Hardwick Festival: North East music weekend announces 'pause' on events
A major North East festival has announced it will “pause” due to escalating costs.
Hardwick Festival, which first took place in 2013, has announced it will not take place in 2026.
In a statement, released on the morning of Friday, November 7, the County Durham event explained rising costs were the reason for the break, as well as ticket sales “not matching our ambitions.”
Switching from a two day event to three days in 2023, last year’s event saw headline sets from Scissor Sister, Pet Shop Boys and Olly Murs.
Keen to mention the event is expected to happen again further into the future, the full statement says: “After 12 unforgettable years of music and memories, it’s time to hit pause, just for now.
“From our humble beginnings as a one-day festival to the three-day festival we all love, Hardwick Festival has been an incredible journey. We’ve danced in the rain, sung our hearts out in the sun, and watched our fields come alive with the shared love of live music.
Like many independent festivals, we’ve felt the growing impact of rising costs, from infrastructure and logistics to artist fees, and despite our very best efforts, we’re unable to bring everyone together for 2026.
“Over the years we’ve been lucky enough to welcome an incredible line-up of artists to our stages, starting with our very first headliner, Jools Holland, who paved the way for legends like Nile Rodgers, Rag N’ Bone Man, Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, Richard Ashcroft, Tom Meighan, Reverend And The Makers, Pet Shop Boys, Scissor Sisters, The Jacksons, Madness and many more.
“We’re also immensely proud to have championed homegrown North East talent with rising stars like Andrew Cushin. And let’s not forget our DJ line-ups, which grew year on year to celebrate house music lovers far and wide.
“We also became the North East’s leading family-friendly festival, growing our family area into something quite special for our little festival goers which we hope they remember for years to come.
“We know that times have been hard over the last few years and it’s been tough to get ticket sales where they need to be, unfortunately the sales haven’t matched our ambitions.
“But this isn’t a goodbye, it’s a see you later.”
The statement adds: “We’re taking time to regroup, reflect and reimagine what the future of Hardwick Festival could look like, and we’ll be back when the time is right.
“To everyone who’s ever danced, sung, laughed, performed, worked, or supported - thank you. You’ve been the heartbeat of Hardwick Festival.
“Please continue to support local boutique festivals and independent music venues. They need you now more than ever to keep the North East’s live music scene thriving.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for an incredible 12 years and we hope to see you soon.”