photo_cameraAI-generated illustration / VIP-Booking.com
Industry
UK and EU Music Industry Calls for Action on Touring Barriers
More than 300 music, live performance and cultural organisations across the UK and European Union are calling for action to reduce post-Brexit touring restrictions ahead of the UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November 2026.
The Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC) has written an open letter to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging them to establish a clear framework for resolving the administrative and financial barriers affecting cross-border touring.
The coalition includes UK Music, the Musicians’ Union, Pearle – Live Performance Europe, LIVE, PRS for Music and several other organisations representing artists, booking agencies, promoters, venues, technical suppliers and other parts of the cultural sector.
The summit will be the second UK-EU meeting since the two sides agreed a new strategic partnership in May 2025.
Main barriers affecting touring
Since the UK`s departure from the EU, touring artists, crews and promoters have faced additional administrative requirements and costs when organising concerts across European borders.
The main challenges affecting the live performance sector include:
- Visas and work permits: Different national rules for paid performances make it difficult to plan multi-country tours, with additional paperwork and potential permit costs.
- The 90/180-day Schengen rule: UK nationals without qualifying residence status are generally limited to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area, restricting extended touring schedules.
- Transport and cabotage restrictions: Rules governing UK-registered vehicles carrying equipment between EU destinations complicate tour routing and logistics.
- Customs and equipment documentation: ATA carnets and other customs procedures create additional costs and administrative work when transporting instruments, staging and production equipment.
- Merchandise restrictions: Customs declarations, import VAT and other requirements can make transporting and selling merchandise across borders more complicated.
- Taxation and social security: Different national withholding-tax, VAT and social security requirements increase compliance costs for artists, crew members and touring businesses.
These restrictions particularly affect emerging artists, independent promoters and smaller touring productions, where additional fixed costs can determine whether a tour is financially viable.
The challenges are also affecting European venues and festivals, which face increased costs and reduced opportunities to book UK artists.
Industry calls for practical solutions
The CEC is urging UK and EU leaders to establish a structured dialogue to address the restrictions, covering the movement of touring professionals, production equipment and participation in European cultural programmes such as Creative Europe.
In a joint statement, UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl, Musicians’ Union Head of International Dave Webster and Pearle Director Anita Debaere said:
“We need urgent action from the UK government and European institutions to tackle the negative impact of Brexit on our creative and cultural sectors.
“It is vital that the summit sets out a pathway to agree practical solutions to make it easier for everyone to tour the EU and UK by removing red tape and extra costs that are major barriers to our efforts to create jobs and growth.”
Alt-J keyboardist and vocalist Gus Unger-Hamilton highlighted the implications for developing artists:
“Touring around Europe cheaply and easily was a vital part of alt-J`s early success, which has since taken us back to these countries countless times, providing employment for our crew and supporting European venues and festivals. Unless something is done to break the deadlock that is the current situation post-Brexit I don`t see a future for emerging British artists being able to do what we did, which will be detrimental to both the UK and the EU.”
Economic impact on UK and European live music
According to a report published by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in August 2026, reduced touring activity by UK performers in Europe between 2022 and 2024 was associated with estimated economic losses of €249 million and 2,490 full-time equivalent jobs in the UK.
The impact on European markets was considerably larger. The report estimated that reduced touring by UK musicians resulted in approximately €1.24 billion in lost economic activity and 17,010 full-time equivalent jobs across the EU countries covered by the research.
Germany recorded the largest estimated economic loss at nearly €347 million, followed by Denmark (€182.4 million), France (€137.4 million), Italy (€125.8 million) and the Netherlands (€115.9 million).
The report found that smaller and mid-sized tours were disproportionately affected, particularly performances at grassroots and other general live music venues. The figures are modelled estimates rather than directly observed losses.
Summit offers opportunity for progress
The CEC wants the November summit to produce a practical roadmap for reducing touring restrictions rather than another general commitment to cultural cooperation.
While the UK government has identified reducing trade barriers and administrative costs as priorities for the summit, no specific agreement on touring mobility has yet been announced.
For the live music industry, progress on work permits, cross-border transport and customs procedures could reduce touring costs, improve routing flexibility and make smaller international tours more financially viable.
The summit takes place in Brussels on 20 November, with both sides expected to issue a joint declaration outlining further cooperation.