Nottingham's Splendour Festival, a summer staple for 18 years, will hold its final event in July 2026. Organisers DHP Family cited a sharp hike in costs and financial unsustainability as reasons for the closure.
Final Lineup and Farewell Offer
The last festival, set for July 2026, will feature headliners Snow Patrol, Primal Scream, and Craig David. To encourage attendance, organisers have introduced a two-for-one ticket deal—buy one day ticket, get one free.
George Akins, managing director of DHP Family, told the Nottingham Post: "It's been a wonderful experience for so many people... People have met their wives and husbands there, grandparents have been there with their grandchildren." He added: "It's been a staple diet of the Nottingham summer since 2008 and this is going to be a really great opportunity for those people who have enjoyed it over the years to come back for one last hurrah."
Financial Pressures and Past Challenges
Akins explained that a "multitude" of factors led to the decision, including previous tendering disputes with Nottingham City Council that caused the festival to be cancelled in 2024, and the difficulty of raising ticket prices while keeping the event accessible. "With stadium shows all around the country, those ticket prices have increased way beyond inflation. Some of those ticket prices are eye-watering," he said. "We're an independent company, we want to make live music accessible for everybody... But essentially, the business case is no longer there for the event, it just doesn't stack up financially."
Legacy and Community Impact
Since its launch in 2008, Splendour has distributed over 150,000 discounted tickets for residents and 30,000 free tickets for children. The festival has showcased emerging Nottingham talent, including Jake Bugg, who headlined in 2013 after opening the acoustic courtyard stage in 2011. Akins noted: "Before Splendour happened, no band from Nottingham ever sold out Rock City, and then post this show you had Dog is Dead, Ferocious Dog did it."
Councillor Neghat Khan, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "We're proud to have helped develop Splendour into a Nottingham institution... The festival has showcased an incredible breadth of talent – from emerging Nottingham artists who went on to achieve great success, to internationally renowned performers." She added: "We hope now that many of you will turn out to say goodbye and make this final festival a fitting celebration of Splendour's legacy."
Emotional Farewell
Akins reflected on the final day: "The event has been amazing, so it's going to be an emotional end. I'm really glad that we're able to give everyone this opportunity to end off in style."
