Skiddle and AIF Support 20 Small UK Festivals
UK ticketing platform Skiddle and the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) have selected 20 small independent festivals to receive funded AIF memberships and promotional support for their 2027 events.
The initiative targets grassroots festivals with capacities of 2,000 or fewer. Each selected festival will receive a fully funded AIF membership alongside a tailored promotional package from Skiddle worth up to £5,000.
The support includes featured listings in Skiddle`s Festival Guide, editorial coverage, paid marketing campaigns and access to specialist account management. AIF membership also provides access to industry networking, education and resources for independent festival organisers.
Among the selected events are Burn It Down Festival in Torquay, WILDHOOD Festival and Cardiff Psych and Noise Festival.
Supporting the Grassroots Festival Sector
According to Skiddle, festivals with capacities of 2,000 or fewer accounted for 56% of all festivals listed on its ticketing platform in 2025.
Duncan King, Head of Partnerships at Skiddle, commented:
"The UK is home to hundreds of exceptional boutique festival experiences, each offering something unique to a broad range of audiences, and we`re proud to work with so many of these events and their teams.
"Over recent years, the sector has suffered and we`ve lost many great festivals. Now, the tide is turning, and we`re seeing organisers hosting successful experiences and returning for future instalments."
John Rostron, CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals, said:
"Micro and very small festivals are the foundation of the festival industry. It`s where creativity lives because the teams behind them are often doing everything with minimal resources. By Skiddle providing these 20 festivals with AIF membership, it means they won`t have to go it alone. They are joining a supportive community of organisers who share what works and what doesn`t."
Second Year of Partnership
The programme follows a similar initiative in 2025, when 22 festivals received funded memberships and promotional assistance. Previous beneficiaries included Moovin Festival, GemFest, Love To Be Festival and Caribbean Rocks.
This year`s programme focuses specifically on smaller events, reflecting the importance of grassroots festivals within the UK live music sector.