How can the Government Help?
We're asking the UK Government to lower VAT on music festival ticket sales from 20% to 5% for a temporary period of three years. This single change will be enough to enable festivals to rebuild and recover.
The Govt lowered VAT during Covid to help support the events sector. It made a huge difference. We're asking them to do that again.
As it stands, the UK's VAT for Culture is higher than others. In France it's 5.5%; Sweden 6%; In Germany it's 7%; Italy 10%, Finland 10% and Ireland 13.5% to name a few.
Without doubt, many more festivals will be forced to make 2024 their last stop if there isn't intervention now from the UK Govt.
Some temporary support - lowering VAT down from 20% to 5% on ticket sales for the next three years - is all that's needed to give them the space they need to recover and rebuild.