Residents in South London are being given a direct say in the future of major music festivals in Brockwell Park, following a significant legal ruling that has changed how the events are approved.
A New Era of Public Consultation
For the first time, the company behind the popular Brockwell Live series, which includes festivals like Mighty Hoopla, Cross the Tracks, and Field Day, has been required to submit a full planning application. Summer Events Ltd lodged this application with Lambeth Council on December 2, 2025, marking a departure from the previous system where events operated under permitted development rights.
This shift is the result of a successful legal challenge by campaigners. A judge ruled earlier this year that the council did not have the correct planning permission for the festivals and that parts of the park were being used beyond the permitted 28 days. Lambeth Council has decided not to appeal the ruling, opting instead for a "new approach" that subjects the event programme to full planning scrutiny and public consultation.
Details of the 2026 Festival Proposal
The temporary planning application seeks permission to use just over a quarter of Brockwell Park for a maximum of 32 days between May 9 and June 9, 2026. These proposed days include time for setting up events, the show days themselves, dismantling, and buffer days in case of wet weather.
Councillor Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth's Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, stated the proposal aims to balance the cultural benefits of the events with reducing their impact on the community. "It balances the desire to hold these important events which bring joy to hundreds of thousands of people and celebrates our borough's diverse culture," he said, while acknowledging the reduced total number of event days.
Cancellation and Campaigner Reaction
In a separate but related announcement, the council confirmed that the beloved Lambeth Country Show will not take place in 2026. Citing a rise in running costs, Cllr Anyanwu explained the council would need to fund over £1 million for the free, two-day event, a cost deemed unsustainable amidst budget pressures on vital services.
Campaigners from Protect Brockwell Park welcomed the council's decision to drop its legal appeal and embrace the full planning process. They expressed hope for a future, community-led model for the Lambeth Country Show and called for full transparency on commercial event revenues and robust enforcement of any planning conditions.
The public now has until December 31, 2025, to submit their comments on the Brockwell Live planning application via the Lambeth Council website. This new process grants local people a formal voice in deciding how their cherished green space is used for large-scale cultural events.
