The organiser of the Bluesfest music festival in Byron Bay has gone into liquidation, with ticket holders owed more than $23 million. Liquidator Jason Bettles of Worrells confirmed that a resolution to wind up Bluesfest Enterprises Pty Ltd has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and refunds from remaining assets are unlikely.
Byron Bay metal band Parkway Drive, who were scheduled to headline the Easter weekend event as part of their homecoming tour, expressed their dismay. 'To see such an important Byron Bay community institution fall on hard times is heartbreaking,' the band said in a statement. 'We are gutted for the fans who made plans to come to Byron.'
Bettles advised ticket holders to lodge a claim but warned that recovery of money paid is improbable. He suggested that those who paid by credit or debit card may seek a charge reversal from their bank. Most ticket holders are now classified as unsecured creditors, as the funds have likely been spent on operational costs.
Under the Live Performance Australia ticketing code of practice, member organisers are expected to hold ticket proceeds in a trust account until the event takes place. However, the code is voluntary, and many promoters negotiate early access to these funds to cover upfront costs such as artist deposits and site logistics. In Bluesfest's case, the money had been transferred from ticketing agent Moshtix to the promoter, losing its protection.
Other acts on the planned 2026 lineup, including Split Enz, Erykah Badu and The Teskey Brothers, have remained silent. The status of international sideshows by The Black Crowes and Sublime is unknown, though Split Enz's separate 50th-anniversary tour in May, promoted by Live Nation, appears unaffected. Some patrons reportedly paid between $700 and $15,000 for festival tickets.
