Festivals are where memories are made. The live music, the good vibes, and the time spent with friends make these live music events unforgettable. But, for organisers the reality is far from carefree.
Behind the scenes, festivals are a high-stakes balancing act, where one unexpected event – a downpour, a last-minute artist cancellation, or an engineering fault – can turn months of planning into financial disaster.
Last year alone, 72 UK festivals faced cancellation, postponement, and shut down. Rising costs, unpredictable risks, and tightening margins are making it harder to keep events operational. So, as 2025 unfolds, festival organisers are left asking: How do we make sure our show goes on?
The answer lies in smarter risk management. And that’s where LMP’s new insurance solution – FestiFLEX – comes in.
The Harsh Realities of Festival Planning
For attendees, festivals feel effortless and joyous. They buy a ticket, show up, and enjoy the show. But for organisers, the pressure is very real.
They face financial strain from tighter budgets and increased costs; increasingly unpredictable weather leading to dangerous conditions, logistical nightmares, and financial losses; artist cancellations causing ticket refunds and reputational damage; and security threats from terrorism and civil unrest creating dangerous disruption and potential serious risk or death. The list is seemingly endless.
Even when ticket sales are strong, a single setback can wipe out months, if not years, of hard work. Many organisers are operating on razor-thin margins, meaning there’s little room for error. Making sure that your event is properly insured against these setbacks could be the difference between financial success and failure.
Why Traditional Policies Fall Short (New Problems Call for New Solutions)
Festival insurance has always been a key part of risk management, but traditional policies have become increasingly rigid and expensive – out of the budget reach of many festival organisers. Many insurers require large upfront payments, which can prove a major burden for organisers already trying to manage cash flow challenges.
Worse still, post-pandemic insurance policies have excluded pandemic-related losses, leaving many festivals exposed to risks that could shut them down overnight; we all remember what happened to live music events when COVID-19 hit.
This lack of flexibility and coverage has forced festival organisers into a difficult position: either gamble with their event’s future or pay exorbitant insurance costs that strain their budgets even further. So, what’s the alternative?
FestiFLEX
FestiFLEX is an innovative insurance solution designed by our team to specifically cover festival and live event organisers without breaking their budgets.
Unlike traditional insurance policies, FestiFLEX works on a deposit-based system, allowing organisers to spread the cost over manageable instalments. This means full contingency (cancellation) cover without the financial strain, giving festival organisers the security they need to plan with confidence.
FestiFLEX isn’t simply a financial safety net, it’s an innovative policy that directly addresses the risks live music organisers are facing going into the 2025 festival season.
The key benefits of FestiFLEX are specifically created to help more festivals mitigate risks and achieve success. The flexible payment model means there is no need for large, upfront payments; you can spread the cost over time, keep your cash flow healthy, and receive cover from your first payment.
The cover is second to none, and includes an optional add-on for pandemic coverage – unheard of in the live event insurance industry – and protects against terrorism and civil commotion as standard. If you do need support with your policy at any time, our experts are there to support you 24/7 to provide guidance and claims assistance every step of the way.
Why Trust LMP?
At LMP, we understand festivals. With decades of experience in live music insurance, we’ve helped protect some of the biggest festivals across the UK and globally. We work closely with festival organisers to create bespoke solutions that meet the unique needs of their events.
Our team has seen it all.
The small independent festival that faced last-minute artist cancellations. The established event that was forced to shut down due to extreme weather. The organiser who lost everything after their insurance policy failed to cover key risks. Every time we see a show postponed or cancelled, we think of ways we can evolve insurance solutions to protect more events and festivals in the future.
That’s how FestiFLEX was created/born/came about.
We know that each festival and live music event is unique and therefore requires a personalised, tailored insurance solution. We believe in real protection, built for real-world challenges, and we design our insurance solutions to match.
Don’t Leave Your Festival’s Future to Chance
The UK festival industry is at a pass/juncture. The risks are higher than ever, and without the right protection, even the most well-planned event can find themselves a single setback away from financial ruin. It’s best not to leave anything to chance.
FestiFLEX is available now – but not for long. Exclusively for UK-based festival and live event organisers, availability is limited, and demand is expected to be high.
If you’re planning a festival in 2025, now is the time to protect your event. Don’t let uncertainty dictate your festival’s future.
Get in touch with LMP today and find out how FestiFLEX can safeguard your event.
LMP. Insurance for the unmissable.