All the signs pointing to Splendour in the Grass’ doomed fate: From disappointment over the line-up to a drop in ticket sales as 2024 festival is called off with its future uncertain

Splendor in the Grass organizers confirmed that the 2024 festival has been canceled just months before it was due to start.

The iconic music extravaganza, which has been running since 2001, was due to be headlined by Kylie Minogue, with the 2024 line-up announced just days before its cancellation.

Organizers confirmed on Wednesday that the three-day festival, due to take place in the North Byron Parklands from July 19 to 21, had been canceled ‘due to unexpected events’ and will not be rescheduled in 2024.

They confirmed that ticket holders will get their money back and said the festival will be ‘working hard to be back’ in the coming years.

As the festival’s future remains uncertain, MailOnline takes a look at the event’s difficult years, from a drop in ticket sales in 2023 to disappointment over the 2024 line-up and the infamous ‘Splendor in the Mud’ chaos.

Disappointing line-up

Organizers have managed to snag Australian superstar Kylie, 55, to headline the 2024 event, fresh off her Grammy win and during her huge Las Vegas residency.

Popular artists such as G Flip, Arcade Fire, Future and Girl In Red were also set to take the stage at the 2024 event.

However, the line-up was criticized for the lack of renowned international acts, with US rapper Future, 40, one of the few global stars set to perform.

In the past, Splendor has picked up a host of international acts, including Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, Flume, Queens of the Stone Age and The Smashing Pumpkins.

The festival also became known for attracting some of Australia’s most renowned artists, including Powderfinger, Missy Higgins and Hilltop Hoods.

But reception for the 2024 lineup was lukewarm, with fans wondering why they couldn’t sign more prominent acts.

‘Absolutely nonsense. It’s one of the few festivals in Australia big enough to offer a semi-exciting and decent line-up, and the biggest in terms of overseas headliners is Future,” said one frustrated fan.

“Australian festivals suck. Why is Future the only good international act?’ another agreed, with someone else adding: ‘Australian music festivals are so boring omg.’

Poor ticket sales

One source claimed that the festival’s cancellation was most likely due to poor ticket sales and the disappointing response to the lineup.

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone Australia Chief Operating Officer Joel King also weighed in on the ‘perfect storm’ that led to the cancellation, blaming the line-up and the cost of living crisis.

He told the Daily telegram: ‘It’s a broader problem that has to do with the cost of living, poor lineup design, erratic promoters (not in the case of Splendours), the inability to adapt and create a better festival experience, higher logistics costs, fans’ reluctance to buy tickets until closer to the event and ‘Splendor in the Mud’ didn’t help.

“It all makes for a perfect storm for event organizers.”

Splendor is the latest in a long line of music festivals to be axed after Groovin the Moo, ValleyWays and Tent Pole Music Festival were all canceled as organizers felt the pressure.

When Tent Pole Music Festival was canceled just weeks before kick-off, organizers blamed the ‘impossible’ economic climate.

Splendor’s 2024 tickets were up for grabs for a whopping $599, but the festival will now have to refund sales to disappointed fans.

Three-day tickets for the festival cost a whopping $399, while single-day tickets are up for grabs for $179.

Camping tickets also cost $159, while the premium VIP village tickets cost $599, with additional fees on top of all prices.

At the height of its popularity, the festival attracted 50,000 partiers over three days.

But last year the festival recorded a 30 percent drop in ticket sales from 50,000 to 35,000, thanks to performances from artists such as Lizzo, Mumford and Sons and Tove Lo.

The 2023 festival also did not sell out for the first time since 2011, compared to a decade earlier when the iconic event sold out within an hour of going on sale.

Mud bath

It came after a difficult few years for the festival, which was postponed twice due to the Covid pandemic and the ‘Splendor in the Mud’ chaos the year before.

2022’s Splendor in the Grass was destroyed by heavy rain, turning the campsite into a mud pit and forcing frustrated partygoers to sleep in their cars.

At the music festival, festival goers had to queue in their cars for up to twelve hours, without any indication of whether they would get in, because the ground was completely soaked and there was a lack of staff.

The event organizers were criticized by attendees – who paid $400 to go – claiming they were not given updates while they waited.

Partygoers had to wait until 6pm, some sleeping in their cars, but were turned around as mud prevented access to campsites.

Friday’s opening day was canceled after heavy rain caused organizers to close campsites as large parts were flooded.

Day two continued, but management did not seem ready for the large number of people leaving en masse after the final act.

Guests were forced to wait for a bus until 6am, with people claiming they saw people crushed and becoming unwell with little to no support from staff.

A series of groveling excuses from organizers were met with anger from attendees, who claimed they had staged a disastrous festival despite three years of planning.