The summer festival at Forty Hall Farm faces ongoing “economic pressures and technical challenges”, reports James Cracknell

Livestock is scheduled to take place at Forty Hall Farm in July — Livestock usually takes place at Forty Hall Farm in July

The organisers of Livestock Festival in Enfield have announced that there will be no event taking place this year.

Amid continuing financial difficulties that have put the annual summer event in jeopardy in recent years, Livestock Events CIC confirmed today (Wednesday 15th) it would be taking a “fallow year” in order to address “economic pressures and technical challenges”.

There remains hope that Livestock will return in 2027.

It is not the first time the festival has been cancelled, with the 2024 edition also not held – although that decision came much later in the year, after hundreds of tickets had already been sold.

While the 2025 festival did eventually take place and was deemed “one of the best ever“, Livestock organiser Paul Dengel has taken an early decision to not go ahead this year.

Announcing the 2026 festival won’t be taking place, Livestock Events CIC said in a statement: “It is with great regret that we have taken the difficult decision not to go ahead with Livestock Festival this summer.

“As many of you will appreciate, delivering an event like Livestock is a complex undertaking. Like many independent festivals, we are facing a combination of economic pressures and technical challenges which have made it increasingly difficult to produce the event to the standard that you, our audience, rightly expect and deserve.

“As a not-for-profit community interest company, run entirely by volunteers and without external funding, every decision we make has to balance ambition with sustainability. After careful consideration, we believe it is far better to take a fallow year to address these challenges properly, rather than risk going ahead and potentially having to cancel later, or compromise the quality and experience that Livestock is known for.

“This has not been an easy decision. Livestock is built around its community — the audience, artists, traders, crew, and volunteers who have supported us over the years — and we do not take lightly the disappointment this news may bring. Your support, energy, and belief in what we do is what has allowed the festival to grow and thrive.”

Livestock Festival was originally launched in 2009 at Forty Hall Farm to “bring together talented bands from all over the country, local heroes, emerging talent and established artistes alike”. The not-for-profit events team also hosts monthly gigs at The Black Barn venue within the farm, which continue throughout the year.

Today’s statement adds: “Taking this pause will allow us the time and space to reset, strengthen our foundations, and ensure that when Livestock returns, it does so in a way that is sustainable, secure, and worthy of the event we have all built together.

“We will continue to run events at The Black Barn and elsewhere, and we very much hope to see you there over the coming months.

“Thank you, as always, for your understanding and continued support.”

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