Touring in the EU

Information for performers and accompanying staff touring within the European Union

Rules about working across the EU vary, however, UK nationals may only travel visa free for 90 days within any 180 day period.

If you are working then further regulations may apply, and you are strongly advised to check the different rules of each member state before travelling.

For information on touring in Europe, please visit:

Brexit and the UK’s Live Music Industry

LIVE is deeply concerned about the impact Brexit is having on the UK’s live music industry, our key areas of concern and asks of Government are below:

1. Musicians and their entourages must be able to continue to work freely across Europe

It is in the collective cultural and economic interest that European governments come together to allow professional musicians and their entourages to travel and work freely across borders without bureaucracy, delays, and additional costs. The UK government must:

Do what they have done for other industries and work with their European counterparts to ensure musicians and their entourages can work across Europe without impediment.
Work openly and constructively with individual member states to agree non-onerous, zero- or low-cost work and travel arrangements for musicians and other industry professionals.
Streamline entry routes into the UK for international artists and their entourages and ensureimmigration guidance for the sector is up to date, comprehensive, and accessible.

2. European touring must be saved by cutting red tape at borders

The UK live music industry relies on an extensive range of specialist haulage and bus companies to carry UK based equipment and personnel essential for Pan-European touring. New arrangements under post-Brexit cabotage and cross-trade regulations will stop multi-stop European tours employing UK registered vehicles, risking the collapse of the UK based concert touring sector and leading to widespread company closures and job losses.

The UK government must support and negotiate an EU-wide cultural exemption, allowing the unfettered movement of specialist vehicles transporting concert equipment and personnel between multiple points.

3. Live Music needs a Transitional Support Package (TSP)

The industry needs immediate support to mitigate the disruption caused by Brexit. The TSP offers a stopgap solution to support the industry while fuller negotiations are ongoing.

The package should include financial assistance and regulatory relief, research, information, and advice alongside support for lobbying and negotiation.
The programme should prioritise emerging talent and those likely to be hardest hit by the new regulations, including smaller operators.
Provide support for all those on stage and everyone involved behind the scenes.
TSP would only be a transitional arrangement. LIVE therefore supports the establishment of a new UK Music Export Office to: (i) encourage development of emerging talent in Europe & beyond, (ii) support exporters of musical talent, related goods & services, and (iii) provide accessible guidance on tax, legal, regulatory, and other issues to the music touring sector.

Live Music Transitional Support Package (TSP)

LIVE is calling for a Live Music Transitional Support Package which would:

Offer a quick solution for the Government to mitigate the catastrophic disruption to the live music sector caused by Brexit.
Establish a working partnership between the Government and the live music sector until the planned UK Cultural Export Office is operational.
Prioritise emerging talent and those likely to be hardest hit by the new regulations.
Provide support for all those on stage and everyone involved behind the scenes.

The package would consist of five main strands of support:

Support and relief
Research
Information
Expert advice
Lobbying and negotiation

Please click here to view the full details of the Transitional Support Package.