Major East London Festival Aims to Significantly Extend Park Usage Period
Organisers behind two prominent East London festivals are seeking to more than double the number of days they can utilize one of London's largest public parks. The proposal would grant All Points East and LIDO festivals access to Victoria Park for 75 days annually, a substantial increase from the current 28-day limit that has been in place.
Detailed Expansion Plans for Victoria Park Events
Under the newly submitted plans, festival organisers AEG are requesting permission to use Victoria Park for 75 days each year over the next six years. This represents a dramatic expansion from current arrangements, where the park hosts events for just 28 days annually. The extended timeframe would encompass both the construction and deconstruction phases for temporary festival structures, in addition to the actual event days themselves.
Currently, Victoria Park accommodates three main events: the LIDO festival in June, the All Points East festival across two weekends in August, and the accompanying free community event called Into the Neighbourhood. The organisers emphasize that their proposal does not extend the actual festival running times, but rather provides additional days for setup and teardown operations.
Resident Opposition and Community Concerns
The proposed expansion has already generated significant opposition from local residents who believe the current 28-day usage period is already excessive. A petition launched in 2025 specifically called for reducing event days at the park, with residents expressing frustration about what they describe as "massive fences" that block access to green spaces during festival periods.
Residents have voiced concerns that the commercial use of Victoria Park has reached unacceptable levels, with one petition section stating: "The festivals now occupy an entire month of summer weekends during which the park is very loud and busy. Each event brings 4m high prison-vibe fence walls to the most lush, tree-lined parts of the east park for weeks on end."
Festival History and Economic Considerations
All Points East has established itself as a cultural staple in East London since its inception in 2017, featuring major headliners including Disclosure, Stormzy, and Chase and Status. The LIDO festival operates as a separate 11-day event, while the community-focused Into the Neighbourhood typically runs for up to eight days.
In their official proposal, AEG organisers explained: "LIDO and All Points East Festivals together with the associated 'In the Neighbourhood' events as planned for 2026 would need more than 28 days. The development time includes all the construction of the festival temporary structures and their removal as well as the event times themselves."
Ongoing Community Consultation Process
The festival organisers are currently engaged in a community consultation process with Tower Hamlets Council to gauge public support and address objections. Residents have until February 26 to provide feedback on the proposed expansion. This consultation aims to balance the economic and cultural benefits of the festivals against residents' concerns about prolonged park closures and noise disruption during peak summer months.
Local residents have emphasized their desire for uninterrupted access to Victoria Park, with petition organizers arguing: "In peak summer, the residents of Tower Hamlets deserve more than just one month of uninterrupted use of their park." The outcome of this consultation will significantly influence whether the 75-day proposal moves forward or faces modification based on community input.
