Kernowfornia Festival 2026 cancelled as company goes into liquidation

If you bought a ticket for Kernowfornia Festival this September, the event is off. The company behind it is going into liquidation, and it says it cannot refund you directly. Here is what has happened and how you may still be able to get your money back.

What has happened

Gracenote Promotion LTD, the company behind both Kernowfornia Festival and this year’s inaugural Morvala Festival of Arts, has announced that Kernowfornia Festival 2026 will not take place.

In a statement, the company said it had taken professional advice following recent financial developments and a full review of its overall financial position. It said it had been left with no responsible alternative but to begin the process of entering liquidation, as it is insolvent.

The festival had been due to run this September, with an event date of 6 September 2026. The company said it had every intention of delivering Kernowfornia this year but is no longer in a position to do so.

What it means for your refund

Because Gracenote Promotion LTD is insolvent, it says it is not in a financial position to issue refunds directly.

If you paid for your tickets with a credit or debit card, you may be able to recover the cost through your bank or card provider instead. The company has pointed ticket holders towards the protections available to them and urged people to act quickly.

If you paid by credit card

You may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

• Contact your credit card provider as soon as possible.
• Tell them the festival tickets have not been provided.
• Ask to make a claim under Section 75.
• You usually need to make the claim within 120 days of the event date, which is 6 September 2026.

If you paid by debit card

You may be able to recover your payment through a chargeback claim.

• Contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible.
• Ask to raise a chargeback claim for services not received.
• Time limits can vary, so the sooner you contact them the better.

The company said contacting your bank or card provider is often the quickest route for customers to get their money back.

What happens next

Gracenote Promotion LTD said it will now enter a formal liquidation process and will fully cooperate with the appointed insolvency practitioner, providing all information requested.

Once a liquidator has been formally appointed, all known creditors will be contacted directly and kept informed in line with the relevant insolvency procedures.

What the organiser said

The company apologised to everyone who had already bought tickets. It said it understood that many people had booked accommodation, arranged travel, taken time off work and made plans with friends and family well in advance, and that it understood the disappointment, frustration and financial impact the news would have.

The organiser and director of Gracenote Promotion LTD said they had also suffered devastating personal financial consequences. Having personally guaranteed a number of the company’s financial obligations, they said they had been left with no choice but to enter personal bankruptcy, and that the collapse had left them financially ruined alongside the business.

The statement said Kernowfornia was created because the team believed Cornwall deserved ambitious, independent live music events that celebrated the county and brought people together. It thanked the artists, suppliers, contractors, volunteers, staff and supporters who helped bring the festival to life, saying none of it would have been possible without them.

“All I can say is that I am truly, deeply sorry,” the director said.

A liquidator has yet to be formally appointed. Once one is in place, the company said all known creditors will be contacted directly.