WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS MUSIC CULTURE
A new not-for-profit festival titled Where It All Began has been announced, set to take place at the Secret Garden Party site in Cambridgeshire from 18th to 21st June 2026, the event is supporting the Grassroots music scene in the UK.
The event is intended to coincide with the Summer Solstice and the start of the UK festival season.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FESTIVAL AIMS TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS VENUES AND ARTISTS
The organisers describe the festival as a response to continued closures of grassroots venues and financial pressures on independent festivals. Where It All Began is structured as a community-focused initiative, aiming to reinvest all revenue back into supporting grassroots music, independent promoters, and emerging artists.
The festival is planned for an audience of 5,000 to 8,000 attendees, with a design focused on maintaining a small-scale, community-oriented atmosphere. At least seven stages are planned, featuring both live and electronic music.
PROGRAMMING APPROACH
Programming will be led collaboratively by partner venues, festivals, and promoters from across the UK, rather than through a single central booking team. This approach is intended to highlight emerging musicians and provide performance opportunities under standardised fair pay conditions aligned with Musicians’ Union guidelines.
NEW FINANCIAL MODEL
Where It All Began is structured as a not-for-profit initiative with no shareholders. Funding is planned through a scalable crowdfunded model, due to launch on 7th November 2025, with programme growth tied directly to money raised. The model is intended to allow smaller venues and festivals to participate in programming without the financial risk of running their own large-scale independent events.
PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
The festival is backed by a number of national music organisations and venues, including: Arts Council England, Music Venue Trust, Association of Independent Festivals, Secret Garden Party, Save Our Scene, Leeds Conservatoire, BIMM Music Institute, Band on the Wall, Trinity Centre, Clwb Ifor Bach, and The 100 Club.
Representatives from partner organisations describe the initiative as an opportunity to create sustainable conditions for independent festival culture and grassroots performance spaces.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FESTIVAL COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES
The organisers state that the event will include pathways into the music industry for younger participants, including the development of a youth-led festival venue and collaborations with music education providers. These programmes aim to provide practical experience for students and early-career artists and technicians.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FESTIVAL TICKETING MODEL
Supporters who back the crowdfunder campaign will gain early access to festival tickets and involvement in shaping the long-term direction of the project. Pricing is expected to remain lower than many large-scale commercial festivals, supported by shared infrastructure and collaborative resourcing.
HiFi PiG Says: A great idea for the UK music and entertainment industry!
