Organizers of the LIDO festival have announced a major schedule change for 2026, confirming the event will no longer take place in June and will instead move to a one-off rescheduled date on 31 August. The 12 June bill featuring CMAT, Father John Misty, and Sharon Van Etten has been cancelled, as has the 14 June show headlined by Bombay Bicycle Club and Metronomy. Ticketholders for both dates will receive full refunds. The electronic duo Maribou State will now perform on the new date, along with all of their planned support acts, though it remains unclear which specific support acts will appear. Further details on the rescheduled August event and refund processes are available via official ticketing platforms, but the exact reasons why CMAT, Father John Misty, Sharon Van Etten, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Metronomy cannot perform on the new date have not been disclosed.
The move comes as part of efforts to safeguard Victoria Park following a period of extreme weather. Last summer’s drought caused widely reported dust issues, prompting an extensive reseeding and restoration programme led by promoter AEG. Those improvements have successfully restored the park to a strong condition for public use, but the unusually wet winter has slowed ground recovery in some areas. This environmental focus aims to prevent similar disruptions, with the total number of ticketholders impacted by the cancellations still unconfirmed.
Stakeholders have expressed support for the decision, with organizers noting the changes are not the fault of the artists or London Borough of Tower Hamlets, both of whom were described as fully supportive. The decision was taken independently, with Tower Hamlets council approving the revised schedule to prioritise community use of the space, and there will be no financial impact on the borough. AEG’s commitments to local community programmes and planned investment in Victoria Park remain unchanged. Whether any other festivals or events in Victoria Park are affected by the ground conditions has not been addressed.
Fan reactions and artist statements emerged quickly after the announcement. CMAT posted a statement to fans on Instagram following the news, and fans were quick to share their disappointment in the comments. According to CMAT, she expressed regret about the cancellation due to ground issues at Victoria Park, noting she and others on the bill are no longer able to play and that automatic refunds are available.