Tropic Fest 2026
CPL delivered the full technical production for Tropic Fest 2026 on behalf of Pandora Events and Tropic Skincare, supporting the festival’s debut at Weston Park. Created exclusively for Tropic Ambassadors, the three-day event welcomed 650 early bird guests on Thursday evening before opening fully on Friday to more than 4,000 attendees, culminating in a spectacular finale on Saturday night. Blending live music, wellness experiences and entertainment, Tropic Fest once again proved that a corporate event can rival the atmosphere of a major music festival.
Across three stages, audiences were treated to an exciting and varied entertainment programme. Gok Wan and Nathan Dawe kept the energy high with crowd-pleasing DJ sets, while West End star Zoe Birkett delivered a powerful live vocal performance. Dance troupe Diversity captivated the audience with their trademark blend of precision choreography, athleticism and breathtaking acrobatics, before the weekend concluded with a spectacular headline performance from Ministry of Sound Classical. Backed by a 50-piece orchestra, iconic dance anthems were brought to life alongside stunning visuals and a perfectly choreographed fireworks finale, bringing the festival to an unforgettable close.
Away from the stages, guests embraced everything the festival had to offer, from hot tubs, cold water swimming and yoga sessions to silent discos, fairground rides and wellness experiences. The combination of world-class entertainment and unique festival activities created an incredibly positive atmosphere, with thousands of Tropic Ambassadors making the most of every moment across the three-day event.
Supporting the production was a 45-person CPL crew, spending seven days on site delivering every aspect of the technical infrastructure. The Main Stage centred around an 18m x 15m structure with twin 6m x 4.2m ROE CB5 IMAG screens, powered by Brompton Tessera SX40 processors, alongside a custom-built LED DJ booth wrapped in ROE CB5 panels that became a striking centrepiece throughout the weekend. Extending from the stage, a thrust catwalk allowed performers to step out into the audience, creating a far more intimate connection with the crowd and bringing festival-goers closer to the action throughout the headline performances.
At the heart of the video workflow was Panasonic Kairos, providing the flexibility to manage multiple live camera sources, graphics and screen destinations simultaneously. Built around an SMPTE ST 2110 IP infrastructure, the system combined two Panasonic AK-UC4000 system cameras, three Panasonic AW-UE160 PTZ cameras and a roaming Sony FX9 equipped with the Videosys wireless camera system, allowing the production team to move effortlessly between artist close-ups, sweeping crowd shots and live content across the festival. The IP-based workflow provided the flexibility required for a fast-paced production while delivering exceptional image quality and minimal latency throughout the show.
As daylight faded, the Main Stage was transformed by a striking lighting design that became one of the defining visual elements of the festival. Driven by a GrandMA3 console, more than 95 intelligent fixtures worked alongside pyrotechnics, CO₂ cannons, streamer launches, 20 lasers and a spectacular fireworks finale to create a constantly evolving show that perfectly complemented each performance and transformed the festival after dark.
Delivering the soundtrack to the weekend was an L-Acoustics K2 system with KS28 subwoofers, combining exceptional clarity with the power and low-frequency impact needed for performances ranging from high-energy DJ sets to the full orchestral arrangements of Ministry of Sound Classical. Supported by Shure Axient wireless microphones and Riedel Bolero communications across the site, the audio system ensured every performance connected with the audience from the front row to the back of the field, encouraging festival-goers to sing, dance and celebrate throughout the weekend.
The Oasis Stage provided a second live performance space, featuring an L-Acoustics KARA II line array with SB18 subwoofers, a 6.6m x 3.6m ROE Visual CB5 LED wall powered by Brompton SX40 processing, and a lighting rig controlled from an Avolites Quartz console with Martin, Robe, OXO and Portman fixtures, giving the stage its own distinctive identity throughout the festival.
As darkness fell, Weston Park itself became part of the production through large-scale projection mapping using a Barco UDX-4K32 projector, extending the visual experience beyond the stages and adding another memorable focal point across the site.
With soaring temperatures throughout the build and event, Tropic Fest 2026 demonstrated how creative production, experienced technicians and the latest event technology can come together to create something truly special. Working alongside Pandora Events and Tropic Skincare, CPL delivered a production that matched the ambition of the event itself, helping create three unforgettable days of celebration for thousands of Tropic Ambassadors.
