Superstruct Artistic Code: what it changes for festival terms

Superstruct published its Artistic Code on 9 September 2026 (checked 17 Sep 2026). The company says the Code covers its portfolio of "more than 80 festival and live event brands" (checked 17 Sep 2026) and summarises four principles: protecting artistic freedom within the law; creating safe spaces; matching programming to company values; and promoting inclusivity (checked 17 Sep 2026).

Key, contract‑relevant items: the Code sets two explicit "red lines" — "anything that puts the safety of our visitors or colleagues at risk" and "content or speech that is illegal in the country in which we are operating, for example expressing support for a proscribed organisation" — and states that "performances should only be interrupted where there is a safety reason to do so," with a preference for a post‑show statement rather than stopping a set (checked 17 Sep 2026) (Superstruct).

Context: Superstruct’s owner changes — KKR’s majority stake (acquired June 2024) and later co‑investment news (28 Oct 2024) — have been a flashpoint (checked 17 Sep 2026) (KKR), and protests prompted public withdrawals — NME reports 28 artists pulled out in one 2025 campaign (checked 17 Sep 2026) (NME).

Practical effect for freelancers and bookers: the Code is a written, company‑level policy about when sets can be stopped and when artists may face removal for illegal speech — an operational framing that will inform how promoters interpret cancellation and interruption clauses in contracts. Industry commentary says the Code addresses operational practice but does not resolve the broader ownership dispute that sparked the boycotts (checked 17 Sep 2026) (Time To House).