Max SteventonSkiddle has partnered with the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) to provide support for independent festival organisers in the UK.
The partnership will see the ticketing operations service supplier cover the cost of AIF memberships for more than 20 qualifying festivals. To be eligible, organisers must be preparing for at least their second edition and agree to allocate a portion of tickets for their 2026 events to be sold through Skiddle. Applications are open to festivals regardless of their current ticketing partner.
Successful applicants will receive a one-year AIF membership and additional marketing support from Skiddle, including placement in Skiddle’s Festival Guide, editorial coverage, paid media promotion and account management.
A joint panel of representatives from Skiddle and AIF will select the recipients. The list of successful applicants is scheduled for announcement in October.
“Driven by our long-standing commitment to the independent festival sector and a passion for supporting the incredible experiences the UK has to offer, we’ve teamed up with the AIF to help strengthen the industry for years to come,” said Skiddle head of festivals & partnerships Duncan King. “By combining our knowledge and resources, recipients of these funded memberships will gain invaluable insight and support from two teams with decades of shared expertise in ticketing, events, and festivals.”
AIF CEO John Rostron said, “The strength of independence comes from a deep-rooted belief in community. At a time when so many festival organisers are struggling, we want to make sure as many as possible have the opportunity to benefit from that unique collaborative spirit.”
Founded in 2008, AIF is a not-for-profit trade association representing around 150 independent festivals. It offers members training, resources, webinars, legal advice, and access to a peer network. The organisation also runs sector initiatives such as Safer Spaces at Festivals and First Festival.