The AIF Festival Forecast 2026
25 Feb 2026
The Other Stage
AAA The Other Stage
The annual AIF Festival Forecast sets the tone for the 2026 festival season, reporting on the state of
play in the UK festival market including insights on festival numbers, sizes and ownership, as well as
trends across the sector and an update on upcoming campaigns.
AIF CEO John Rostron opens with an overview of the report and its key themes, followed by a panel
discussion looking ahead to 2026. The conversation will explore how experience-focused events can outmanoeuvre top-heavy line-ups, address external risks and challenges including politics, weather and economics, and consider the summer ahead without Glastonbury.
● Hosted by John Rostron, CEO at the AIF
