Africa Oyé has announced that they will not be hosting the festival in 2025, but has reassured everyone that a return is planned for 2026. The news follows a record-breaking festival attendance in 2024 over the June weekend.
The charity behind the event has decided to take a ‘fallow year’, so the event can return in 2026, with the next Africa Oyé dates already confirmed as 20th and 21st June 2026. The festival was cancelled due to increased costs that come with its growth, and the rise in industry supplier prices across the sector.
Artistic Director of Africa Oyé, Paul Duhaney said: “We understand that there will of course be disappointment with this announcement. Our relationships with the Oyé family, festival staff, traders and service suppliers are very important to us and we did not take this decision lightly. With increased infrastructure and compliance costs, it is simply a case that without major investment to cover the costs of delivering a festival of this size safely, it would be irresponsible to go ahead with the event in 2025.”
Jen Cleary, Director, North and Combined Arts, Arts Council England, said: “Africa Oyé’s celebrations of African music and culture are well-loved across both the North West and the national music scene and it was great to see record attendances to its 2024 festival. Given the current challenges, we understand the decision to take a fallow year and we are pleased to support the team as it works on strengthening the festival’s future. We look forward to seeing Africa Oyé return in 2026.”
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “Africa Oyé is a major event which we are proud of and over the years it has grown out of all recognition, both in terms of numbers and the brilliant content. Everything in the event world has changed post Covid-19 with huge pressure on all outdoor events in terms of infrastructure.
It is right that Paul and the team have the time to reset, after consistently delivering an event which gets bigger and better every year. They have our full, unwavering support and we will work with them and Arts Council England closely over the next year to ensure they can deliver Africa Oyé in the way they want – with great artistic ambition but also the capacity to look after the growing numbers of festival-goers.”