WEST SUSSEX, England — The Big Church Festival has been cancelled after a large sign fell on attendees at the Christian music festival in West Sussex, killing one person and injuring at least six others.

The incident occurred at Wiston Park near Steyning at around 3:38 p.m. Friday, August 28, according to Sussex Police. Emergency services were called after reports that a large sign had fallen and injured several people.

Police later confirmed that a 41-year-old man from Eastbourne died at the scene. His family has been notified and is receiving support from specialist officers. At least six other people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

South East Coast Ambulance Service said ambulance crews, critical-care paramedics and specialist response teams attended the scene. Six patients were assessed and treated, with four subsequently taken to local hospitals, including two with more serious injuries.

Big Church Festival Cancelled Following Tragedy

The incident brought the festival to an immediate halt. Organizers initially cancelled the remaining Friday program and instructed day visitors to leave the site, while campers were told to return to their campsites and await further instructions.

The festival was scheduled to continue through the weekend, but organizers later announced that the entire 2026 event would be cancelled.

“We are devastated by the serious incident,” organizers said in a statement, expressing sympathy for those affected, their families and friends, as well as people who witnessed the incident.

Police Investigation Underway

Sussex Police remained at the scene as emergency responders dealt with the aftermath. The Health and Safety Executive and the local authority have also been informed as authorities investigate how the sign fell.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh described the incident as tragic and urged anyone who witnessed what happened or recorded relevant video footage to contact police.

Investigators are particularly seeking information that could help establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse. Members of the public have been asked to report information to police, quoting Operation Igloo.

Weather Conditions Under Review

The incident occurred amid warnings of unsettled weather across parts of England and Wales. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning covering strong winds, heavy showers and thunderstorms, while weather observations showed winds of up to about 27 mph in nearby Shoreham on Friday afternoon.

Authorities have not yet established whether weather conditions directly caused the sign to fall, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Thousands of Festivalgoers Affected

Big Church Festival is one of the UK’s major Christian music and worship gatherings and has attracted thousands of attendees. The 2026 event was scheduled to feature artists and worship groups including Lauren Daigle, CeCe Winans, Bethel Music and Elevation Rhythm.

The sudden cancellation left festivalgoers facing an unexpected departure while emergency services continued working at the site.

Police have asked anyone with information or relevant footage to come forward as the investigation continues.