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Mighty Hoopla

Mighty Hoopla
Flo at Mighty Hoopla in 2023, which took place in Brockwell Park
Location(s)Butlins in Bognor Regis (2016), Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets (2017), Brockwell Park (2018 - present)
Years active2016 – present
Capacity25,000[1]

Mighty Hoopla is a yearly outdoor music festival in London, and Europe's largest LGBTQ+ music festival.[2] It is known for including performances and DJ sets by drag performers in its programming.

History

[edit]

It was founded by Glynn Fussell and Jamie Tagg, organisers of clubnight Sink The Pink,[2][3][4] DJ and radio presenter Sean Rowley, and Ally Wolf.[5] The first event was held in 2016 at Butlins in Bognor Regis on the south coast, before moving to Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets in 2017, and then Brockwell Park in South London from 2018.[6] In 2023 Superstruct Entertainment bought a majority stake in the festival.[7]

The Butlins version of the festival was revived as The Mighty Hoopla Big Weekender from 2022 until 2024.[8][9] In 2025 the Big Weekender moved to the Mediterranean island of Malta, with venues in multiple locations including Cafe Del Mar in Saint Paul's Bay, Little Armier Beach in Mellieħa, and Gianpula Village on the outskirts of Rabat.[10]

The festival is known for including performances and DJ sets by drag performers. At the 2024 edition this included Jodie Harsh, David Hoyle, Tia Kofi, and Ginny Lemon.[11]

In October 2024, the festival's majority owner Superstruct Entertainment was bought by private-equity and investment company KKR. In May 2025, amidst backlash against it and other Superstruct-owned music companies such as Field Day and Boiler Room, Mighty Hoopla issued a statement saying that it stands in opposition of the "unethical investments" of KKR.[12]

In 2025, local residents succcessfully brought a judicial review challenging the permission given by Lambeth London Borough Council to use Brockwell Park for Mighty Hoopla and a number of other music events, on the basis that the council had blocked use of the park for too long.[13][14]

During her set at the 2025 edition of the festival, former Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall made headlines by leading the audience in an "anti-J.K. Rowling" chant in reference to the writer having made and shared what The Independent called: "numerous posts containing hateful rhetoric toward the trans and non-binary communities".[15][16]

Lineups

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Date Location Artists
26-29 February 2016 Butlins, Bognor Regis En Vogue, Hercules & Love Affair, Sister Sledge, Corona, Rozalla, Baby D[17]
4 June 2017 Victoria Park, London All Saints, Snap!, Charlotte Church's Late Night Pop Dungeon,[6] Alma,[18] Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Will Young, Years & Years, Artful Dodger, Fleur East,[19] S Club 3, Raye, Girli[20]
3 June 2018 Brockwell Park, London TLC,[21] Lily Allen, Melanie C, Louise, Vengaboys, B*Witched, MNEK, Nimmo[22] Louisa Johnson, Belinda Carlisle[23]
8 June 2019 Brockwell Park, London Chaka Khan, Kate Nash,[24] All Saints, Bananarama, Liberty X, Samantha Mumba, Jamelia, Tove Lo,[25] Confidence Man, Crystal Waters, Ultra Naté, Livin Joy, Artful Dodger[24]
4 September 2021 Brockwell Park, London Atomic Kitten, Cheryl, Kathy Sledge, Gabrielle, Alexandra Burke, Raye, Becky Hill, Honeyz, Lava La Rue[26] En Vogue, Eve, C&C Music Factory, Whigfield[27]
3-4 June 2022 Brockwell Park, London Blue, Natalie Imbruglia, Anastacia, Steps, Sugababes, Kim Wilde, Cascada, Jayda G, Basement Jaxx, Self Esteem, Jessie Ware, Kate Nash, Macy Gray, Katy B[28]
3-4 June 2023 Brockwell Park, London Kelly Rowland, Years & Years, Confidence Man, Kelis, Natasha Bedingfield, Beverley Knight, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Soul II Soul, Vengaboys, Shola Ama, Jamelia, Jayde Adams, Artful Dodger, Snap!, Flo,[29] Aqua, Jake Shears, Michelle McManus, Loreen, Clea, Nadine Coyle, Lisa Scott-Lee, Liberty X, Nicola Roberts & Kimberley Walsh (Guest appearance with Years & Years)
1-2 June 2024 Brockwell Park, London Nelly Furtado, Jessie Ware, En Vogue, Rita Ora, Bananarama, JoJo Siwa, Claire Richards, B*witched, Hercules & Love Affair, Artful Dodger, Alison Goldfrapp, Rachel Stevens, The Veronicas, Delta Goodrem, Louise, Shaznay Lewis, Cher Lloyd, Eve, Rebecca Black, Bambie Thug, Nakhane[11]
31 May-1 June 2025 Brockwell Park, London Saturday - Ciara, Jade, Jojo, Craig David (special guest with Jojo), Jamelia, Daniel Bedingfield, G Flip, Amy Studt, Booty Luv, Jimbo, Mutya Buena, Artful Dodger, Daphne and Celeste[30]

