Greenbelt festival to 'take a breather' in 2027

A long-running festival is taking a pause in 2027 while it continues to search for a new home.

The faith, arts and music festival Greenbelt will hold its final event at Boughton House, Northamptonshire, over the August Bank Holiday weekend after basing itself at the stately home since 2014.

Organisers said they had carried out "an extensive search" for a new site, but that "more time is needed to secure the venue that will allow Greenbelt to grow and evolve".

Creative director Paul Northup said: "We'd rather pause for a year than settle for somewhere that doesn't allow Greenbelt to flourish over the long-term."

It hopes to go out with a bang and a "memorable farewell" to Boughton House, with Arrested Development and The Proclaimers in the line-up as well as Charlotte Church, Michael Sheen and Cathy Newman.

Greenbelt said although it would not stage a "full-scale festival" in 2027, there would still be events and activities including a community camping gathering and an online Lent programme.

The full festival would return in 2028, it said.

Northup said: "Over the last year we've visited some wonderful sites and had countless conversations about what Greenbelt's future could look like.

"We've realised that we're not simply looking for somewhere to site a festival.

"We're looking for somewhere Greenbelt can more fully be itself: more imaginative, more rooted, more sustainable, more accessible."

The festival was launched 52 years ago and has moved home seven times.

Greenbelt previously said the cost of providing a "hefty" infrastructure at the rural location had become more expensive each year.

"There are some really strong contenders on the table, but after more than 50 years of Greenbelt, we owe it to our audience, artists, partners and future generations of festival goers to take the time to get this as right as we possibly can," Northup added.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Festival leaving stately home venue after a decade

Arrested Development to star at Greenbelt festival

Pussy Riot, U2 and Sir Cliff: The Greenbelt story