BLUEDOT festival will take a fallow year in 2024.
Organisers of the science and musical festival have confirmed they will take a break next year.
The decision comes after record levels of rainfall at this year's festival, leaving the land at Jodrell Bank in need of some time to recover.
A statement on the Bluedot website reads: “Underpinning bluedot’s mission is a sincere love and respect for the earth and environment we are lucky to be part of.
“However, at Bluedot this July, that earth itself took a lot of strain. Experiencing the highest level of rainfall on the festival weekend since records began (records courtesy of Jodrell Bank’s own weather station!) we have patiently waited to see what the effects of this have been on the land itself.
“We have now sadly reached the judgement that the ground on which the Bluedot universe is built desperately needs some time to recover; a period of rest during which the soil will recover and regenerate.
“We are, as Carl Sagan put it, in very bad trouble if we don’t understand the planet we’re trying to save.
“We have therefore taken the decision for Bluedot to have a fallow year in 2024.”
READ MORE: Bluedot festival cancels Sunday ticket holders due to torrential rain
At this year’s festival, Sunday ticketholders were told not to attend following torrential rain.
The weather had left the day ticket holder car park, pick-up and drop-off points “impassable” due to standing water.
Instead, Sunday’s festivities were open only to those who were already in attendance.
Organisers say they had “grand ambitions” for next year but will now put these on hold until 2025.
The statement on the Bluedot website adds: “We had grand ambitions for our 2024 edition, but are nonetheless excited for the future, buoyed by the Artemis mission to take humanity back to the moon for the first time in 56 years.
“We cannot wait to join in the excitement with you.
“We would like to share a heartfelt thank you to our home of Jodrell Bank, the local community and Cheshire East Council, the artists, speakers and all festival staff for their support since day one, and especially in the most challenging moments of Bluedot 2023.”
Since launching in 2016, Bluedot has hosted the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Wet Leg, Annie Mac, Kraftwerk and Bjork.
Astronauts Helen Sharman and Tim Peake have also made appearances, as have science broadcasters Brian Cox, Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Jim Al-Khalili.
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