Cambridge Folk Festival 2025 cancelled
The Cambridge Folk Festival, the world-famous, four-day folk and roots music festival held annually on the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall in Cambridge since 1965, will not take place in 2025 and will instead return in summer 2026.
Throughout 2025, the organisers say that the festival will continue to support the folk community with a series of locally-based events throughout Cambridge, with other initiatives to support emerging artists.
So far, little explanation has been given for the cancellation.
Organised by Cambridge City Council, the festival is a summer highlight for many people and also attracts national and international audiences due to its reputation as one of the longest-running and most prestigious folk festivals in the world.
Alongside presenting global headliners including Robert Plant, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Nick Cave, Peggy Seeger, and Suzanne Vega, the festival regularly acts as a launch pad for many emerging artists such as Frank Turner, Passenger, Jake Bugg, and First Aid Kit.
The organisers said: “This decision marks an important step in the evolution of the festival. It has such a special legacy and we are committed to seeing it thrive for future generations as it has done over the past 60 years.
“We know how dear the Folk Festival is to so many, and the impact it has on all those working in the music industry.
“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.
“Hearing from all of those who have supported the festival in the past will be a vital part of developing the festival for the future, as is hearing from those potential new audiences who haven’t attended before.
“We will be asking for feedback during 2025 and want to hear from as many people as possible.”
In response to Cambridge City Council’s announcement about the Folk Festival, Cllr Cheney Payne, Lib Dem opposition spokesperson, 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.
“It follows the the council’s earlier ditching of the Big Weekend. It’s outrageous that it’s put on the table as a fait accompli without any wider discussion with other councillors to consider alternative options.
“It looks like the council is just a Labour cabal that makes its own mind up in secret and can’t brook challenge!”
In the months ahead, members of the festival mailing list will be invited to share feedback and organisers will also collaborate with those involved in the festival, whether from an operational or performance perspective.
Customers who have already purchased early bird tickets for 2025 will be contacted directly with further information.
News of the cancellation comes a month after a decision by the organisers of Strawberry Fair to cancel their event in 2025. The organisers of The Cambridge Club Festival also announced in December that their music festival, which has been held in recent years at Childerley Orchard, would not be going ahead in 2025 either.
And in February 2023, the city council abandoned the free Big Weekend festival, saying the “expensive” event could no longer continue in its current form.