UK-based gaming and esports event Insomnia Gaming Festival has announced the cancellation of its Insomnia 74 (i74) event.
The event was scheduled to take place from April 30th to May 3rd at the Staffordshire County Showground, with a variety of esports tournaments announced alongside gaming exhibitions and a BYOC LAN.
Announced on March 3rd, the team behind the event revealed that it was unable to secure sponsorship and exhibitors required to operate the event at its new location. Moreover, it cites “rising production costs” as a factor causing the organiser to deliver “a lesser version of the festival.”
For ticket holders and exhibitors, Insomnia Gaming Festival says everyone will receive a full refund over the next seven to ten days.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Michael Virks, Head of Operations at Insomnia Gaming Festival.
“Every member of this team has poured months of work into making i74 a reality. We always said that if we brought Insomnia back, we would do it properly. Delivering a half-measure -a festival without the exhibitor presence, the spectacle, and the quality that people expect – would have been a disservice to the community that has supported this event for a quarter of a century.”
Insomnia 74 had already confirmed six esports tournaments taking place as part of the event. VALORANT, Overwatch, Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare tournaments had a £3,000 prize pool, while Rocket League had £2,000 up for grabs.
A Blow To The UK Esports Scene
First launched in 1999, the Insomnia Gaming Festival was a staple of the UK event scene for 25 years, hosting events at the Newbury Racecourse, Telford International Centre, and Birmingham’s NEC.
Previous editions of the event played host to several grassroots esports initiatives and high-profile tournaments, including CWL Birmingham in 2018. After closing its doors in 2024, Insomnia announced its return in 2026. However, after today’s news, the event’s return has now been postponed.
“For now, Insomnia will rest,” concludes the organiser. “We remain hopeful that, with a healthier sponsorship landscape and renewed investment in live events, we’ll be able to bring the festival back in the future.”
