A POPULAR boutique music festival held in Newent last summer will not return in 2026 after organisers confirmed the decision following significant financial losses.

The New Heights Festival took place at Nansfield Farm in Newent on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19, 2025, attracting hundreds of music lovers to the Forest of Dean for a weekend of live music, sunshine and emerging talent.

Despite the event’s success with audiences, organisers have now said the costs of running the festival outweighed expectations.

In a statement released this week, the New Heights team said the festival’s first year was always expected to be a learning experience, both personally and financially, but admitted the losses were greater than anticipated, making it impossible to stage the event again next year.

Last summer’s festival featured three stages and showcased a wide range of up-and-coming artists. Friday opened with acoustic performances before a headline set from Leeds band The Dunwells,

Saturday expanded to include a main stage and DJ tent, with acts such as Truck, Dub Catalyst and Revivalry. Herefordshire indie band Pentire headlined the evening, rounding off the weekend with a well-received set.

Despite the cancellation of the 2026 festival, organisers stressed that New Heights itself is not coming to an end. Instead, the team has announced the launch of New Heights Nights, a series of gig nights that will take place across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The organisers said the new live music nights aim to keep the New Heights community going, introduce the brand to more music fans and raise funds that could support a future return of the festival when the timing is right.

The New Heights team described the cancellation as “a blip in the road, not the end”, and said they remain committed to building a strong grassroots music community following the festival’s launch in Newent last summer.