Standon Calling comes to an end after 19 years as festival enters liquidation

Standon Calling has confirmed that it has entered liquidation, signalling the end to the Hertfordshire-based two-day event after 19 years. 

In a statement seen by BBC News, the festival's organisers said: “We regret to announce that after 17 Standon Callings the 2023 Standon Calling will now prove to have been the last.”

The statement references "significant financial losses" sustained during in 2022 and 2023, the latter having been the festival's last edition. 

Standon Calling had blamed a "difficult climate"  for the cancellation of its 2024 and 2025 editions; in 2024, food vendors and performers claimed they had "not been paid" by the festival for their work on the 2023 edition. 

Read this next: Over 200 UK festivals have “disappeared” since 2019, report reveals

Last month, Standon Calling had announced plans to return in 2026, which would have marked the 20th anniversary of Standon Calling, which held its first edition in 2006. 

According to BBC News, the plans had been provisionally approved by local councillors on the condition that there would be no on-site camping - including for staff/performers - no late-night "rave programming" and the capacity had to remain below 20,000 people.

Read this next: How The Cost Of Living Crisis Is Impacting Festivals

"For the last 18 months we have engaged with a number of potential investors to continue the festival, including one party for the last 13 months," Standon Calling's statement continues. 

"With huge regret, additional investment has not been secured and we are left with no other option than to put the company into the control of the liquidators.

"We are hugely grateful for all the support that so many people have given to the festival over the years, which helped build Standon Calling into what it became since its inception in 2006".

[Via: BBC News]

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter