Tragic Sign Collapse Forces Early Closure of Big Church Festival in West Sussex

On Friday, August 28, the inaugural day of the Big Church Festival got underway at Wiston Park, West Sussex. The event was abruptly halted after a large sign collapsed, resulting in one fatality and six injuries. The festival, Britain’s largest Christian music gathering, was originally scheduled to run through Sunday, featuring performances from artists such as Lauren Daigle, CeCe Winans, and Lecrae. In a series of posts on Instagram, the festival organizers confirmed the cancellation of the day’s program due to a serious incident, later announcing the decision to bring the 2026 edition to an early close. The deceased, a 41‑year‑old man from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was pronounced dead at the scene. Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh expressed his condolences, stating that the thoughts of the authorities are with the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time, while also noting that at least six other individuals sustained injuries and were transported to hospital for medical treatment.

Source link