Festival organisers said the event would return in 2026 but people in the city have described this year’s cancellation as “incredibly disappointing”
Music lovers have warned the cancellation of one of the country’s biggest folk festivals this year will be a big blow to the local economy.
The Cambridge Folk Festival has attracted stars like Robert Plant, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Van Morrison and Nick Cave over its 60 year history.
But organisers have announced it will not go ahead this year at Cherry Hinton Hall, though they hope it will return in 2026.
Music promoter Simon Baker said: “It will obviously have an effect on restaurants and hotels and all of those things that rely on the festival for that weekend in July. I couldn’t put a figure on it but it’s a big blow.”
The local music community are also concerned about the effect on musicians starting out on their careers.
Thomas Maillou, who works in a music shop, said: “Unfortunately, we don’t have too many grass roots music institutions like the folk festival that have such a pull in terms of the wider audience, not just locals from Cambridge but people from across the world who come to see the folk festival.”
Cllr Cheney Payne, who is a Liberal Democrat opposition spokesperson on the city council, said: “This is incredibly disappointing for such a loved and long established event for which people travel from miles away and adds to the culture of Cambridge.”
Cambridge City Council said cancelling the folk festival this year is “an important step” in the event’s evolution, and has given assurances that it will return in 2026.
It says it is “committed to using its resources this year to explore new opportunities” for the festival ahead of its comeback.
A statement added: “It has such a special legacy and we are committed to seeing it thrive for future generations…it is dear to us too, and we are committed to using our resources this year to explore new opportunities ahead of returning in summer 2026 with a fantastic festival.”
The four-day folk festival is not the only arts event in Cambridge that will be missing this year, the popular Strawberry Fair on Midsummer Common as also been cancelled due to costs.
Organisers of the Cambridge Folk Festival said even though the festival itself is not going ahead in 2025, there will be events across the city to support emerging folk artists.
They include a free concert at the festival venue in August, and a series of other gigs.
Customers who have already bought early bird tickets for 2025 will be contacted directly by the festival with further information.
Am I the only reader wondering why such a prominent festival should announce its cancellation without giving any reason?
Thought the same, fiddler. Will post follow-ups to this story as they come. A real tragedy if this historic festival doesn’t return.