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 covering production, legal, finance, event management, sustainability, ticketing and more.
The Fund is designed to ease 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,” said a statement. “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 by the wayside. The Fallow Festival Fund was initially launched in February 2025 after a record 78 events announcing a postponement, cancellation or complete closure over the course of the prior year.
At the start of 2026, the AIF said pressure on the independent sector remains acute, and more festivals will be forced to take a fallow year. 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).
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 the AIF site 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.”
This initiative is central to the AIF’s core mission: to represent, support and help unique independent festivals to survive and thrive
John Rostron
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!”
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