Thousands of music fans have had their Easter plans thrown into chaos after Australia’s most awarded music festival Bluesfest announced the 2026 event at the Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah won’t go ahead, just three weeks out from its scheduled start.
Bluesfest 2026 was scheduled to run from April 2-5, with Split Enz and local band Parkway Drive announced as the headline acts.
Bluesfest took to social media on Friday, March 13, at 1.15pm to announce the festival had been cancelled.
“After 36 years as Australia’s most awarded festival, we are deeply sorry to share that Bluesfest will not proceed in 2026,” Bluesfest posted.
“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.
“Rising production, logistics, insurance and touring costs, combined with a challenging environment for major live events, mean it is no longer possible to deliver the festival to the standard our audiences, artists and partners expect.”
A liquidator has been appointed to manage all 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.
“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.”
Liquidator Jason Bettles of Worrells said a notification of resolution winding up the company, Bluesfest Enterprises Pty Ltd, had been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
In April 2025, the NSW Government awarded Bluesfest Byron Bay $500,000 in emergency funding through the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund to help secure its future and was to provide a $500,000 grant to support the festival this year.
Now it has been alleged Bluesfest owes ticket holders for the 2026 event $23 million in refunds, and the festival has about $28,000 in the bank.
Tickets were reportedly still on sale on the Bluesfest website the day before the announcement that the festival would not go ahead.
It has been reported some ticket holders paid thousands of dollars for their tickets, parking, and camping accommodation, with some paying tens of thousands of dollars, and they are unlikely to see any refund.
A report by Lawrence Consulting into the economic impact of Bluesfest 2024 revealed the festival contributed $235.1 million across NSW.
Bluesfest 2024 had a gross regional product contribution of $42.4 million to the Byron Shire, $83.2 million to the wider Northern Rivers, and $130.5 million to NSW, creating 358.5 full time jobs in the Byron Shire which generated $54.4 million in wages.
Organisers were extremely pleased with ticket sales for the 2025 Bluesfest, even though it was shortened to 4 days, about 108,000 people enjoyed fantastic weather and music, a significant increase over the 70,000 people who attended in 2024.
As music festivals across Australia are in decline due to increasing running costs, but last month Groovin the Moo announced it would hold a one-off show on Saturday, May 9 at Lismore’s Oakes Oval.
It is unknown if 2025 was the final Bluesfest.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 20 March 2026.
Related stories: Bluesfest 2024 $235 million economic impact, Brilliant Bluesfest’s 2025 curtain call
