Travel delays, sickness and even an intentional boycott could mean your favourite artist drops out of a festival after you’ve purchased your ticket. But what contingency plans do organisers have in place
It’s become an increasingly common occurrence for artists to pull out of music festivals, sometimes only days before they’re scheduled to perform. In addition to being a major disappointment to fans, it’s also a logistical nightmare for festival organisers and could be a legal problem for artists themselves.
That said, festival organisers typically have a back-up plan in place in the event of a ‘Force Majeure’ when an artist might be unable to perform. Here’s a breakdown of all the questions you might be wondering about.
Why might an artist drop out of a festival last-minute?
There are a myriad of reasons that an artists might not be able to perform at a festival on short notice. This could range from exhaustion, illness, travel disruptions or family emergencies.
READ MORE: Chaos as artists pull out of London festival over concerns of ‘art-washing’
Recently, boycotting festivals has also become quite common as artists are increasingly holding organisers accountable for their business partnerships and sponsorships.
Artists can also be dropped from a festival by an organiser in extreme circumstances. Typically, this is only the case if organisers believe letting an artist perform would do damage to the reputation of the festival.
Are artists fined if they do not perform?
When an artists signs on to a festival, they agree to certain terms with organisers through a formal contract, which will also stipulate the consequences of cancellation. Cancellations that are the result of unforeseen circumstance – referred to as Force Majeure – usually cover illness where there is no financial penalty for the artist.
According to Festival Pro: “An artist that cancels with no good reason will probably be liable for financial penalties to the organisers and possibly to their crew who are now no longer required.” This is a worst-case scenario, given there can be a mixed reaction of concern and anger from eager fans that may have purchased tickets expressly to see their favourite artist
It also damage’s an artist’s relationship with festival organisers in the future and cause long-term reputational damage.
What do festival organisers do when an artist drops out?
“Organisers with a good contingency plan should be able to replace that artist with an alternative with equal standing,” confirms Festival Pro. To avoid leaving the stage or slot completely blank, they will likely be able to connect with managers and producers to find an act of approximate relevance to fill in.
The next step is communicating openly to fans that there will be a change in the line-up as swiftly and transparently as possible. This is important to ensure fans are not blindsided and lose trust in the festival organisers, as many new festivals are still building their loyalty with audiences.
Do you get a refund if a headliner or multiple artists drop out?
Generally, no. This will of course depend on the specific terms and conditions of each specific festival. And while not mandatory, if there is a significant enough change in the line-up, a festival might offer to protect their relationship with audiences, though this is unlikely. For example, many fans called on 2025 Field Day organisers to refund their tickets after artists began to drop out of the event, to no avail.
That is why organisers plan ahead to ensure they have other artists at the ready to avoid disappointing fans.
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