Kendal Mountain Festival

What Kendal Mountain Festival does

Kendal Mountain Festival is a UK-based outdoor adventure cultural organization, operated by Kendal Mountain Events Ltd (a privately-held limited company incorporated in England) since its founding in 1980 in Kendal, Cumbria. It runs the annual Kendal Mountain Festival, a four-day November event (19-22 November in 2026) featuring 200+ live sessions, 300+ speakers, 150+ film screenings, 60+ activities, and a free Basecamp Village hosting 70+ talks across four stages. The festival draws 25,000+ visitors and generates an estimated £3.76 million annual economic impact on the local economy (per a 2024 Tourism Resources Company study), supporting 66 full-time equivalent jobs in the region.

The organization's product portfolio is structured around four core platforms. The flagship is the annual Kendal Mountain Festival, complemented by the Kendal Mountain Player, a subscription streaming service (annual subscription £44.99/year; monthly £4.99/month, available January-September only) offering 400+ adventure films on-demand and launched in 2020 during COVID-19 lockdowns. The Kendal Mountain Tours operate a UK-wide touring circuit from February to May across 50+ venues, reaching 10,000+ outdoor enthusiasts annually. Kendal Mountain Events delivers bespoke curated events for partners such as the National Trust and The North Face. Supporting products include the Film Festival competition (500+ international submissions annually across 12 award categories), a Photography Competition, a Digital Arts Programme, KendalPitch (an outdoor industry entrepreneur competition), the Book Festival, and the Kendal for Schools outreach programme (1,700+ local children annually since 2011).

The business model combines direct-to-consumer revenue streams (festival tickets and passes, streaming subscriptions, trail run race entries for 10km/25km/50km distances, merchandise) with B2B partnership and sponsorship revenue from 100+ outdoor brands (including presenting partners adidas TERREX for the 10km and The North Face for the 25km and 50km races, plus Patagonia, Osprey, and Arc'Teryx). The core team comprises 15 full-time staff supported by 100+ volunteers. Leadership includes CEO Jacqui Scott, Festival Director Steve Scott, and Director Clive Allen, with notable Festival Patrons including Sir Chris Bonington, Leo Houlding, and Robert Macfarlane. The go-to-market is hybrid: event-driven through the festival and tour, direct-to-consumer via tickets/subscriptions/merchandise, and community-led through partner brand activations, Basecamp Village programming, school outreach, and social media.

Name

Kendal Mountain Festival

Legal name

Kendal Mountain Events Ltd

Website

https://kendalmountainfestival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kendal Mountain Festival is a UK-based outdoor adventure cultural organization running an annual November festival in Kendal (25,000+ attendees), a year-round subscription streaming platform (400+ films), and a UK-wide touring circuit across 50+ venues, serving outdoor enthusiasts, filmmakers, and 100+ brand partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Cultural Festival and Events

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Outdoor film festival
• Adventure film streaming
• Mountain cultural events
• Outdoor event management
• Festival ticketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kendal

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival Tickets and Passes: Revenue from ticket sales for the annual festival weekend (November) with various pass tiers and ticket options
2. Streaming Subscriptions (Kendal Mountain Player): Annual subscription at £44.99/year and monthly subscription at £4.99/month (January-September), providing access to 350+ films on demand
3. Trail Run Race Entries: Revenue from trail run events including the adidas TERREX 10km, The North Face 50km Ultra, and new 25km event
4. Merchandise and Gifts: Merch shop sales and gift cards for festival and streaming platform
5. Partnership and Sponsorship Revenue: Presenting Partners, Major Partners, Partners, Support Partners, Media Partners, and Festival Support partnerships
6. UK Tour Events: Revenue from touring events across 50+ UK venues with live sessions and cinematic experiences
7. Bespoke Curated Events: Custom events created with partners throughout the year, varying in scale and complexity

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kendal Mountain Festival operates an annual four-day outdoor adventure cultural festival in Kendal, Cumbria (19–22 November) featuring film screenings, live speaker sessions, trail runs, and the Basecamp Village. The festival is supported year-round by the Kendal Mountain Player streaming subscription (400+ adventure films), the UK Tour (50+ venues, February–May), and bespoke curated partner events for outdoor brands and charities.

