Marking 25 years of supporting events, with a particular focus on the UK festival sector, Skiddle has witnessed and positively contributed to the evolution of live music and festival experiences. By listening closely to organisers and adapting to their needs, we’ve developed tools and services designed to support sustainable growth, helping festivals build communities while delivering meaningful experiences.
As we move through 2026, our focus remains firmly on collaboration. We continue to develop our event listing platform, the Skiddle Promotion Centre, in partnership with festival organisers, ensuring it reflects shifting audience behaviours and the realities of today’s market. More than driving sales, we aim to help create a resilient festival ecosystem – one that supports independent promoters, strengthens supply chains, and gives festivals greater confidence when planning ahead.
Over the past year, we’ve worked with key trade bodies to develop initiatives that strengthen the sector. One example is our funded membership scheme with the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), supporting grassroots and independent festivals in their first two years of operation – a period when sustainability and cash flow remain pressing challenges.
In 2026, we will partner with the AIF once more, supporting the Festival Fallow Fund, recognising the importance of protecting festival continuity. Safeguarding events during difficult periods not only supports organisers but also reinforces the wider supply chain and creative communities that depend on them.
“At Skiddle, we understand how vital peer support is for independent festivals. That’s why we launched our bursary scheme, funding full AIF memberships for 23 independent events.
Support isn’t just financial. Backing the Fallow Fund is another way we can help paused festivals return successfully. We want to contribute to a sustainable festival landscape for years to come.”
– Duncan King, Head of Festivals and Partnerships at Skiddle
Providing practical value in response to ongoing challenges – from rising production costs to shifting consumer spending habits – remains central to our approach. We support festivals of all sizes and genres, offering content and marketing assistance, ticketing expertise, dedicated account management, and customer support alongside a suite of free-to-use tools.
Features such as Payment Plans help ease cost barriers for audiences, while Brand Alerts and Remind Me reflect more considered purchasing behaviour by keeping fans informed throughout the on-sale cycle. Waiting List functionality allows fans to register when tickets sell out and be notified if further allocations are released. On-site, Rapidscan technology facilitates smooth and secure entry, improving the customer’s live experience from arrival.
Beyond ticketing, the Skiddle Festival Guide provides a search-optimised discovery platform with expanded listings, photo galleries and FAQs. By improving visibility, these guides help audiences make informed decisions while giving organisers meaningful year-round exposure.
As the 2026 festival season approaches, we remain committed to working alongside organisers, suppliers and industry bodies to support a more resilient and forward-looking sector.
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Author: Tegan Double
Tegan Double is an Advertising Campaign Consultant at Event Industry News, working closely with brands and organisations across the events sector to create targeted, results-driven campaigns. Helping partners amplify their message, reach the right audiences, and tell compelling stories through industry-leading media and content.
