Music venues ask Healey for business rates relief

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 5, 2026

Major UK music venues, including the O2 Arena and Wembley Arena, have formally requested Chancellor John Healey to extend business rates relief to larger live music venues starting next year. They argue that broadening support beyond smaller venues could boost economic activity and help sustain the live music sector as the government prepares its upcoming Budget.

Major music venues across the United Kingdom, including prominent locations such as the O2 Arena, Wembley Arena, and Alexandra Palace, have formally requested that Chancellor John Healey extend business rates relief to larger live music venues. The request, submitted by the industry group LIVE ahead of the upcoming Budget, seeks a 20 percent reduction in business rates for all live music venues starting next year.

Currently, the government’s support primarily targets smaller venues and grassroots music spaces. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently announced measures to provide business rates relief for pubs and grassroots venues beginning in April 2027. However, representatives from some of the country’s largest music arenas argue that these benefits should be broadened to include major venues that contribute significantly to the live entertainment sector and urban economic activity.

In their formal submission, LIVE emphasized that applying a uniform relief across all live music venues could stimulate increased foot traffic and spending on high streets. Jon Collins, the chief executive of LIVE, underscored the potential positive impact of such a policy, citing a strong case for expanding the current relief framework to better support larger venues that host significant cultural and entertainment events.

The live music industry has faced a range of financial pressures in recent years, with many venues struggling to recover fully from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic uncertainties that followed. Proponents of the expanded relief argue that business rates represent a substantial cost burden that, if alleviated, could foster greater economic activity and job retention within the sector.

While the government has yet to announce whether it will modify current relief schemes to encompass larger venues, the plea from major arena operators and the LIVE group highlights ongoing concerns about the sustainability of live music infrastructure in the UK. Discussions around business rates and support measures remain a key focus as policymakers prepare for the next fiscal planning cycle.

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