Christopher BarrettBrockwell Live’s planning application for its 2026 event series in Brockwell Park (Field Day, Cross The Tracks, City Splash, and Mighty Hoopla) has been unanimously approved at the Lambeth Council Planning Applications Committee meeting tonight, 24 February.
Wide Awake, which usually forms part of the Brockwell Live festival series will not take place this year.
The 2026 event series will comprise of four, 25,000-capacity, music festivals across two weekends in May, with Brockwell Live having been given permission to occupy 26% of the park for a maximum of 32 days to enable the build, break and delivery of the four events.
Last year’s Brockwell Live series met with controversy in the build up to the events, with local residents group Protect Brockwell Park launching a crowdfunding campaign to finance legal action to bring an end to festivals being staged in the Lambeth-based park. The campaigners legally challenged Lambeth Council, which had granted a certificate of lawful development enabling commercial events to be staged in Brockwell Park without the need for planning permission.
Brockwell Live has committed to a series of measures aimed at protecting the park environment including a ‘net-positive biodiversity impact’, with targeted investment in habitat creation for bird, bat and invertebrate species. Meanwhile, all festival stages are to be powered using HVO.
Reacting to the Planning Committee’s decision, Brockwell Live issued the following statement: “Our team would like to thank the residents and stakeholders who engaged with us throughout the planning process, sharing both feedback and support.
“We’re pleased with the outcome, which recognises the cultural and social value of the Brockwell Live series, alongside the significant economic contribution it makes to Lambeth and Greater London, particularly at a time when night-time and creative economies across the country face increasing pressure.
“Our commitment to delivering the events responsibly and with care for the park and its neighbours continues beyond this decision. We will remain in active dialogue with the community and will share further updates in the coming months on the new schemes underway to support and enhance the park’s biodiversity.
“With events already selling out, we look forward to welcoming audiences back to Brockwell Park this May for what promises to be our strongest edition yet.”