Max SteventonMore than 20 supplier and production companies have pledged support for the Association of Independent Festival’s (AIF) Fallow Festival Fund this year.
The Fallow Festival Fund, which launched in 2025, supports independent festivals that are currently in a hiatus and planning to return next year.
The scheme offers support in a wide range of areas with AIF providing expertise, services and product support across legal, finance, event management, ticketing and more.
AIF CEO John Rostron said, “This initiative is central to the AIF’s core mission: to represent, support and help unique independent festivals to survive and thrive.”
Companies supporting the Fallow Festival Fund include We Group, LS Events, Gigantic, Skiddle, Attitude is Everything, Kaboodle, among several others.
The Fallow Festival Fund launched after what the AIF described as a devastating 2024 in which a record 78 events were postponed, cancelled or permanently closed. Since 2020, over 200 festivals have stopped operating. AIF said the support aims to ease operational and financial pressures for independent events which helps “build long-term resilience”.
Devon’s Electric Bay, an AIF member, recently announced it will take a fallow this year to return in 2027 for its anniversary edition. Electric Bay provides an example of a festival that will benefit from the funds and expertise of the initiative.
“We are deeply heartened by the generous support already pledged by industry suppliers and contributors,” added Rostron. “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.”
We Group COO Rob Dudley said, “Supporting independent culture throughout the festival industry is at the heart of what we do and what we stand for as a company. 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.”