LOOPFEST weekend delivers record-breaking footfall for Shrewsbury town centre
Shrewsbury town centre has recorded its strongest May Bank Holiday Saturday since footfall monitoring began in 2016, with the LOOPFEST 2026 weekend delivering 122,241 visits across the full two days - and 58,493 on the Saturday alone.
Both figures represent new highs for the town centre: the Saturday total is not only the best ever recorded for a May Bank Holiday weekend, but the highest single Saturday footfall outside the festive period since 2019.
The results coincide with LOOPFEST 2026, the Midlands’ largest multi-venue music festival, which brought 250 acts to 40+ town centre venues and The Quarry over the bank holiday weekend.
Headliners included Ash, Reef, DJ Yoda, Elvana, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Panic Shack and The Skints. This year’s festival also introduced a new LOOPFEST app, a dedicated festival HQ at new venue LOOP on Castle Street, and a new 3,000-capacity tent at The Quarry.
Seb Slater, Executive Director of Shrewsbury BID, said:
“These are the strongest footfall figures we have ever recorded for a May Bank Holiday - it’s brilliant to see so many visitors and locals alike get behind this annual event. LOOPFEST is independent, but its success is bound up with the support it receives - from venues, businesses, partners and the community.”
Jamie Smith, Founder of LOOPFEST, said:
“One of our biggest priorities with LOOPFEST is making sure it’s not just exciting, but safe, welcoming and accessible for music fans right across the town. To see record footfall alongside such a positive, well-managed atmosphere is something we’re really proud of, and it shows what’s possible when venues, partners and the wider community all work together.”
The Mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Alex Wagner, said:
“These figures are a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Shrewsbury can offer as a destination. Events like LOOPFEST have a tangible impact on our businesses, our hospitality sector and on the wider confidence of the town centre, and this weekend has shown just how much appetite there is for Shrewsbury to be a place where things happen.”
