Building on the momentum of a highly successful first year, Melton Mowbray Town Estate has set the date for the second Melton Ska Fest: Saturday, 25th July 2026.
The inaugural festival in 2025 serves as a powerful case study in community-led event management. The Town Estate delivered a safe, successful, and financially viable festival for 1800 SKA, Reggae and 2Tone music fans, demonstrating a strong model for leveraging local assets to create impactful cultural events. The event not only generated significant community engagement but also drove tourism and economic benefit to the Leicestershire town.
Dean Rees, CEO of the Town Estate, commented, “Melton Ska Fest 2025 proved that with careful planning and community focus, it’s possible to launch a successful new festival. We are proud of what we achieved and are excited to build on that success for 2026, further showcasing a best-practice model for events of this scale.”

