Plans to host a series of major music festivals in Brockwell Park this summer are expected to be approved by Lambeth Council, despite a wave of local objections and previous legal challenges. The planning applications committee has been advised to greenlight the proposals from Summer Events Ltd, which operates Brockwell Live, at a decisive meeting scheduled for 24 February.
The proposed 2026 season would see five ticketed events—Field Day, Cross The Tracks, City Splash, Mighty Hoopla, and Brockwell Bounce—take over a section of the South London park. Organisers are seeking temporary planning permission for up to 32 days between 9 May and 9 June, which includes time for construction, live show days, dismantling, and buffer days for poor weather. Wide Awake festival will be taking a break this year.
This marks the first time Brockwell Live has submitted a full planning application. Previously, the festivals operated under permitted development rights, a practice that prompted successful legal action from campaigners last year. Following a judge’s ruling that some events exceeded the 28-day permitted limit, Lambeth Council announced it would adopt a new strategy, requiring full planning scrutiny for the 2026 series.
While the administrative process unfolds, organisers are moving forward with lineup announcements. Cross The Tracks, scheduled for Sunday, 24 May, has confirmed Mercury Prize-winning artist Little Simz as its headliner. This will be the rapper’s first-ever headline festival performance.
- Cross The Tracks will feature nine stages of jazz, funk, and soul.
- The bill includes KOKOROKO, Obongjayar, Lady Wray, and Brooke Combe.
- The festival maintains a 50/50 gender split across its lineup and features over 70 street food vendors.
The following day, Monday, 25 May, will see City Splash return to the park. Billed as the world’s largest one-day Caribbean and African music festival, the event recently announced its second wave of artists.
- Dancehall stars Aidonia and Elephant Man join previously announced headliner Beres Hammond.
- The lineup also features Gyptian, Jada Kingdom, Queen Ifrica, and The Congos.
- Legendary sound systems including Channel One and Saxon Sound will perform.
Despite the high-profile bookings, the festival series remains controversial among some locals. During the consultation period for the new planning application, Lambeth Council received 395 objections, compared to 127 supportive responses and seven neutral comments.
The Brixton Society criticised the plans for focusing exclusively on paid commercial events, arguing that ticket prices exclude many local residents and that no free or family-focused activities are included. Meanwhile, the Friends of Brockwell Park raised concerns about restricted public access, claiming the festival footprint occupies 45% of accessible parkland and 60% of open grass during peak summer months.
Campaigners have long argued that the scale of the events causes significant and lasting damage to the grounds, pointing to waterlogging and rutting in previous years. Last year’s legal challenge, led by the group Protect Brockwell Park and backed by actor Sir Mark Rylance, argued the park was being “damaged beyond repair.” At the time, Sir Mark stated that the high steel walls erected for the festivals “destroys the park for weeks and harms the grass, trees and plant life for months if not for ever.”
However, planning officers have disputed some of these claims, stating that the proposed 2026 events will use only 26% of the park and that the objectors’ figures “do not correspond with the submitted plans.” Officers have recommended that councillors grant conditional planning permission, concluding that the cultural, social, and economic benefits of the festival series carry significant weight.
Supporters of the festivals highlight the wellbeing benefits for younger demographics and the importance of shared cultural experiences. Local businesses have also previously spoken out in favour of the events, noting the crucial boost in footfall and revenue they provide to the surrounding area. Furthermore, Lambeth Council has historically defended the events, noting last year that partnering with Brockwell Live to run the Lambeth Country Show saved the authority £700,000 and secured £150,000 for park investment.
Image credits:
Luke Dyson
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