The Brit Fest has officially announced its 2027 dates, confirming the award-winning independent festival will return to Ashley Hall Showground, Cheshire, from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July 2027.

The announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Great British Festivals, with the move to a new weekend creating new opportunities to invest in infrastructure, enhance the visitor experience, support artists and suppliers, and welcome even more people to one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent music festivals.

Following another hugely successful festival in 2026 and a record-breaking 2027 Presale that sold out within hours, the team behind Great British Festivals say the move is about much more than changing dates on a calendar.

It is about building a stronger future for everyone involved.

For several years, The Brit Fest has taken place during one of the busiest weekends in the UK live events calendar, when multiple large-scale festivals compete for the same artists, production crews, staging, transport and specialist suppliers.

Edward Prophet, Creative Director of Great British Festivals, believes moving away from one of the industry’s busiest weekends will create benefits across the entire live events sector.

“When several major festivals all happen on the same weekend, the pressure on the industry is immense. Artists, production crews, staging companies, lighting and sound suppliers, transport operators and freelancers are all competing for the same resources.”

“The public quite rightly see an incredible weekend of entertainment, but behind every show are hundreds of skilled people who make it happen. Giving the industry a little more breathing space allows everyone to deliver at the highest possible standard.”
 

The change is also expected to improve the experience for artists themselves.

“Artists want to spend their time performing and connecting with audiences, not worrying about impossible logistics or whether equipment and crews can physically travel hundreds of miles overnight between festivals.”

“Moving to a different weekend gives us greater flexibility to work with artists and their teams, while also helping suppliers deliver the quality that festival audiences deserve.”

The benefits extend well beyond the stage.

With fewer major events competing for infrastructure, Great British Festivals expects greater availability of staging, production equipment, accommodation, transport and specialist contractors. This creates opportunities to continue investing in the festival experience, from enhanced facilities and expanded entertainment to improved accessibility and visitor comfort.

It also makes attending easier for audiences, with fewer diary clashes, greater accommodation availability and more flexibility for families planning their summer.

Anthony Prophet, Commercial Director of Great British Festivals, said:

“Every year we ask ourselves one question: how can we make next year’s festival even better?”

“Being independent gives us the freedom to make decisions based purely on what benefits our audience, our artists and our partners. This move allows us to continue investing in the things that matter most, while remaining true to everything The Brit Fest stands for.”

Since launching, The Brit Fest has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent festivals, earning national recognition while remaining proudly family-owned and rooted in Cheshire.

Its growth has been built on continual investment, from improved transport and accessibility to expanded camping, enhanced VIP experiences, family attractions and a carefully curated line-up celebrating the very best of British music.

The response from audiences continues to exceed expectations.

The 2027 Presale sold out before a single artist had been announced, with thousands of returning guests securing their place almost a year in advance.

For Anthony Prophet, that loyalty is both humbling and motivating.

“Every ticket represents somebody choosing to spend their time with us. That’s never something we’ll take for granted.”

“We’re not trying to become the biggest festival in the country. We’re focused on becoming one of the very best. Every improvement we make is driven by that ambition, and by the trust our audience continues to place in us.”

Planning for 2027 is already well underway, with further announcements expected over the coming months.

The full artist line-up will be unveiled this September, alongside details of the General Release ticket launch.

As Great British Festivals looks ahead, one thing remains unchanged.

Its commitment to creating an independent festival where world-class live music, families, friends and community come together for an unforgettable summer weekend.

The Brit Fest returns to Ashley Hall Showground, Cheshire, from 15 to 18 July 2027.

The future has never looked brighter.

In a world where more and more live events are owned by multinational corporations, The Brit Fest is proudly different.

We are an independent, family-run festival, created with heart, built through hard work and driven by a genuine love of live music and bringing people together. There is no distant boardroom, no global parent company and no group of anonymous shareholders behind us. There is simply a family, supported by an extraordinary team, working all year round to create one unforgettable weekend.

For us, The Brit Fest is deeply personal. We are there when the first fence goes up and when the final piece of equipment leaves the field. We meet our guests, listen to their feedback, answer their messages and share the weekend alongside them. Every decision matters because our own name, reputation and future are attached to it.

But The Brit Fest family is much bigger than our own.

Hundreds of other families depend upon and contribute to the festival. They are the independent food traders preparing meals, the local accommodation providers welcoming visitors, the production teams building stages, the technicians bringing every performance to life and the small businesses supplying everything from signage and fencing to transport and toilets.

They are the artists, musicians, security teams, bar staff, cleaners, volunteers, photographers and countless people working behind the scenes. Many are independent businesses themselves, supporting their own families and communities through the work they do with us.

