Analysis reveals continued disparity between male and female artists across UK festivals

The UK’s major festivals are still lacking equality between male and female acts according to a new analysis from technology company, A2D2. 

While the likes of Glastonbury Festival welcomed two female headliners in the form of Dua Lipa and SZA at the end of last month, A2D2’s findings demonstrated that festivals across the UK still featured more male artists or all-male bands.

A2D2’s analysis showed that of the UK’s top 10 biggest and most popular festivals, 63% of acts were male artists or all-male groups, compared to just 21% female solo artists or female-led acts.

This means that for every three male acts performing on festival stages, there’s only one female artist or group.

Some 51.2% of acts featured at Glasgow festival TRNSMT were male, 31.7% were female and 17.1% were mixed. Meanwhile, Glastonbury’s line-up featured 46.8% male acts compared to 26.2% female acts and 27% mixed.

Up there with TRNSMT and Glastonbury, Latitude Festival presented a positive representation for female acts, with 29.5% compared to 37.5% male performers and 33% mixed.

Elsewhere, Parklife Festival featured 76.5% male acts compared to 15.7% female and 7.8% mixed; Download Festival’s line-up included 81.3% male acts compared to 11.2% female and 7.5% mixed; and Creamfields’ line-up saw 80.9% male performers, 10.6% female and 8.5% mixed.

A2D2’s research was compiled using available line-ups featured across festival websites in June. For flagship festival Glastonbury and other sizeable events, only the headlining acts were analysed.