Nottingham’s Splendour festival is set to conclude its 18-year run, as independent promoter DHP Family confirms the upcoming edition of the 25,000-capacity event will be its final outing.
The Wombats, Snow Patrol, Primal Scream, The Ks, Hard Life, Editors, Craig David Presents TS5 and The Flaming Lips headline the final Splendour festival on July 18-19 2026.
Splendour has been a much loved staple of the summer for 18 years with a rich history of bringing international world-class acts to the historic Wollaton Park setting with past line ups featuring Paolo Nutini, Noel Gallagher, Madness, Pet Shop Boys, Calvin Harris, Rag N Bone Man, Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Paloma Faith, Manic Street Preachers, The Specials, Dizzee Rascal, Jess Glynne, Anne-Marie, Becky Hill, The Human League and many many others.
DHP Family MD George Akins said: “We’re really proud of Splendour. It has truly played an important part in the lives of many people since its inception in 2008. It was formed through a genuine partnership between DHP and Nottingham City Council, with a shared ambition to build a major, sustainable cultural event for the city.
“At DHP we have stayed true to that original ambition: bringing international artists to a regional capital, championing local music and creating a summer highlight for the community. But in recent years, while our commitment to our shared vision remained, the level of civic support and collaboration from the council diminished significantly, making it harder to sustain an event of Splendour’s scale. Festivals, and culture more broadly, do not happen by accident; they need continued collaboration between public and private sectors for sustained success.
“Beyond this, everybody knows of the tough financial conditions faced by all festivals, with inflation and cost of living issues making this type of event less affordable for the public. Independents across the country are also facing a highly-saturated market, from stadium shows to one-off outdoor events and regional entertainment, alongside the looming threat of multi-nationals buying up those markets, locking out access to artists and inevitably driving up prices for customers even further. The current model feels unsustainable and it’s unsurprising that many festivals are closing their gates for the final time.
“As one of the UK’s leading independents, we pride ourselves on providing a true alternative offer to the corporate-led festival market. Over the years we have created a host of unique, audience-led events, and those festivals continue to thrive along with our overall business. We do expect to return to Wollaton Park in the future to deliver more events. As a Nottingham-based business, we are passionate about our city; one of extraordinary music heritage, with a burgeoning grassroots scene and an appetite for brilliant music experiences.
“Our hope is that Splendour’s legacy helps spark a renewed conversation about how cities back culture in the years ahead so the music that shapes cities like Nottingham isn’t overlooked or taken for granted.”
DHP has just delivered their fifth edition of the award-winning camping festival, Bearded Theory at Catton Park, Derbyshire (winner of Line Up of The Year at UK Festival Awards 2024), headlined by Garbage, Pixies and Skunk Anansie. This year’s festival was a resounding success and close to a sell out, with the profile of the event growing significantly year-on-year thanks to DHP’s evolution of the line up, introduction of new stages, and improvements to infrastructure and customer experience since they took it on five years ago.
Also on the festival roster is Dot To Dot, which has been introducing new artists to audiences in Nottingham and Bristol for 20+ years, helping support and develop the scene in two of the UK’s strongest music cities, and developing a trusted festival brand that is part of those scenes. Widely regarded as one the best events for new music, this year was headlined by Lambrini Girls, Fcukers, Sprints and NewDad.
In the public announcement, Splendour thanked customers for their loyalty and support over the years and released a special 2 for 1 offer, giving the opportunity to buy a day ticket and receive another completely free as a final celebration of the beloved event.
The Final Splendour Day Ticket 2-4-1 Offer is available from www.splendourfestival.com
