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Outback Queensland music festival the Birdsville Big Red Bash has been cancelled in another blow to the music industry after the region was pelted with heavy rainfall.
The cancellation of the three-day music festival in July, which organisers say was 90 per cent sold out, follows the shock collapse of Byron Bay Bluesfest.
It will be the second year in a row the Big Red Bash has not taken place, after 2025’s event was paused for a “gap year”.
“After careful consideration of the available options, we decided that relocating the Birdsville Big Red Bash was not feasible for 2026,” founder Greg Donovan said in a statement.
“The decision to cancel this year’s event, whilst difficult, is based on what we believe is in the best interest of the event and patrons.”
Birdsville received a year’s worth of rain in February from a tropical low over Western Queensland and the Northern Territory. Road access to the town was cut off.
Donovan said although the greenery from the rain was “stunning”, water would not dry up by July. He said patrons of the festival had been involved in the cancellation decision and were surveyed about alternative venues.
“Mother Nature is the highest authority. This year she has spoken and we have heard the message,” he said.
The annual festival takes place at the Big Red sand dune on a cattle station 35 kilometres west of Birdsville and was first staged in 2013.
About 10,000 attendees set up camp on the edge of the Simpson Desert for the event, which injects about $20 million into the outback economy.
Performers for this year’s festival were to include Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, the Teskey Brothers, the Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, the Whitlams and Tim Finn.
Organisers said most of the acts had committed to performing next year.
Oztix managing director Stuart Field said they would work to process customer refunds and to help bring the Birdsville Big Bash back in 2027.
“Our thoughts are with the local businesses, suppliers and communities who are also affected by the weather events,” he said.
Ticket holders could obtain a refund or transfer their tickets to either the 2027 festival or the 2026 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash in August.
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