London’s festival calendar might have a Glastonbury-sized gap this year, but Brockwell Park is once again shaping up to be one of the capital’s biggest alfresco party spots – if the lawyers don’t get in the way.
After a high court ruling in 2025 quashed a key planning certificate for Brockwell Live, Lambeth Council moved to reassure festival‑goers that major events like Field Day and Mighty Hoopla could still go ahead under existing permitted development rights, even as legal wrangling continued.
But south London’s Brockwell Park is once again at the centre of a row over major music festivals, after local campaign group Protect Brockwell Park’s fresh objection to a planning application could jeopardise this summer’s events.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s happening in Brockwell Park?
While the festival has submitted a planning application – the green light is yet to be granted.
Lambeth Council adopted what it described as a “new approach” by running a public consultation on the 2026 events at the end of 2025, which closed on December 31. Attracting 470 responses, 343 of the comments are categorised as “objections” and 119 in support.
Community group Protect Brockwell Park (PBP) launched a new legal objection following the application, aimed at stopping day festivals scheduled for Brockwell Park in summer 2026.
The move follows a 2025 legal campaign by PBP, which sought to cancel events such as Field Day, Cross the Tracks and Mighty Hoopla, although those festivals ultimately still went ahead.
This is the first time the company has had to apply for planning permission, as previous editions were run under permitted development rights until PBP’s successful legal challenge in 2025 forced a change in process.
Summer Events Ltd, which runs the Brockwell Live series, has applied for planning permission to temporarily build festival infrastructure in the park for up to 32 days for five one‑day events at the end of May 2026.
PBP’s objections and key claims
PBP argues that the festivals are not truly temporary, calling them “part of an obviously prolonged and recurring use with lasting effects beyond the event period” and claiming they will do more harm than good to the local area.
The group says the plans amount to “inappropriate development” on metropolitan open land and will damage the openness and “essential parkland character” of Brockwell Park, also alleging that as much as half the park is taken over during the 32-day period, higher than the 26 percent land-take previously cited by organisers.
PBP is still pushing legal challenges and has demanded the consultation be extended, while Lambeth Council has not yet formally responded to the group’s latest objection.
What it means for 2026 festivals in Brockwell Park
Tickets for Brockwell Live festivals, including Mighty Hoopla, set to be headlined by Lily Allen – went on sale in 2025, with some events already sold out, even as the planning battle continues in the background.
For now, the future of Brockwell Park’s 2026 festival season remains uncertain, hinging on how Lambeth Council and the planning process respond to the renewed objection from campaigners.
Below is the official statement from Brockwell Live:
“The routine planning process currently underway helps ensure events like Brockwell Live can take place responsibly and with consideration for Brockwell Park and its neighbours. We’re pleased to see Lambeth residents engaging with the consultation process, sharing both feedback and support for our plans for the 2026 event, which will feature four festivals across two weekends.”