Splendour in the Grass, Australia's iconic music and arts festival, is taking a break in 2025. Stay tuned for future announcements and get ready for its return.
Splendour in the Grass has earned its reputation as Australia's premier music and arts festival, traditionally held in July at the scenic North Byron Parklands in Yelgun, New South Wales. Since its creation in 2001 by Village Sounds Agency and Secret Service music companies, the festival evolved from a one-day event into an immersive three-day experience, becoming a rite of passage for Australian music lovers. Its name is inspired by a William Wordsworth poem.
Splendour is celebrated for its eclectic mix of musical genres, ranging from indie rock and hip hop to electronic and alternative music, featuring both renowned international headliners and emerging Australian talent. Over the years, it has hosted iconic performances from artists like Flume, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo, and Mumford & Sons. Beyond the music, the festival offers a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, including interactive art installations, a comedy club, discussion forums, and Little Splendour, a dedicated kids' zone.
Despite its success and popularity, with past events drawing over 40,000 daily attendees, organisers announced the cancellation of the 2024 edition and confirmed that Splendour in the Grass will not return in 2025, citing the need for a break to "come back bigger and better".
Organisers of Splendour in the Grass officially announced in early 2025 that the iconic Australian festival will not take place that year. The stated reason is the need for "a little more time to recharge," with a promise to return "bigger and better."
This decision follows the surprise cancellation of the 2024 edition, which occurred just weeks after announcing a stellar lineup featuring Kylie Minogue, Future, and Arcade Fire, due to "unexpected events."
Despite the absence of the main festival, the organising team has hinted that they are developing other exciting projects for music lovers in Australia, keeping anticipation alive.
Adding to the uncertainty, reports emerged in March 2025 that North Byron Parklands, the festival's home for over a decade, might be sold, with an estimated price of $35 million. This raises questions about the event's future venue.
Splendour's hiatus is part of a broader crisis for the festival industry in Australia, with several major events cancelling editions or ceasing operations, prompting national discussion on the sector's sustainability.
In an effort to mitigate the crisis, various government support measures have been announced, including the Revive Live program and amendments to the New South Wales Festivals Act, which include emergency packages for large festivals.
The 2023 edition of Splendour in the Grass failed to sell out for the first time since 2011, which some analysts attributed to cost-of-living challenges.
Faced with cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, Splendour in the Grass innovated with Splendour XR in July 2021, a virtual festival featuring artists like Khalid, The Killers, and Charli XCX, partly funded by the federal government's RISE program.
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