News | Nordic Wristbands UK to help fund AIF’s Music Festival Tax Relief campaign

NATIONWIDE 28 January 2026 — Nordic Wristbands UK has partnered with The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and will contribute funds to the trade body’s ongoing campaign for a Music Festival Tax Relief.

Nordic Wristbands UK has committed 1p to the organisation’s campaign for every wristband ordered by an AIF member festival.

AIF urged the UK Government to implement a Music Festival Tax Relief in June last year, after a devastating period of fallen festivals over the 18 months prior. Such a tax relief would mitigate closures and help support the recovery and growth of the festival sector.

Mirrored on other Creative Tax Reliefs, such as the highly successful Theatre Tax Relief and Orchestra Tax Reliefs, the AIF proposal would support smaller festivals under 30,000 capacity with tax relief on eligible expenditure towards the creative and music elements that make up micro and small events.

Nordic Wristbands UK launched in 2026 to deliver sustainable event access wristbands. It is partnered with Finland's Nordic Wristbands, a global leader and pioneer supplying wristbands and RFID event access control products to leading international events and brands.

Nordic Wristbands UK will supply sustainable ROP wristbands for this year’s Festival Congress, the annual B2B gathering for independent festival organisers in the UK, which returns to Bristol Beacon on Thursday 5 February 2026.

Graham Brown, Nordic Wristbands UK, says: “We’re very proud to be launching Nordic Wristbands UK at AIF’s Festival Congress. I’ve been working in and around UK festivals for three decades and have seen first-hand the incredibly important, positive impact of independent festivals on our culture. It’s right that the UK Government recognises and supports the sector with the tax relief these smaller/mid sized festivals need, and deserve. We’re fully aligned with the AIF on this great Music Festival Tax Relief initiative, alongside the association's ethos to encourage environmentally friendly practices at UK festivals.”

AIF CEO John Rostron said: “The UK’s treasured music festival sector is still facing existential struggles. A targeted Music Festival Tax Relief is still the single most effective thing the Government can do to bring many of these businesses from the brink. We already have similar support for other creative businesses such as theatres and orchestras. Festivals’ contribution to the country both economically and culturally is vital. We’re hugely grateful to Nordic Wristbands UK for backing our campaign to drive this crucial change. The company has been a long term ally to the independent festival sector, and proceeds from this partnership will give our tax relief campaign a real boost. We look forward to welcoming them to this year’s Festival Congress in Bristol on February 5.”

About AIF

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is the UK’s national not for profit festival trade association representing the interests of 170 UK music festivals. AIF Festivals collectively sell over 1.3 million tickets every year. AIF member festivals include some of the most successful and innovative festivals in the UK including the likes of Arctangent, Bloodstock, GreenBelt, Mighty Hoopla, Deershed, Valley Fest, End of The Road, Notting Hill Carnival, Pitchfork London, Field Maneuvers, Shambala, We Out Here and many more. Find out more atwww.aiforg.com.