Photo credit: Tom Langford
Victorious Festival 2024 marked a milestone year, earning national recognition, making significant charitable contributions, and driving economic prosperity in Portsmouth.
Community Impact
2024 was a fantastic year for Victorious enabling the festival to continue its Victorious in the Community work. This year the festival is proud to announce it has donated over £135,000 to 20 different local and international charities and good causes across a whole range of sectors.
Director James Ralls said: “Victorious is about more than just the weekend, our team is deeply connected to the city and works hard to create not only the UK’s biggest metropolitan festival but to make a difference all year round with the Victorious in the Community initiatives.’’
Notably, Victorious played a vital role in supporting Portsmouth Pride, serving as a main sponsor and empowering the team to secure the prestigious UK Pride 2025 bid.
The festival also collaborated with Portsmouth Creates, helping bring the 2024 edition of We Shine Portsmouth – the cities free art and light festival to life. From donating significant funding to volunteering hands-on event management, The Victorious Team demonstrated their passion for enhancing access to culture in the city.
Gemma Nichols, CEO of Portsmouth Creates, praised the collaboration: “The support from the Victorious Team is invaluable and their passion for Portsmouth is contagious. Their team brings both enthusiasm and expertise, and together we’re able to create an even more welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy. This partnership strengthens Portsmouth’s reputation as a hub of artistic expression and community connection”
New and continued partnerships with charities such as Tonic Music for Mental Health, Portsmouth Downs Syndrome Association, This New Ground, The Literacy Hubs and local sports clubs showcase the team’s dedication to supporting mental health, accessibility, education and underfunded sport underpinning Victorious as an important pillar of their hometown’s cultural, social and economic enrichment.
Creating an Economic Legacy
The festival’s economic contributions continue to grow with 2024 generating an impressive £24.3 million in direct economic impact, driving the running total since its move to the seafront in 2014 to a staggering £132.1 million.
This legacy goes beyond the festival weekend, which brings in up to 80,000 festival goers a day bolstering local businesses, tourism, and the wider community whilst raising the profile of Portsmouth as a destination throughout the year. Approximately 50% of visitors saying their perception of Portsmouth has become more positive since attending the festival.
Uplifting Local Talent
This past year has seen Victorious continue to provide platforms for local artists and businesses to shine with growing initiatives like Road to Victorious, a competition exclusive to bands in the PO postcode which offers festival slots across the summer including performing at Victorious, a tour bus, industry advice and recording time to the lucky winner and Neighbourhood Eats, an area exclusive for Portsmouth independents who may not be able to afford to attend in a standard festival pitch. By subsidising the pitch fees, Victorious is able to make trading at a festival even more accessible.
2024 Road to Victorious winner Harvey Jay Dodgson shared: “Name a better opportunity! Victorious gave me the chance to perform at five major UK festivals, inspiring me to turn this into a career. Their support has been incredible.”
National Acclaim
This year, the festival’s achievements have earned widespread recognition across the events industry, including winning the prestigious Major Festival of the Year award at the Live Awards. Being nominated alongside some of the UK’s biggest events such as Reading & Leeds, Latitude, and Isle of Wight, securing the top prize truly underscores the festival’s outstanding success, growth and impact.
• Winner – Major Festival of the Year – Live Awards 2024
• Shortlisted – Best Large Festival, Line-Up of the Year, Best Initiative for Emerging Talent – UK Festival
Awards 2024
• Shortlisted – Best Visitor Experience , Best Programming, Best Operations Team, The Legacy Award– Access All Areas Awards 2024
These accolades highlight 2024 as an exceptional year for Victorious’, and recognise the event’s programming,
inclusivity, and commitment to unforgettable experiences for attendees of all ages.
Looking Ahead
As Victorious continues to evolve, its mission remains clear: create an inclusive, vibrant and unforgettable experience for Portsmouth and beyond while championing local causes and initiatives, driving economic & cultural growth in Portsmouth and setting new benchmarks in the festival industry.
With an incredible lineup of world-renowned artists including, Kings of Leon, Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Nelly Furtado, Michael Kiwanuka and The Last Dinner Party plus many more already announced, we can’t wait to see what Victorious 2025 brings!
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton