Just a week shy of its scheduled dates, the Rolling Loud music festival’s abrupt cancellation marks the latest setback for Australia’s embattled music industry.

The renowned global hip-hop festival announced that its Sydney and Melbourne events slated for March 7 and March 8 would not proceed as planned.

For music enthusiasts, this is yet another disappointment in a string of festival cancellations that have become all too familiar in recent years.

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Since the beginning of last year, numerous prominent music festivals across the nation have faced cancellations, with escalating expenses frequently cited as a common factor.

Among the affected events were Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Groovin’ the Moo, Good Life, and Splendour in the Grass.

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Spilt Milk, often held in Canberra and other cities around Australia, suffered a shock cancellation in 2024, but was able to return in 2025.

Reports from Creative Australia cite rising operational costs, a lack of funding, and insurance costs as pressures squeezing organisers and festival goers. However, some governments have acted.

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Last year, the NSW government handed a $2 million grant to five major festivals, Bluesfest, Lost Paradise, Yours and Owls, Listen Out and Field Day.

Each received around $500,000, and it allowed Field Day to go ahead last year, and has allowed Bluesfest to plan a return this year.

A poll of nine.com.au readers found around 42% per cent of 434 respondents believed governments needed to invest more in live music, including festivals, with around 39 per cent admitting they were “somewhat concerned” about the future of festivals overall.

The poll came just days after Park Waves, a metal festival supposed to take place this month, was cancelled.

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