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Hardwick Festival will not go ahead next year as bosses says they are "unable to bring everything together" for 2026. Organisers, who posted the sad update on social media on Friday, November 7, have said they will be back when the time is right.
Over the years the festival, which takes place in the stunning surroundings of Hardwick Hall, in Sedgefield, has seen acts such as Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Nile Rogers & Chic, Becky Hill and Rag'N'Bone Man take to the stage. Festival-goers flock from across the region and further afield.
But organisers say it's been "tough" to get ticket sales where they need to be and sales haven't matched the team's ambitions. Since its humble beginnings 12 years ago, Hardwick Live has grown from a one-day event to a three day festival.
In August 2025, thousands of music lovers enjoyed three days of sunshine, with a stellar line up including headliners Scissor Sisters kicked things off on night one, Pet Shop Boys on Saturday night and Olly Murs brought the curtain down in serious style.
The team behind the festival released the following statement on Friday morning: "After 12 unforgettable years of music and memories, it's time to hit pause, just for now. From our humble beginnings as a one-day event to the three-day festival we all know and love, Hardwick Festival has been an incredible journey. We've danced in the rain, sung our hearts out in the sun, and watched our fields come alive with the shared love of live music.
"Like many independent festivals, we've felt the growing impact of rising costs, from infrastructure and logistics to artist fees, and despite our very best efforts, we're unable to bring everything together for 2026. We know that times have been hard over the last few years and it's been tough for us to get ticket sales where they need to be, unfortunately sales haven't matched our ambitions.
"But this isn't goodbye. It's a see you later. We're taking time to regroup, reflect, and reimagine what the future of Hardwick Festival could look like, and we'll be back when the time is right.
"Over the years, we've been lucky enough to welcome an incredible line-up of artists to our stages, starting with our very first headliner, Jools Holland, who paved the way for legends like Nile Rodgers, Rag'n'Bone Man, Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, Richard Ashcroft, Tom Meighan, Reverend and The Makers, Pet Shop Boys, Scissor Sisters, The Jacksons, Madness & many more.
"We're also immensely proud to have championed homegrown North East talent with rising stars like Andrew Cushin. And let's not forget our DJ line-ups, which grew year after year to celebrate house music lovers far and wide.
"We also became the North East's leading family-friendly festival, growing our family area into something quite special for our little festival goers which we hope they remember for years to come! To everyone who's ever danced, sung, laughed, performed, worked, or supported - thank you. You've been the heartbeat of Hardwick Festival."
It ended: "Please continue to support local, boutique festivals and independent music venues. They need you now more than ever to keep the North East's live music scene thriving. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for an incredible 12 years and we hope to see you soon."
Festival-goers are devastated by the news as they pay tribute to the hard working team. One said: "This festival has been on par with many of the majors year in year out and I've always been impressed with the level of artists performing sometimes seeing other festival headliners not even top of the bill, good news that it's not forever and will be back when it's right."
Another wrote on the festival's Facebook page: "Having attended for the last 12 years I'm gutted with the decision but with rising costs for everyone and everything I completely understand. I hope that you come back stronger and have the same family friendly vibe we all love."
Another wrote: "Gutted for everyone who puts so much effort in. Unfortunately the rising costs across the whole sector are strangling events. Something needs to change or we will lose the festival scene for good."
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