Committees

The future of UK music festivals

Inquiry

MPs will examine what support is needed for UK music festivals to return in 2021, as they consider the economic and cultural impact of festivals across the country.

With the vast majority of festivals cancelled in 2020 owing to COVID-19, the sector’s revenues have dropped by 90%. The predominantly freelance workforce and other parts of the festival supply chain have been similarly affected. However, social distancing requirements and public health uncertainty present further risks for festival organisers.

MPs will consider how to secure festivals in the face of these immediate pressures and other long-term challenges.

Read the call for evidence and Terms of Reference for more detail about the inquiry.

Upcoming events

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Past events

Wednesday 24 March 2021
9:30am Private
10:00am Public
The future of UK music festivals - Oral evidence 24 March 2021
10:00am
  • Caroline Dinenage MP (Minister for Digital and Culture at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
  • Victoria MacCallum (Head of policy for the creative industries at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Virtual meeting
Tuesday 16 March 2021
9:30am Private
10:00am Public
The future of UK music festivals - Oral evidence 16 March 2021
10:00am
  • Robert Del Naja
  • Professor Carly McLachlan (Professor of Climate and Energy Policy at The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research)
11:00am
  • Assistant Chief Constable Justin Bibby (Assistant Chief Constable at Staffordshire Police)
  • Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin (Lead for Drugs at National Police Chiefs' Council)
  • Professor Fiona Measham (Director at The Loop, and Chair in Criminology at University of Liverpool)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 2 February 2021
9:30am Private
10:00am Public
The future of UK music festivals - Oral evidence 2 February 2021
10:00am
  • Matthew Phillip (Chief Executive at Notting Hill Carnival Ltd)
  • Rowan Cannon (Director at Wild Rumpus)
10:45am
  • Duncan Bell (Political group leader at WeMakeEvents)
  • Tre Stead
11:30am
  • Dr Andrew Smith
Virtual meeting
Tuesday 5 January 2021
9:30am Private
11:00am Public
The future of UK music festivals - Oral evidence 5 January 2021
11:00am
  • Steve Heap (General Secretary at Association of Festival Organisers)
  • Jamie Njoku-Goodwin (Chief Executive at UK Music)
  • Paul Reed (Chief Executive at Association of Independent Festivals)
10:00am
  • Sacha Lord (Co-founder at Parklife and The Warehouse Project)
  • Anna Wade (Communications & Strategy Director at Boomtown Fair)
Virtual meeting

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