British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park, central London's major music festival, is set to expand significantly. Royal Parks has received formal permission to boost the festival's capacity by 14 percent, allowing up to 69,999 attendees per concert.
Capacity Increase Details
Westminster City Council Licensing Sub Committee granted Royal Parks permission to increase the capacity of all nine BST concerts to 69,999 people. This brings the total festival capacity to 630,000, an increase of 75,000 from the previous limit of just under 555,000.
Previous Capacity Limits
Previously, BST had consent for seven concerts with a capacity of 64,999 each and two with 49,999 each. The new approval standardizes all concerts at the higher limit.
Reasons for Expansion
Royal Parks stated that the expansion will help the summer series 'remain competitive in the market for artists.' The charity noted that managing the parks costs around £75 million annually, with 85 percent self-raised and 15 percent from the government. BST Hyde Park also contributes millions to the London economy.
Local Concerns
Despite the approval, some local residents objected, citing issues with concertgoers' behavior, including noise and urination. The Metropolitan Police also expressed concerns, stating the application lacked sufficient detail to promote licensing objectives.
Noise and Timing Controls
Royal Parks emphasized strict noise controls, noting only 15 unique noise complaints last year. Event timings remain unchanged: concerts end at 10:30 pm Monday to Saturday and 10 pm on Sundays.
BST Hyde Park 2026 will feature performances by Duran Duran, Lewis Capaldi, Mumford & Sons, and Pitbull, among others.
