Westival have just secured 3 years of Welsh government funding, solidifying a bright future for the event and the grassroots talent that rely on it. With this backing and an ever-growing reputation, the festival is proving that independent events can not only survive but thrive, even in a highly competitive market.
“Maintaining our existence in the face of Brexit, Covid and the rise in extreme weather events has been a massive challenge. The support from the Welsh Government has given us the opportunity to thrive and continue to support our community of artists and dancers.” Joe Worley, Westival Organiser.
Get your tickets HERE
SPOTLIGHT ON: SOLD OUT SHOWS
Labyrinth on the Thames
Labyrinth on the Thames is a new six-date music series taking place this summer at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. The event features world-renowned artists such as Black Coffee, Empire of the Sun, Solomun, FISHER, and Anjunadeep, performing against the backdrop of the River Thames and the London skyline. All shows are currently sold out, but fans can join the waitlist for any potential ticket releases.
Why should you care?
This event blends a boutique festival vibe with world-class electronic and live music acts—all set in an iconic London location. Unlike massive commercial festivals, this event offers an intimate yet high-energy experience with carefully curated lineups. Plus, the stunning riverside setting at the Old Royal Naval College makes it a unique departure from the usual warehouse or field-based festivals.
"Labyrinth on the Thames is an incredibly exciting project, and we’re proud to be working alongside the Labyrinth team to bring their vision to life in Old Royal Naval College, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Launching a new festival in today’s climate comes with its challenges, from rising supplier costs to unpredictable weather. But we know these events will provide attendees with a fresh and remarkable experience, as a result of Labyrinth’s creative vision and design, combined with The Fair’s production and operational expertise. We can’t wait for audiences to experience it. - Nick Morgan, CEO of The Fair (part of We Group)
Find out more HERE
Let’s also not forget the shows that continue to sell out. Bloodstock was first AIF member to sell out this year, and Kendal Calling — celebrating their 20th year — sold out in record time.
Credit: Bloodstock
“We’re delighted to have sold out of weekend tickets 10 months before our festival. Having been established 24 years, Bloodstock has an incredibly loyal fanbase. With so many independent festivals having already cancelled due to huge increases in infrastructure costs and artist fees, it’s crucial for customers to buy tickets early. Early purchases give events like ours the confidence to pay out unrecoverable costs such as infrastructure and artist deposits, and operational costs, thereby, reducing significant financial risk and ensuring longevity.” - Rachael Greenfield, Director Bloodstock
SPOTLIGHT ON: INNOVATION TRENDS
As festivals adapt to an ever-changing landscape, innovation is key to survival. Several new initiatives are helping to reshape the way festivals operate, making them more sustainable, accessible and community-driven.
One example is Tixel, an ethical resale platform that allows fans to buy and sell tickets safely at fair prices, helping to combat ticket scalping and ensuring that real fans can attend events without inflated costs.
Another growing trend is flexible payment plans, which festivals like Greenbelt and Shambala, and many more, have introduced to make attendance more affordable. By offering installment options, these festivals are making it easier for attendees to budget for their tickets over time, ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent fans from enjoying live music experiences, and importantly it ensures organisers know what their budgets look like in good time.
Credit: Nozstock Festival
Earlier this year, AIF launched the Fallow Festival Fund, supported by Citizen Ticket. This fund is designed to provide financial support for festivals that need to take a break due to financial or logistical challenges, ensuring they have the resources to return stronger rather than closing permanently. The initiative acknowledges that sometimes stepping back is necessary for long-term sustainability, and it offers festivals the breathing room needed to regroup, rebuild, and innovate for the future. If you’d like to know more about this important fund head HERE.
These innovations are proof that the independent festival scene is not only surviving but evolving in response to challenges, creating a more fair, sustainable, and accessible future for both organizers and attendees.
We hope that this non-exhaustive list has given you hope.
Despite the challenges facing independent festivals, the spirit of creativity, resilience, and community remains stronger than ever. Rising costs, shifting regulations, and economic pressures have led to over 200 festivals closing or postponing (217 at our last count to be exact), but we see daily innovation, reinvention and determination within the membership and beyond.
Whether it’s starting a new event, honing something on-going or bringing back something reimagined, adaptability is key. New models like all-inclusive ticketing, payment plans and community-led programming are reshaping the industry, while crowdfunding and government funding offer hope for sustainability.
At the heart of it all is the unbreakable independent festival spirit — the love of music, culture and shared experiences that bring people together. As long as passionate organisers, artists, and fans believe in the magic of festivals, the scene will continue to evolve and thrive.
Want to support independent festivals? Buy tickets early, spread the word, and invest in the events that mean something to you.
Every sold-out show and every new initiative proves that independent festivals aren’t just surviving, they’re growing. Just like the new shoots we’re seeing everywhere.
Credit: Westival