Thousands of music fans who snapped up tickets for September’s iMEP Music Festival in Accrington will get their money back after organisers pulled the plug on the two-day event.
International Music Event Production confirmed on July 21, 2025, that the festival scheduled for September 19-20 would not go ahead. The company blamed poor advance ticket sales and mounting financial pressure across the live music sector.
The cancellation came barely eight months after 6,000 people packed Accrington Cricket Club for the festival’s debut in September 2024, when Jess Glynne headlined to a sold-out crowd.
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Big Names Confirmed for Lancashire Festival
Clean Bandit were set to headline Saturday night at the iMEP Arena, the company’s branded venue at Accrington Cricket Club. The Grammy-winning electronic group, known for hits like “Rather Be” and “Symphony,” would have shared the bill with Eurovision star Sam Ryder and former JLS member Marvin Humes.
Friday’s lineup featured Irish pop group B*Witched and Chesney Hawkes, the early 90s singer behind “The One and Only.”
Weekend passes sold for ยฃ95, with single-day tickets priced at ยฃ40 for Friday and ยฃ65 for Saturday. The festival had also offered VIP packages up to ยฃ190 that included front-of-stage viewing and a private bar area.
Organisers Confirm Accrington Music Festival Cancellation
The official statement from iMEP cited a clear reason for scrapping the Lancashire music event. Ticket sales never reached the levels needed to cover production costs and deliver what organisers called “the experience our audience, artists, crew, and partners deserve.”
Chief Executive Eddy O’Brien had spent months promoting the expanded format after 2024’s success. The company had promised upgraded facilities including additional toilets, two extra bars, more food vendors, and a funfair.
But the numbers never materialised. By late June 2025, advance sales remained well below projections. Combined with rising costs for staging, security, artist fees, and equipment, the festival became financially unworkable.
2024 Success Makes Cancellation Harder to Accept
Last September’s inaugural event showed what Accrington could achieve. Jess Glynne performed classics including “Hold My Hand” to an enthusiastic 6,000-strong audience. Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls delivered two DJ sets, while Irish singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot and Liverpool boy band The Kairos completed the lineup.
Tickets for that single-day event sold out. The atmosphere earned praise from attendees and local officials who saw the festival as proof that Accrington could host major music events.
That success convinced iMEP to expand. In December 2024, O’Brien announced plans for a two-day format, telling reporters: “After bringing Jess Glynne to Lancashire, we were determined to aim even higher in 2025.”
The expansion bet didn’t pay off.
Live Music Industry Faces Tough Trading Conditions
Regional festivals across the UK have struggled throughout 2024 and 2025. Production costs climbed sharply while audiences became more selective about which events to attend.
Preston Live cancelled two of its three planned days just days after the iMEP announcement, also citing poor ticket sales. Lancaster Music Festival went on hold earlier in 2025, with organisers noting they faced “more challenges and hurdles every year.”
The cost-of-living crisis has squeezed household budgets, making concert tickets a harder sell. Festival organisers now compete not just with each other but with streaming services, rising travel costs, and general economic uncertainty.
Even recognisable headliners don’t guarantee ticket sales anymore. Smaller regional festivals lack the established reputation of Glastonbury or Reading, making it harder to convince fans to commit months in advance.
Accrington Loses Music Weekend and Tourism Boost
Local businesses had prepared for an influx of visitors. Hotels expected bookings, restaurants stocked supplies, and hospitality workers anticipated shifts. The cancellation wiped out that anticipated revenue in late summer, traditionally a quieter trading period.
Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington, had previously described the festival as a major boost for local commerce. The 2024 event brought visitors from across Lancashire and beyond, generating spending in shops, pubs, and accommodation.
Ticket holders will receive automatic refunds through their original purchase platforms. iMEP confirmed all buyers would get their money back without needing to apply.
What Comes Next for Lancashire Music Events
International Music Event Production has not shut the door completely. The company said it “remains committed to events” and will “explore ways to return stronger in the future.”
Whether that means another attempt at the iMEP festival in 2026 or a different format remains unclear. The Accrington-based company continues other work in music and theatre production, including sponsorship of Accrington Stanley football club.
For music fans in Lancashire, the cancellation leaves a gap in the September calendar. Clean Bandit, Sam Ryder, and the other confirmed acts will perform elsewhere. Those who wanted to see major names without travelling to Manchester or Leeds will need to look further afield.
The failure of the 2025 festival doesn’t erase what happened in 2024. It does show how quickly success can turn when ticket buyers stay cautious and costs keep climbing. Regional music festivals need more than good lineups now. They need audiences willing to buy early, spend freely, and take a chance on events without decades of history behind them.
Accrington proved it could deliver a memorable music festival. Getting a second chance to do it again may take longer than anyone hoped.
