Battle crack team call for sponsors to secure 2026 comeback

The team working to rescue the Battle of Flowers is urging businesses to step up and support this summer’s scaled-down event – and help ensure the full parade can return “stronger” in 2026.

The call for sponsors comes after the long-running event was thrown into turmoil, with nearly three-quarters of a million pounds spent on last year’s parade – and a new strategy group forced to scrap the 2025 edition in its traditional form due to what it described “insurmountable” financial challenges brought about by the previous Battle of Flowers directors.

Martyn Maguire, the breakaway group’s Chair, said planning is already underway for a free public event this summer, with at least 14 floats and a junior parade through town, followed by a night-time display near People’s Park.

The 2025 event, which is set to take place on the traditional August dates, has been made possible with the help of a £220,000 grant from the Government. However, he said the rescue team will still need help covering the costs of the event.

Pictured: In a letter to the Battle Strategy Group obtained by Express, the Economic Development Minister said a Government grant couldn’t be used to pay off debts.

“We are also looking for sponsors to support us, and we’d love to hear from any businesses interested in helping,” said Mr Maguire.

Mr Maguire explained that the strategy group took the pragmatic decision to scale back the parade after taking over from the previous board, which left a number of creditors unpaid.

“The mountain was too high to climb for us because of unpaid bills by the previous board at the moment. We’ve got lots of creditors out there who haven’t been paid, so we thought we would start afresh,” he said.

A letter from the Economic Development Minister to the Strategy Board seen by Express was clear that any grant could not be used to pay existing creditors – only funding an event.

Despite the challenges facing the rescue team, Mr Maguire said he was buoyed by an overwhelming community response so far.

“It brings together people as young as two or three up to 90 year olds and so it encompasses the whole of the island community. From all of the feedback we’ve had, people are very, very pleased that we’ve managed to turn it around to put something on,” he said.

Many of the costs of last year’s event were linked to the decision to put on a concert at the same time.

£54,000 was spent on security (the requirement for which was much larger than usual due to the concert), £50,000 was spent on marketing, and £30,000 went towards securing Eurovision singer Sam Ryder.

Battle of Flowers 2023 spending:

Arena seating: £151,917
Day and night parade guarantees for exhibitors: £107,250
General arena expenses: £72,217
Finale performances: £47,125
Marketing and public relations: £16,053
Security and marshals: £10,203

Overall spend on the event, which benefited from a £270,000 injection of taxpayer funds, topped £700,000.

The 2024 bill was significantly more than 2023, which failed to break even.

Figures obtained by Express through a request made under the Freedom of Information Law showed that the association spent £482,079 in 2023 – despite generating just £287,501 in income.

Mr Maguire confirmed there will not be a concert – “we’ll be saving a bit of money there,” he said.

The group has already submitted a high-level plan for this year’s event to the Bailiff’s entertainment panel and is also looking ahead to the future.

“We’re looking to keep Battle going and come back stronger in 2026.”