Final Splendour Festival begins in Nottingham as 18-year event comes to an end
The final ever Splendour Festival gets underway in Nottingham today, marking the beginning of the end for one of the city's most-loved live music events
The final ever Splendour Festival gets underway in Nottingham today, marking the beginning of the end for one of the city's biggest and most-loved live music events.
Thousands of music fans are expected to head to Wollaton Park this weekend (18 and 19 July) for a farewell edition featuring a line-up of headline acts and homegrown talent.
This year's festival will be headlined by The Wombats and Snow Patrol, with performances also coming from Primal Scream, Editors, Cast and a host of emerging artists from across the region.
Earlier this year, organisers DHP Family and Nottingham City Council announced that 2026 would be the festival's final edition, citing rising costs as the reason for bringing the long-running event to a close.
"We want to go out with a bang!"
Anton Lockwood, one of the Splendour Festival organisers said "We want to go out with a bang!" He continued:
"We want everyone to come and celebrate the last ever Splendour."
The festival are selling 2 for 1 tickets so that more people can enjoy the festival for the very last time.
Lockwood hopes that although this musical chapter is closing in Nottingham, it's paving the way for another:
"There's been a great deal of sadness, but it's certainly not the end of us producing events in Nottingham."
A festival that champions grassroots talent
Since launching in 2008, Splendour has become a fixture in Nottingham's summer calendar, welcoming some of the biggest names in music while providing an important platform for local and grassroots artists.
Over the past 18 years, the festival has helped showcase Nottingham's thriving music scene, giving emerging acts the opportunity to perform alongside internationally recognised performers.
'The Recovery', a local band were one of the acts artists that played the first ever Splendour Festival back in 2008.
Paul Horton, drummer of the band, said the festival has played a significant role in Nottingham's music community.
"To be on a proper stage, I remember thinking... we've made it."
Horton said he's "genuinely gutted" to see the festival come to a close and that it will be "massively missed."
The two-day event has grown into one of the East Midlands' most popular festivals, attracting thousands of visitors each year and bringing a significant boost to the city's cultural and tourism economy.
As the gates open for the final time, festival-goers will be celebrating not only this year's line-up but also nearly two decades of memorable performances, community spirit and unforgettable summer moments.