15.06.2026: The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee has released a new report urging the Government to tear down barriers to EU touring and boost domestic support for performers.
The report, entitled ‘Cultural Touring in the EU’, was welcomed by UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl, who highlighted the need for Government to stand by its manifesto promise to solve the costly and prohibitive obstacles that have made EU touring impossible for so many since the Brexit vote a decade ago.
Tom said: “This month marks 10 years since the EU referendum. The subsequent decade saw at first uncertainty for the music industry, which then became the disaster of a deal between the UK and EU which totally forgot the needs of touring musicians, performers and cultural workers. The House of Commons CMS Committee are to be congratulated in taking this crucial moment to reinforce the importance of touring the EU.
“We look to the Government to respond positively to their recommendations, uphold its manifesto commitments to sort this out and continue to work with Cultural Exchange Coalition to build a better foundation for a greater future for creativity across the UK and EU.”
The report highlights declining incomes and rising costs faced by touring artists post-Brexit and states that the UK should seek to re-engage with cultural cooperation programme Creative Europe in order to restore performer access to travel funding.
Its publication follows an evidence session with representatives from the performing arts and music sectors. The hearing saw musician and actress Kate Nash say that while touring Europe was previously profitable, her last run of dates in the EU led to a loss of around £26,000.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the CMS Committee, said: “British musicians and actors are facing a whole range of new hoops to jump through when looking to take their shows on tour and perform in the EU. The impact on livelihoods is being felt not just by established performers, but also by the stars of tomorrow who are being denied the opportunities to further their careers like others before them.
“This is not about renegotiating Brexit, it’s about addressing the issues that weren’t covered off in the first place and finding new ways to support our touring artists. We heard clearly that there is strong demand for our talented performers from audiences across Europe, so it is in the interests of both sides to work together to find a solution. The government can also do much more at home to reduce the burden on touring performers and provide them with the advice and support they need to shine on the world stage.”
You can read the report in full here.
You can find out more about the Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC) here.
Tom’s comments were covered by:
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