London’s Festival Scene Takes Another Blow as LIDO Is Forced to Cancel 2 of Its 3 Days

London’s LIDO festival has been forced to cancel two of its scheduled three days, dealing another blow to the capital’s music scene.

The announcement made on Thursday (April 9) comes just days after Wireless Festival was scrapped owing to Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, being banned from entering the U.K. on April 7. The Home Office stated that Ye’s past antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments meant that his presence was “not in the public good.” That move came after a number of high-profile politicians criticized the booking and sponsors withdrew from the event.

LIDO was due to take place at London’s Victoria Park on June 12-14. In a statement posted to its social media profile, the festival announced that the days headlined by CMAT and Bombay Bicycle Club would be canceled. The day headlined by Maribou State will be moved to Aug. 31.

The festival said that the cancellation was to “protect park ground conditions” at Victoria Park which hosted LIDO and All Points East, both promoted by AEG, in 2025. The latter was besieged by “well-reported dust issues” due to last summer’s drought.

“Protecting the condition of Victoria Park is of paramount importance to LIDO and to London Borough of Tower Hamlets,” the festival wrote, adding that an “extensive reseeding and improvement programme” is being implemented to protect the land.

However the U.K.’s recent winter — one of the wettest in recent history — has meant that advisors “recommended giving these newly improved areas a little more time before starting the festival programme.” The park is open to local residents and the statement adds that the cancellation “ensures the progress made is protected and continues to benefit the community throughout the spring and early summer.”

CMAT was due to perform on June 12 alongside Father John Misty and Sharon Van Etten, while Bombay Bicycle Club and Metronomy were due to take place on June 14. The festival has announced that neither can be rescheduled and therefore will be canceled. Ticket holders will receive a full refund.

Victoria Park is set to host the All Points East festival in August with Tyler, The Creator, Deftones, Lorde, and Twenty One Pilots among the headliners. 

Read LIDO’s full statement below.