Sunday - Kesha, Loreen, Erika Jayne, Kate Nash with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Heidi Montag, Lemar, Lulu, Vengaboys, Tayce, Pixie Lott[30]

References

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  1. ^ Laney, Lewis (2023). 365 Gays of the Year (Plus 1 For A Leap Year). White Lion Publishing. ISBN 9780711273726.
  2. ^ a b Fussell, Glyn (2022). Sink the Pink's Manifesto for Misfits: Be Different, Be Free, Be You. White Lion Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 9780711267817.
  3. ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler (21 October 2024). "Kesha and Ciara to play UK festival exclusive shows at Mighty Hoopla 2025". Line of Best Fit.
  4. ^ Damshenas, Sam (28 June 2024). "Mighty Hoopla founders are 'disrupting the fundraising industry' with Pink Noise". Gay Times. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (25 May 2024). "How Mighty Hoopla turned into London's biggest pop party". The Independent. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b Smith, Amy (31 January 2017). "See All Saints and Sink The Pink at the Mighty Hoopla this summer". Time Out. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  7. ^ Henderson, Lisa (5 June 2023). "Superstruct acquires trio of European festivals". IQ. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  8. ^ Jolley, Ben (6 February 2024). "Why we can't afford to lose holiday camp festival weekenders like Mighty Hoopla". NME. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  9. ^ Moore, Sam. "Mighty Hoopla announce seaside 'Weekender' event for 2022". NME. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  10. ^ Henderson, Lisa (13 December 2024). "Mighty Hoopla Weekender heads to Malta". IQ. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  11. ^ a b Cunningham, Ed (1 June 2024). "Mighty Hoopla 2024 in Brockwell Park: timings, tickets and everything you need to know". Time Out. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  12. ^ Ross, Gemma (16 May 2025). "Mighty Hoopla says it stands against "unethical investments" of KKR". Mixmag. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Campaigner wins legal challenge over use of Brockwell Park". BBC News. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  14. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (19 May 2025). "Brockwell Park music festivals to go ahead despite successful legal challenge". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  15. ^ Hornik, Caitlin (31 May 2025). "Jade Thirlwall leads anti-JK Rowling chant at music festival". The Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  16. ^ Butler, Josh (2 June 2025). "Pop star Jade Thirlwall leads crowd in anti-JK Rowling chant at LGBTQ+ London music festival". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  17. ^ "The Mighty Hoop-La 2016". eFestivals.
  18. ^ Smith, Amy (1 June 2017). "See All Saints and Sink The Pink at the Mighty Hoopla this summer". Time Out. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  19. ^ Gander, Kashmira (8 June 2017). "The Mighty Hoopla review: A glittery act of defiance after the London attacks". The Independent. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  20. ^ Greenway, Neil (14 March 2017). "Years & Years to headline the Mighty Hoopla 2017". eFestivals. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  21. ^ Ellis, David (28 February 2018). "Mighty Hoopla 2018 line-up: TLC to perform second UK show ever". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  22. ^ Keens, Oliver (6 February 2018). "Lily Allen, Melanie C and Louise are at The Mighty Hoopla this year". Time Out. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  23. ^ Brennan, Ailis (6 February 2018). "Mighty Hoopla 2018 line-up: Lily Allen, B*Witched, Mel C and Louisa Johnson to play Brockwell Park". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  24. ^ a b Viera, Erin. "Mighty Hoopla Music Festival Announces 2019 Lineup Including Tove Lo, Kate Nash and Chaka Khan". Mixmag. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  25. ^ Levine, Nick (29 January 2019). "Mighty Hoopla festival is back and the line-up is more poptastic than ever". Time Out. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  26. ^ Levine, Nick (6 September 2021). "Mighty Hoopla 2021 review: glittery pop fun and queer brilliance at south London one-dayer". NME. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  27. ^ Stickler, Jon (25 January 2021). "Cheryl, Eve, Atomic Kitten, Becky Hill And Gabrielle Lead Line Up For Mighty Hoopla Festival". Stereoboard. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  28. ^ Embley, Jochan (31 May 2022). "Mighty Hoopla 2022: Tickets, line-up and more ahead of Brockwell Park festival". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  29. ^ Muir, Elle (9 November 2022). "Mighty Hoopla has just announced its 2023 line-up". Time Out. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  30. ^ a b O' Connor, Roisin (20 January 2025). "JADE completes all-female headline lineup for Mighty Hoopla 2025". The Independent. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
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