Independent festivals across the UK have committed to a new 2026 Safer Spaces Campaign led by the Association of Independent Festivals in partnership with Good Night Out.
AIF promoters behind the likes of Shambala, We Out Here, Deer Shed, End Of The Road, Y Not, Tramlines, Notting Hill Carnival and more have committed to creating safer, more inclusive environments for their audiences, performers and staff.
A messaging campaign will be seen by millions of festival-goers. AIF is providing a full toolkit of ready-to-use digital assets, editable signage, and expert-led training to help its members activate the campaign on the ground at their events.
The resources cover vital areas including recognising sexual harassment and violence, best practice event policy and response procedures, bystander intervention advice, and the work of prevention and consent education.
The training will be delivered by specialist facilitators from Good Night Out, the campaign for safer nightlife, who have been active since 2014.
As we head into the summer 2026 season, this initiative will reach a vast community of audiences, artists, and staff across the UK
Sophie Evans
Festivals taking part in the 2026 Safer Spaces campaign have committed to three key areas of work:
– Spreading the word: Using the provided campaign assets (socials, newsletters and on-site signage) to make sure that Safer Spaces messaging is visible across digital communications and the event.
– Empowering their team: Ensuring staff, volunteers and artist teams are briefed on a zero-tolerance policy to sexual harassment and violence.
– Gaining new knowledge: Endeavouring to send a relevant representative to an online training session with campaign partner Good Night Out Campaign and utilising resources provided and created during the session where relevant.
Sophie Evans, AIF campaigns & resources manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to launch this vital campaign, empowering AIF member festivals of all sizes to evolve and amplify their work in creating safe, welcoming and joyful spaces. As we head into the summer 2026 season, this initiative will reach a vast community of audiences, artists, and staff across the UK.
“Partnering with Good Night Out for this year's Safer Spaces activity brings crucial, evidence-based expertise to our membership. Their support ensures our collective training and communications are rigorously grounded in the latest research. Ultimately, this campaign highlights how central inclusivity and safety for all are to the ethos and spirit of independent festivals.”
Bryony Beynon, founder, Good Night Out Campaign, said: “We're really happy to be back collaborating with AIF for their Safer Spaces 2026 campaign – supporting messaging that builds consent culture from the mosh pit to the campsite. We all know that fests at their best can be spaces of real magic, encounter and freedom, but we need to recognise that harm and harassment can still far too often be a feature of the experience, especially for marginalised people.
“Through specialised training, like the session we're running for AIF members this summer, we'll also help independent festivals think creatively about workable systems to make sure people feel included, welcome and safe at their events.”
