The organizers of the Slam Dunk Festival have announced that one of the event's directors will step down from all operational duties following a series of allegations that surfaced online. The decision comes as the festival prepares for its landmark 20th anniversary celebrations scheduled for next month.
In an official statement released on Friday, April 24, Slam Dunk addressed the situation without detailing the specific nature of the claims. “We are aware of allegations published yesterday relating to one of our directors,” the statement read. “We take these allegations seriously and understand that they may be distressing and hard to process for our community. Our Slam Dunk fans, staff, and artists are, as always, our top priority.”
The festival confirmed that while the director in question strongly refutes the allegations, he has agreed to step away from operations while the matter remains ongoing. The organization emphasized its commitment to maintaining a “safe, respectful, and inclusive environment” for all employees, partners, and attendees. Due to the situation being an “ongoing legal matter,” the festival noted it would be inappropriate to provide further commentary at this time, though they promised “transparency and honesty” as updates become appropriate.
The internal shift follows a public post from a woman on social media platforms, which included alleged screenshots of conversations. The individual later indicated that she had removed the original post following instructions from the police, though she expressed a desire to keep the information public.
Despite the administrative changes, Slam Dunk is still scheduled to take place at Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire on Saturday, May 23, and Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday, May 24. The 2026 lineup features a highly anticipated European exclusive performance from Good Charlotte, alongside Sublime, Knocked Loose, Boston Manor, and State Champs.
Other artists confirmed for the event include Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, Cancer Bats, Motion City Soundtrack, Hawthorne Heights, Driveways, Tonight Alive, and President—a project widely believed to be fronted by Busted’s Charlie Simpson. While some fans have speculated about potential lineup changes in light of the allegations, no artists have withdrawn from the festival at the time of writing.