Bluesfest cancelled just weeks before iconic music festival was due to start

Iconic and long-running Byron Bay music festival Bluesfest has been suddenly cancelled weeks before it was due to take place.

Festival organisers confirmed the festival will not go ahead in 2026 due to rising costs and the decline of the Australian live music scene.

"After 36 years as Australia's most awarded festival, we are deeply sorry to share that Bluesfest will not proceed in 2026," organisers said in a statement on social media.

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"This is an incredibly difficult decision, and we are so proud of everything Bluesfest has achieved: the music, the artists, the busking competition, our dedicated staff and volunteers, and the community that has grown around the festival over the past three decades."

Organisers blamed the rising cost of production, insurance, logistics and touring for the cancellation, adding that it is "no longer possible" to put on the event to the standard expected by ticketholders.

A liquidator has been appointed to manage the festival's financial matters.

"Ticket holders, including parking pass customers and campers, will be contacted directly with information about the claims process and any potential refund arrangements," the statement continued.

"To our fans, artists, partners and the Byron Bay community, thank you for 36 unforgettable years.

"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of the Bluesfest journey."

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Festival director Peter Noble said Bluefest had driven "significant" tourism to the Byron Bay area since it began in 1990 but that it was no longer feasible to continue putting on the event.

"For more than three decades, Bluesfest has brought extraordinary artists and audiences together in Byron Bay while also driving significant tourism and economic activity for the Northern Rivers and NSW," he said.

"This makes the decision incredibly difficult.

"After careful consideration, we concluded we could not proceed in a way that would meet the standard our audiences, artists and partners expect."

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye told nine.com.au she was "shocked and devastated" by the news and that she had no prior warning of the abrupt decision to cancel Bluesfest.

"It's hard to quantify the financial impact it will have, but also it's such a key part of the social fabric of our community," Ndiaye said.

"It's part of the annual calendar, it provides lots of work opportunities and also some really key opportunities for artists, local, national and international, to share their work."

Ndiaye said she hoped the festival could be revived next year but has "no idea" what the future holds for Bluesfest.

Thousands of ticketholders will have already booked flights and accomodation in Byron Bay and Ndiaye urged fans to forge ahead with their plans to visit.

"We have so much to offer, it's a beautiful time of year, the nature in Byron is fantastic," she added

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The festival was set to run over the Easter long weekend from April 2-5 at Byron Events Farm in the coastal NSW town.

Around 100,000 fans attend the annual music event.

Split Enz, Parkway Drive, Sublime, The Pogues and Counting Crows were among the biggest acts due to perform at this year's festival.

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