Cancelled Cambridge Folk Festival lost £320,000

The Cambridge Folk Festival, a beloved music event that has been a staple in the community since the 1960s, has faced a significant setback this year. The festival, which typically draws in thousands of fans each summer, was cancelled after incurring a staggering loss of £320,000 last year. This unfortunate news was revealed in documents released by the Cambridge City Council. The festival, which first took place in 1965, has been hosted in the picturesque grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, making it one of the oldest folk festivals in England. The council's papers, which were published ahead of an important meeting, highlighted the 'financial difficulties faced by the folk festival. ' In light of this, the council has allocated £75,000 to support an alternative program of folk-related events in 2025, paving the way for the festival's anticipated return in 2026. Festival organizers have expressed their commitment to supporting the folk community by hosting a series of events throughout Cambridge. The announcement of the festival's cancellation came as a shock to many, including Robert Dryden, a Labour city councillor for the area, who stated that it would 'disappoint lots of people. ' The Labour-run Cambridge City Council has prepared documents for an upcoming meeting that will delve into the reasons behind the cancellation. These documents aim to 'clearly outline the decisions taken by the festival organizers' to ensure the future success of the cherished Cambridge Folk Festival. The council's history with the festival dates back to 1964 when they first decided to hold a music festival for the following summer. The inaugural event sold 1,400 tickets and just about broke even, setting the stage for what would become a beloved tradition. The documents further reveal that the UK music festival industry is currently facing widespread financial pressures, which have dramatically affected the sustainability of festivals in recent years. The council noted that large corporations dominate the festival landscape, making it increasingly challenging for smaller festivals to thrive. In 2024, Latitude, another popular festival, chose to move its dates to the last weekend in July, directly competing with the Cambridge Folk Festival. The council analyzed feedback from attendees in 2024 and found that some mentioned reduced crowd sizes, attributing this decline to scheduling conflicts with other festivals, including Latitude. The papers indicate that the folk festival incurred a provisional loss of £0. 32 million in 2024. In the years leading up to the Covid pandemic, the festival had returned an average profit of over £0. 2 million, which was used to fund free community events in Cambridge. The council acknowledged that while revenues have remained relatively stable, costs have risen significantly, mirroring trends across the UK festival sector. They reaffirmed their commitment to the long-term success of the internationally acclaimed Cambridge Folk Festival. During the 'fallow year' in 2025, the council plans to review the festival's format to ensure a successful return in 2026. They are also planning other entertainment options, including free outdoor events and venue-based folk concerts, with more details to be announced in April. The council's goal is to keep the folk music community vibrant and ensure that everyone can continue to enjoy the magic of folk music together.