Product overview

Kendal Mountain Festival operates as a multi-platform outdoor adventure organization consisting of a main annual festival, an online streaming platform, and a touring circuit. The core product is the annual Kendal Mountain Festival (November 19-22), which serves as the flagship event featuring film screenings, speaker sessions, trail runs, competitions, and the Basecamp Village. Supporting the festival are the Kendal Mountain Player (subscription-based streaming service with 400+ adventure films), Kendal Mountain Tours (UK-wide touring events), and Kendal Mountain Events (bespoke partnerships). The organization also runs sub-products including the Photography Competition, Digital Arts Programme, KendalPitch, Book Festival, and Kendal for Schools outreach programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kendal Mountain Player: Online streaming platform showcasing over 400 adventure films with annual subscription at £44.99 or monthly at £4.99
• Kendal Mountain Tours
• Basecamp Village

Products and services

• Kendal Mountain Festival (Annual Four-Day Festival) The flagship annual outdoor adventure cultural festival held in Kendal, Cumbria, UK, featuring 200+ live sessions, 300+ speakers, 150+ films, 10+ parties, and 60+ activities and workshops over four days (19–22 November). The 2026 Festival tickets are on sale.
• Kendal Mountain Player Streaming Platform Subscription-based online streaming platform offering 400+ adventure films on demand, including festival favourites, award-winning films, and new releases. Annual subscription at £44.99/year or monthly at £4.99/month (January–September only).
• Kendal Mountain Tours (UK Tour) Annual UK-wide touring circuit held between February and May, visiting 50+ venues from Tipperary to Edinburgh to Exeter with live speaker sessions, cinematic experiences, and community meetups, reaching 10,000+ outdoor enthusiasts.
• Kendal Mountain Events (Bespoke Curated Events) Bespoke curated events created with partners throughout the year of varying scale and complexity, including National Trust accessibility film nights and Kendal Mountain Masters with The North Face.
• Kendal Mountain Trail Runs Trail running events held during the festival weekend, including the adidas TERREX 10km, The North Face 25km (new for 2026), and The North Face 50km Ultra Run.
• Basecamp Village Free-to-enter tented village at the festival featuring four stages (Bothy, Adventure, Gallery, Pilgrim's Refuge) hosting 70+ free talks, partner interactive stands, food vendors, and merchandise. Located in Abbot Hall Park, Kendal.
• Kendal Mountain Film Festival & Competition International adventure film competition attracting 500+ submissions annually, with approximately 150 films selected for screening across 12 award categories judged by five industry experts. Premieres acclaimed adventure and mountain films.
• Photography Competition Annual photography competition showcasing exceptional images from around the world celebrating adventure and natural world beauty, with category winners featured at the festival.
• Kendal Mountain Book Festival Literature portion of the festival celebrating nature writing and mountain literature, featuring talks, book launches, and the Mountain Project poetry competition in partnership with the Wordsworth Trust. Recognised by The Week (2023) among Best UK Literary Festivals and Book Fairs.
• Digital Arts Programme Dedicated strand celebrating digital, experimental, and film-based art at the Brewery Arts Centre, featuring looped installations on digital screens in lobby spaces and programming rooted in outdoor, nature, environment, and adventure themes.
• KendalPitch Competition platform for entrepreneurs and innovators in the outdoor industry to pitch ideas and projects at the festival.
• Kendal for Schools Outreach Programme Free Schools outreach programme bringing 1,700+ local Cumbrian schoolchildren to free film screenings and speaker sessions for Years 4–8 (Primary and Secondary), hosted by George Lonsdale.
• Festival Merchandise and Gift Cards Online merchandise shop and gift cards for the Festival and Kendal Mountain Player streaming platform, including 2026 Festival Gift Cards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Brings £3.76 million into local economy annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Outdoor Industries Association (OIA)coreOthersNon-profit membership organisation providing advocacy, representation, and promotion for the outdoor recreation industries. Represents over 200 member organisations.
• European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)coreOthersCharitable organisation directly funding conservation projects. Over 150 members stretching from Norway to Spain.
• National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA)coreOthersEstablished 1979, promotes best practice and consistency in the outdoor events industry. Connects over 500 members including local authorities, festival organisers, venues and suppliers.
• The Alpine ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe world's first mountaineering club founded in 1857. Partners on Spirit of Discovery sessions and promotes mountaineering ethics and conservation.
• Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO)coreOthersNot-for-profit initiative founded in 2021 focusing on inclusion, education, and enjoyment of outdoor spaces by people of the global majority. Charity partner.
• Protect Our Winters UK (POW UK)coreOthersOutdoor climate action charity helping passionate outdoor people become effective climate advocates. Charity partner.
• Mind Over Mountains (MOM)minorOthersCharity offering professional mental health support through therapeutic outdoor experiences throughout the UK. Charity partner.
• Millimetres to Mountains (M2M)minorOthersCharity inspiring and supporting individuals to redefine their limitations through outdoor experiences. Charity partner.
• Snow CampminorOthersCharity harnessing skiing and snowboarding to break down barriers for underserved young people with life skills training and mental health support. Charity partner.
• Bendrigg TrustminorOthersBased near Kendal, specialises in delivering high quality activity courses for disabled and disadvantaged people. Charity partner.
• Rider ResilienceminorOthersCommunity initiative drawing on bicycle community strength to enable anyone facing adversity. Charity partner.
• Trash Free TrailsminorOthersCommunity not-for-profit removing single-use pollution from trails. Charity partner with unique 'State of Our Trails Report'.
• ColdhouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing services at 2023 Festival
• TenzingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing services at 2023 Festival
• SaltrockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing services at 2023 Festival
• CampWildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing services at 2023 Festival
• GrangersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing services at 2023 Festival
• PatagoniacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor outdoor brand partner at 2023 Festival
• OspreycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor outdoor brand partner at 2023 Festival
• Arc'TeryxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor outdoor brand partner at 2023 Festival
• National TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for bespoke curated events including accessibility film nights
• The North FacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Kendal Mountain Masters event and 50km Ultra Trail Run
• adidas TERREXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Kendal Mountain 10km Trail Run

