After the shock cancellation of its 2024 event due to a combination of low ticket sales and skyrocketing production costs, Australian festival staple Splendour In The Grass is set to remain AWOL in 2025.
At the time of Splendour’s original cancellation, organisers stated that the festy would be “taking the year off”. But it appears as if the Byron Bay staple, long regarded as one of the biggest annual events on the Australian festival calendar, will now be extending its leave of absence.
Splendour In The Grass Organisers Announce The Cancellation Of Their 2024 Event:
According to a Rolling Stone report, Splendour in the Grass will not be returning this July. Promoters Live Nation confirmed the news to the mag in an exclusive statement, writing: “The festivals team has our full support to bring Splendour in the Grass back when they feel it’s right”.
They continued: “In the meantime, we’re working on exciting new projects to support artists and the industry, while meeting the demands of music fans and look forward to sharing more in the coming months.”
Last year’s ill-fated instalment of Splendour was set to be headlined by Kylie Minogue, which would have not only been her debut at the festival, but her first full-scale performance in her native Australia since 2019. Other acts on the bill included Future, Arcade Fire, Turnstile, G Flip, The Last Dinner Party and Fontaines D.C.
Splendour In The Grass was one of several big Australian festivals to either cancel outright or take a year off in 2024. Others included Groovin’ The Moo (also weeks after announcing its line-up), Falls Festival, Dark Mofo, Tent Pole, Wanderer Festival and Now & Again.
In response to the news, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke in the Australian Senate to urge the government to show the arts sector the support it needs through what has been a tumultuous festival season, saying Splendour’s cancellation “is yet another reminder that we need urgent funding to support festivals and the arts through the cost of living crisis”.
“Thousands of people… will be out of work,” she said. “Thousands of people will be scratching around, thinking how they’re going to pay bills, as artists who are involved in this festival or hospitality workers who keep the festival going.”
We’ll bring you more info as it develops.
Further Reading
Here’s Why Splendour In The Grass 2024 Was Cancelled
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Has Been Cancelled
Splendour In The Grass 2024: Kylie Minogue, Future, Turnstile + More
