New Cambridge Folk Festival report reveals rising costs led to cancellation

Surging post-pandemic costs coupled with declining weekend ticket sales contributed to Cambridge Folk Festival becoming a loss-making event, a new report says.

The 2025 festival, which would have marked the event’s 60th anniversary, was cancelled by Cambridge City Council without explanation in January.

The new report sheds light on the financial situation following calls from the authority’s Liberal Democrat for the background to the decision to be made public.

Cllr Rachel Wade, executive councillor for communities, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from festival supporters, who have shown us that while there is sadness that it will not take place this year, we need to be realistic about how the festival scene is changing locally and nationally.

“As a fully council-run event, the Cambridge Folk Festival is unique. It is essential we make careful decisions about how public money is spent and we hope that residents understand why we must take this year to pause and reflect.

“At the beginning of the year, it became clear that continuing the full festival in 2025 would slow down important work needed to ensure its future. We will leave no stone unturned while exploring options for the future of the festival and will work hard to include residents and festival lovers’ thoughts and input.

“While we know this decision came as a shock to many, and we could have been more direct in our communication about this decision, we are absolutely committed to bringing the festival back in 2026. I want to thank loyal supporters for the understanding they have shown us and for the generous offers of support.”

However, Liberal Democrat opposition spokesperson Cllr Cheney Payne argues the report should have been published “many weeks ago” instead of “having to be prised out of the council by us after a delay which can
only be described as wilful”.

The councillor continued: “The fact remains that the cost to the council of not holding the Folk Festival in 2025 is going to be roughly the same as holding it – even if it were to lose some money again like last year.

“It’s clear that last year’s loss was known while last year’s festival was going on and the council just let matters drift for five months instead of using it to start making any necessary changes. Next week we will have many questions for the Labour councillor who was responsible.

“2025 was not just any year for the Folk Festival – it was its 60th anniversary. In these increasingly gloomy times, it should have been a priority not to lose the boost to the local economy and people’s enjoyment of top performers coming to Cambridge that the festival represents”.

The report shows that infrastructure costs surged by more than 30 per cent over five years, with equipment costs increasing by roughly 60 per cent from 2016 to 2024. This represents an increase of around £250,000.

The number of full-festival tickets purchased also declined from a pre-Covid average of 7,300 per year to an average of 5,900. The number of camping tickets also significantly decreased, more than halving since 2016. Last year’s event made a provisional £320,000 loss.

The papers detail the decision-making process made by the council leading to the 2025 festival not going ahead.

Earlier this year the council announced that the next festival will go ahead in 2026 following the decision to take a ‘fallow year’ in 2025.

Fallow years have become increasingly common practice for festivals, with more than 70 postponed last year.

Details of the widespread financial pressures facing the UK festival industry are also outlined, including the impact of large corporations using exclusivity deals with artists to dominate the festival landscape.

At the council’s budget meeting in February this year, £50,000 was agreed by councillors to support an independent review of the operation.

The council says it understands that holding the festival in Cambridge supports the local folk scene and provides an indirect economic benefit of approximately £2.3million per year to the local economy.

To minimise the impact of a fallow year, the council has earmarked £75,000 to deliver an alternative programme of folk-related events in 2025.

The papers outline the steps taken by festival organisers to pursue all options, including hosting a festival in 2025, right up until the decision was made by councillors in January.

They also provide an update on recruitment for an experienced consultant whose remit will be to review all options available for the long-term continuation of the festival.

Anyone wishing to share their memories or views on how the Folk Festival will look in the future is encouraged to do so by emailing folkfest@cambridge.gov.uk.