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF): ShAFF is a UK-based adventure film festival held annually in Sheffield, directly competing for the same UK outdoor enthusiast audience. Compares on film competition programming, speaker sessions, and ticketed multi-day festival format, though on a smaller scale.
• Mountainfilm (Telluride): Telluride Mountainfilm is a US-based annual mountain and adventure film festival with similar multidisciplinary programming including film, speaker sessions, and community events. Comparable in scope, audience size, and mission to celebrate adventure, environment, and mountain culture through storytelling.
• Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival: Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is the most internationally recognized mountain film festival, with a global touring circuit (Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour) reaching 40+ countries. Directly comparable as a premiere adventure film competition with audience screenings, award categories, and international filmmaker submissions targeting outdoor enthusiasts.

Emerging players

• Reel Rock Film Tour: Annual climbing film tour produced by Sender Films and Big Wall Productions, screening adventure and climbing films at venues worldwide. Comparable as an adventure film tour format with live event screenings, though narrower in focus on climbing versus Kendal's broader outdoor adventure scope.

Broad incumbents

• Hay Festival: Major UK literary and cultural festival featuring author talks, literary programming, and cultural events. Comparable in festival production scale and multidisciplinary cultural programming (including nature writing adjacent to Kendal Mountain Book Festival), though broader in scope beyond outdoor adventure themes.
• Patagonia (events and film programs): Major outdoor brand and Kendal Mountain Festival partner that produces its own film and event programming, including mountain culture storytelling. Comparable as a broader incumbent in outdoor cultural storytelling, though operating as part of Patagonia's wider brand portfolio rather than as a dedicated festival organization.

Regional players

• Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival: A Scotland-based mountain film festival targeting the same UK outdoor enthusiast demographic with film screenings and speaker events. Geographically adjacent to Kendal Mountain Festival's Cumbria catchment, creating partial audience overlap within the UK market.
• Fort William Mountain Festival: Scottish mountain festival combining adventure films, outdoor activities, and mountain culture programming. Regional peer serving similar outdoor enthusiast audiences in Scotland rather than the Lake District, with comparable scale and multidisciplinary event format.
• Torino Mountain Film Festival: Italian mountain film festival with similar programming model of adventure film competition, speaker sessions, and outdoor culture celebration. Operates as a regional peer within continental Europe rather than competing directly in the UK market.

Others

• Adventure Film Network: Industry network supporting adventure film festivals globally with shared resources, filmmaker connections, and tour coordination. Functions as an enabling peer/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, providing industry infrastructure relevant to Kendal's touring events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBmmAL4uU83fhCk0xjF-33g
• Facebookfacebook.com/kendalmountainfestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kendal-mountain-events
• Instagraminstagram.com/kendalmountainfestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kendal Mountain Festival