Beloved South London Summer Show Cancelled in Budget Row
The sudden cancellation of the popular Lambeth Country Show for 2026 has been labelled "shocking" and sparked a fierce political dispute over the true cost of running the event. The Labour administration of Lambeth Council announced earlier this month that the free, two-day summer festival in Brockwell Park would not go ahead, claiming it would require a "substantially increased financial contribution" from the cash-strapped authority.
A Heated Debate Over the True Cost
At the heart of the controversy is a stark disagreement over the figures. A Lambeth Labour spokesperson stated that staging the show in 2026 would cost the council £1.1 million. This sum is said to include the £400,000 it cost to run the event in 2025, plus an extra £700,000. The council claims this additional amount is usually saved by using infrastructure and staff from the commercial Brockwell Live festival series, but that this subsidy would not be available for 2026.
However, the Liberal Democrat opposition has fiercely contested this explanation. They argue that the partnership with Brockwell Live remains in place and that, under the same arrangements as last year, the event should only cost the council £400,000. The Lib Dems have accused the Labour council of being "vague and mealy-mouthed" about the revenue generated from commercial events in the park and how it supports the community show.
Political Accusations Fly in Lambeth
Councillor Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats, launched a scathing attack on the decision. "Labour has spent years insisting that Brockwell Live's commercial events were essential to funding our much-loved Lambeth Country Show," she said. "For Labour to pull the plug now exposes the hollowness of their claims. It is an astonishing betrayal of residents and a failure of financial stewardship." The Lib Dems say they support proposals from local campaigners for a more affordable, scaled-down version of the show.
In response, a Lambeth Labour spokesperson blamed years of central government austerity, stating the council is £116 million a year worse off than in 2010. "This damage cannot be fixed overnight," they said, citing 20% cuts to senior staff and other difficult decisions, including axing the country show, as part of urgent cost-saving measures.
New Planning Rules for Brockwell Park Events
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of significant change for events in Brockwell Park. The operator, Summer Events Ltd, submitted its first-ever full planning application for its 2026 Brockwell Live programme last month. This follows a court ruling earlier this year which found that parts of the park had been used beyond the permitted 28 days without proper consent.
This new process means, for the first time, local residents will be formally consulted on each proposed event. A public consultation on the 2026 plans ended on December 31, with over 300 responses now being reviewed by the council. The campaign group Protect Brockwell Park, which brought the legal challenge, said it was "delighted" the council withdrew its appeal against the ruling. The group has suggested a return to a lower-impact, community-led format for the Country Show, fully funded by a greater share of the private operator's profits.
The council has stated it will not appeal the court decision to avoid "unnecessary costs to the taxpayer" and has embarked on a "new approach" for Brockwell Park events, which will now always require full planning permission.
