Liverpool's Africa Oyé festival has announced its cancellation for 2025, becoming the first UK festival to postpone or cancel for that year. The decision comes amid rising operational costs that have increased by 30% or more.

Paul Duhaney, the festival's artistic director, explained that proceeding would be irresponsible without major investment to cover the rising infrastructure and compliance costs. The festival hopes to return in 2026.

This cancellation adds to the growing list of 211 UK festivals that have ceased operations since 2019. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has been advocating for a reduction in VAT on festival tickets from 20% to 5% to help organizers survive, but the government has yet to respond.

AIF CEO John Rostron highlighted that 2024 saw record numbers of event cancellations despite strong ticket sales. Post-pandemic challenges, including Brexit impacts and increased costs, have reduced profit margins to near zero for many festival organizers.

The AIF, representing 145 UK music festivals ranging from 500 to 80,000 capacity events, warns that without government intervention, more cultural cornerstones will disappear. Their member festivals, including notable events like GreenBelt, Mighty Hoopla, and Notting Hill Carnival, collectively serve over 3.3 million attendees annually.

The crisis facing Africa Oyé and other festivals underscores the urgent need for support to preserve the UK's vibrant festival culture and protect the economic viability of these important cultural events.

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