The organisers of London’s Lido Festival have been forced to move this year’s event to August – with two days now cancelled due to scheduling issues.
The three-day festival had been due to return to Victoria Park, east London, in just two months’ time, but a notice on Lido’s website states it is now “unable to take place in June to protect park ground conditions and will instead move to late August as a one‑off date adjustment”.
Maribou State and their full support bill will now perform on Monday 31 August, but the other two dates will not go ahead, with ticket-holders being given full refunds.
CMAT, Father John Misty and Sharon Van Etten had been due to take to the stage on Friday 12 June.
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT said she was “truly devastated” at the situation in a post on Instagram, writing: “I am very very sorry to tell you that due to issues with the ground at Victoria Park, Lido Festival has to move to new dates in August and as a result, I – like others on the bill – am no longer able to play.
“I am truly devastated not to be able to play the festival,” she continued. “I realise this will cause issues for some of you who have bought tickets and may be travelling and for that I can only say sorry.”
Bombay Bicycle Club and Metronomy had been due to headline the festival on Sunday 14 June. This event has also been cancelled, with refunds being issued.
Indie favourites Bombay Bicycle Club wrote in a post on Instagram: “This one is very much out of our hands but that doesn’t change how horribly we feel about the impact on fans who have bought tickets.”
Lido Festival stated on its website: “Any changes are in no way the fault of the artists or London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH), all of whom have been fully supportive.
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“Last summer’s drought led to well‑reported dust issues, but the extensive reseeding and improvement programme delivered by AEG has been highly successful, and the park is now in great condition for everyday community use, unhindered and fully open to local residents and visitors to LBTH.
“Following one of the wettest winters in recent history, our advisors recommended giving these newly improved areas a little more time before starting the festival programme. This ensures the progress made is protected and continues to benefit the community throughout the spring and early summer.”
Fans have shared their reactions to the news on the festival’s Instagram account, with some complaining that one remaining day, which should have been taking place on a Saturday, has now moved to Bank Holiday Monday.
“We have work on Tuesday and I live in Suffolk,” one wrote. “This sucks! It should be on the Sunday at the very least.”
Lido Festival made its debut at Victoria Park last year, taking place two months before All Points East Festival – where last year’s drought led to a dust warning as festivalgoers reported being covered in dirt and needing to use facemasks.
“The mud dust was horrendous last year, happy something is being done about it,” one Instagram user wrote. “Whatever it takes for Vicky park to not end up looking like a desert,” another said.
The cancellation comes just days after Wireless Festival organisers pulled all three of its summer 2026 dates from its schedule, due to its controversial headliner Kanye West being blocked from entering the UK.
