Organisers of Big Church Festival have announced there will be no UK event in 2027, as they work towards bringing the Christian festival back to West Sussex in August 2028.

In an update to supporters, the Big Church Festival UK team thanked those who had generously donated the value of their 2026 festival orders to help secure the event's future.

The organisers said they were grateful for the generosity shown by festivalgoers, adding that every donation was helping give the festival a chance of continuing.

However, they confirmed that the event would not take place in Sussex next year.

Organisers of Big Church Festival have announced there will be no UK event in 2027, as they work towards bringing the Christian festival back to West Sussex in August 2028.

placeholder image — Organisers of Big Church Festival have announced there will be no UK event in 2027, as they work towards bringing the Christian festival back to West Sussex in August 2028.

The statement said: “With all that Big Church Festival is currently working through, we’re sad to announce that there will not be a UK festival in 2027.

“But please know we’re working as hard as we can to find a way back for August 2028, so pencil the bank holiday weekend into your diaries, and please continue to pray for a way forward. We are longing to be back together again!”

This year's festival, which was scheduled to run from August 28 to 30, was cancelled following a fatal incident on its opening afternoon.

Sussex Police were called to the Wiston Estate site in Washington Road at around 3.38pm on Friday, August 28, after reports that a large structure had fallen and injured people.

A 41-year-old man from Eastbourne, later named as Pastor Robert Guanco, died at the scene. Six other people were injured, with four taken to hospital for further treatment.

An inquest into Mr Guanco's death was opened in October. It heard that a large wooden arch had fallen over a temporary road, landing on several members of the public.

Festival organisers described themselves as ‘devastated and heartbroken’ following the incident and confirmed that the entire 2026 event would close.

The festival had been expected to attract around 40,000 people to the Wiston Estate over the August bank holiday weekend.

Alongside the announcement about the UK event, organisers have confirmed that Big Church Festival Europe will go ahead from August 20 to 22, 2027.

They stressed that the European festival is owned and operated by a separate European charity and is independent of the UK organisation, despite sharing the Big Church name and vision.