Bye Bye Bluesfest: Legendary Australian Festival Will End In 2025

The 2025 and 36th anniversary installment of Australia’s famed Byron Bay Bluesfest will be the last. Organizers revealed the festival that has been held since 1990 on the Byron Events Farm just outside of Byron Bay, Australia will say farewell April 17 – 20, 2025.

“To my Dear Bluesfest Family, and after more than 50 years in the music business, Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans. But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter,” Bluesfest director and organizer Peter Noble said in a statement of the decision. “As I said earlier this year at Bluesfest 2024, next year’s festival will be happening and it definitely is, but it will be our last. To my dear Bluesfest family, I want to make it the most unforgettable experience yet. If you’ve been thinking about it, now is your last chance to experience our beloved festival.”

BB King, Dave Matthews Band, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt and Santana are among the many legendary American acts who have made the trip down under to perform at Bluesfest over the years. The 2024 event earlier this year hosted Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jack Johnson, Snarky Puppy, Elvis Costello, Drive-By Truckers, Devon Allman, Duane Betts and dozens of other artists.

Bluesfest organizers will start rolling out the 2025 lineup next week. The bill is expected to feature a mix of longtime festival veteran artists and first timers.