When you buy a ticket to The Brit Fest, your money does not disappear into the balance sheet of a multinational PLC. It travels through a network of real people and independent businesses. It helps pay wages, supports livelihoods, creates opportunities and generates valuable income for the surrounding area.

That is the wider impact of choosing an independent festival.

Of course, independence is not always the easiest path. We do not have unlimited corporate resources or a global catalogue of events behind us. Every year involves enormous commitment, financial risk and countless hours of work. We feel every challenge personally—but we also feel every success.

Every ticket sold matters. Every kind message is read. Every returning family means something to us.

We know that people have more choices than ever when deciding where to spend their time and money. We never take that choice for granted. Our promise is to continue building a festival where people feel welcomed, valued and part of something genuinely special—a weekend filled with brilliant live music, shared experiences and memories that remain long after the stages come down.

Choosing The Brit Fest means choosing independence. It means supporting a family business and the hundreds of other families who form part of our journey. It means helping protect a live-music landscape in which independent festivals can survive, grow and continue to offer something different.

The Brit Fest is not simply an event delivered to you by a corporation. It is something we create together.

We are independent. We are family-run. And everyone who walks through our gates becomes part of that family.

We would be incredibly proud to welcome you to Ashley Hall from 15–18 July 2027.

Everyone at The Brit Fest is deeply saddened by the passing of Bonnie Tyler.

Bonnie wasn’t simply one of the world’s great performers. She was part of our story.

When The Brit Fest was still finding its feet, Bonnie believed in what we were creating. In 2024, she became our very first Saturday night headliner, placing her trust in a young festival with big ambitions. It was a moment that helped define who we are, and one we will never forget.

From the moment she stepped onto the stage, Bonnie reminded everyone why she is one of music’s true icons. Her unmistakable voice, incredible presence and timeless catalogue of songs created an atmosphere that will forever live in the memories of those who were there. It wasn’t just a headline performance. It was one of those magical festival moments that people still talk about today.

Away from the spotlight, Bonnie was every bit as remarkable.

She was warm, gracious, humble and endlessly generous with her time. She treated everyone with genuine kindness, whether they were fellow artists, crew members, volunteers or fans. Despite a career spanning decades and countless accolades, there was never an ego, only a love of music and an appreciation for the people around her.

That combination of extraordinary talent and genuine humanity is rare. Bonnie possessed both in abundance.

The Brit Fest has always been about more than music. It’s about the people who shape its story, and Bonnie Tyler helped write one of our very first chapters. Her belief in our festival at such an early stage gave us confidence, momentum and memories that will last forever.

On behalf of everyone at The Brit Fest, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Bonnie’s family, friends, band, colleagues and the millions of people around the world whose lives were touched by her music.

Thank you, Bonnie.

Thank you for believing in us.

Thank you for helping shape the story of The Brit Fest.

Your music, your kindness and your legacy will always have a home in our hearts.

The Brit Fest has officially closed the gates on its biggest and most successful event to date, with a record 35,000 music lovers joining the celebration across four unforgettable days at Ashley Hall Showground.

From the opening night spectacular of Symphonic Ibiza with Angie Brown, through headline performances from Happy Mondays, Holly Johnson and ABC, to more than 100 live performances across multiple stages, The Brit Fest 2026 delivered what many are already calling one of the North West’s standout music events of the summer.

Alongside the Main Stage, the ever-popular Little Big Top and Busk Stops became festival destinations in their own right, showcasing an incredible programme of grassroots, emerging and established artists. More than 40 performances across the weekend gave rising talent the opportunity to perform alongside household names, reinforcing The Brit Fest’s commitment to supporting the next generation of live music.

Beyond the music, the festival once again celebrated everything that makes Cheshire special. Thousands of visitors explored local food producers, independent traders, artisan markets, family attractions and hospitality experiences, providing a significant boost to businesses across Altrincham, Hale, Knutsford and the wider region throughout the weekend.

“Every person who buys a ticket, pours a drink, builds a stage, parks a car, serves a meal, volunteers their time or simply comes along to enjoy the music becomes part of The Brit Fest family. This festival belongs to all of us, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built together. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making 2026 so special.”

An exclusive limited Weekend Ticket Presale opens at 10:00am on Thursday 9th July, giving loyal supporters the opportunity to secure tickets at the best available prices ahead of the full launch.

The full 2027 line-up, together with all ticket types, VIP experiences and accommodation options, will be unveiled when tickets go on general sale in September.

Festival fans are encouraged to register for the presale, follow The Brit Fest across social media and keep an eye on www.thebritfest.co.uk for upcoming announcements.

One thing is certain…

Whatever you do, don’t miss the next one.