Organisers of US festival Boston Calling have announced the event will not take place in 2026, but have vowed to return the following year.

The 40,000-cap, three-day festival was held from 23-25 May at Harvard Athletic Complex, headlined by Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy and the Dave Matthews Band. Other acts featured included Megan Moroney, Sheryl Crow, T-Pain, Avril Lavigne, Cage The Elephant, Vampire Weekend, and Sublime.

“Thank you for making this year’s Boston Calling such a wonderful experience,” says a social media statement. “As we look ahead, Boston Calling will take a short break in 2026 as we gear up for an exciting return on a new weekend.”

Boston Calling 2027 has been confirmed for 4-6 June

No reason has been given for the cancellation, but the 2027 edition has been confirmed for 4-6 June.

The festival reduced its ticket prices for 2025, with GA weekend ticket prices lowered from $383 to $350 all-in for 2025, and one-day passes falling from $189 to $169. A two-day option was also introduced for $330.

It also made several safety improvements following claims of overcrowding at the 2024 event.

First staged in 2013, the festival is produced by Boston Calling Events, part-owned by local Crash Line Productions and Austin-based C3 Presents.

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Kings of Leon have cancelled all of their June/July European shows after frontman Caleb Followill was injured in a “freak accident”.

The affected dates include headline slots at Germany’s Hessentag festival (16 June), Belgium’s Rock Werchter (5 July), Spain’s Mad Cool (10 July) and O Son do Camiño (13 July) and Portugal’s Nos Alive (12 July), while their 10 June concert in France at the Zénith Paris has been rescheduled for 3 September at the capital’s Adidas Arena.

It has already been confirmed that Kasabian will step in for the group at O Son do Camiño, with the other events currently working on finding replacements.

The WME-repped band’s UK shows at Blackweir Live in Cardiff (29 June) and Lytham Festival (2 July) have also been pulled, with the latter’s promoter Cuffe & Taylor cancelling the entire first day of the event as a result.

“Having explored all possibilities for a replacement act, it has not been possible at this late stage and therefore Lytham Festival 2025 will now run for four days from 3-6 July 2025,” reads a statement. “All five-day passes will now automatically become a four-day pass and the difference in price automatically refunded.”

“The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks”

A statement issued on behalf of the band reads: “Kings of Leon are updating fans that Caleb Followill has recently sustained a serious injury, shattering his heel and requiring a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from traveling and performing. The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopedic specialists.

“The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming UK and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year.”

The Tennessee rockers are due to return to Europe to headline the inaugural Come Together festival in Newcastle on 22 August and Portsmouth’s Victorious two days later. They are also slated to perform their only concert in Scandinavia of 2025 at Oslo’s Unity Arena on 27 August.

Followill, 43, elaborated on the nature of his injury in a social media post to fans.

“Unfortunately I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day,” he said. “I broke my foot pretty bad playing with my kids. It’s pretty gnarly and I’ll spare all the details. But we’re fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery. I’m on the mend, but they told me that I can’t be on my feet, travelling, or anything for the next eight weeks or so.”

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Bulgaria’s Meadows in the Mountains (MITM) has been cancelled for 2025 as the festival prepares to file for bankruptcy with debts of more than €400,000.

The event had been set for 14-18 August in the Rhodope Mountains, but will no longer go ahead due to “insurmountable” challenges.

Last year’s edition was also called off after permission to stage it on the scheduled dates was revoked due to the government elections, according to organisers.

“This decision has not come lightly,” reads a statement attributed to the Meadows team. “But in the last two years, we’ve faced challenges that are now proving to be insurmountable, following a series of unfortunate events that have been putting us backwards with every new step we’ve tried to take.”

Ticket-holders for 2025 will receive refunds as their money has been held in escrow, but fans who bought tickets for the cancelled 2024 event – as well as those who rolled over their tickets to 2025 – have been told that debt falls into the bankruptcy proceedings.

“We’re sorry to say that at this time, we are not in a financial position to process your refunds,” adds the statement. “We understand how disappointing this is, and we’re deeply sorry. If and when we are able to generate income through new ventures, we truly hope to find a way to honour your support – and we’ll be transparent about any developments on this front.”

The festival also apologises to the crew and service providers still owed cash from the most recent MITM in 2023.

“We know this debt is significant,” it states. “It forms part of the bankruptcy proceedings, and while we currently have no funds to repay you, we are exploring every possible path towards future restitution.”

“Now, with over €400,000 in accumulated debt, we do not say a viable way forward and the time has come to pause – and let go”

The 3,000-cap event launched in 2011 and has featured acts such as Dancefloor Therapy, Anna Wall, Last Orders, Fantastic Twins, Jamie Tiller, Georgie Rogers, Gideon, London Disco Society and Xen.

Organisers say that key members of the MITM production team exited ahead of the 2023 edition following “serious personal allegations”.

“Despite this, we pushed forward to deliver our gathering – at great personal and financial cost and risk,” they continue. “The result: over €150,000 in unpaid crew and service provider debt, and an immense toll on our community.”

The team have left the door open for a comeback in the future.

“Though this chapter is closing, we do not believe that Mountains has breathed its last breath,” concludes the statement. “We are working on ways to stay connected to the mountain, host alternative, countercultural gatherings, and rebuild something slowly, regeneratively and soulfully.”

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The Hong Kong edition of electronic music festival Creamfields has been abruptly cancelled less than three weeks before it was due to take place.

Creamfields Hong Kong, which debuted in 2017, was slated to return to Central Harbourfront from 8-9 March this year, organised by Live Nation Electronic Asia.

DJs lined up included Zedd, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, AC Slater, R3hab and Claptone, while the festival was advertised as a “mega event” by Hong Kong Tourism Board. Tickets had been priced from HK$1,188 to HK$1,788. (€146-220).

“It is with regret that Creamfields Hong Kong 2025 scheduled to take place on 8th and 9th March 2025 has been cancelled”

“It is with regret that Creamfields Hong Kong 2025 scheduled to take place on 8th and 9th March 2025 has been cancelled,” says a statement issued on the event’s social media channels. “All customers will be issued with a full refund on tickets purchased. You don’t need to do anything. We apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment caused.”

While no reason was given for the cancellation, the South China Morning Post reports that a separate post on a mainland Chinese social media platform cited “unforeseen circumstances”.

Originating in the UK in 1998, Creamfields has held a number of spin-offs around the world over the years. Most recently, an edition was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last November, headlined by Swedish House Mafia.

Anyma is the first headliner for the 2025 UK flagship edition, which is set for 21-24 August in Daresbury, Cheshire.

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The 60th anniversary edition of the UK’s best known folk music event Cambridge Folk Festival has been cancelled, it has been announced.

The four-day folk and roots music festival, which launched in 1965, was set to be held at Cherry Hinton Hall in Cambridge from 31 July to 3 August this year.

Organiser Cambridge City Council insists the 14,000-cap event will return in 2026.

“This decision marks an important step in the evolution of the festival,” says a statement. “It has such a special legacy and we are committed to seeing it thrive for future generations as it has done over the past 60 years.

“We know how dear the Folk Festival is to so many, and the impact it has on all those working in the music industry. It is dear to us too and we are committed to using our resources this year to explore new opportunities ahead of returning in summer 2026 with a fantastic festival.”

Past headliners have included Robert Plant, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Nick Cave, Lady Blackbird, Peggy Seeger and Suzanne Vega.

“Hearing from all of those who have supported the festival in the past will be a vital part of developing the festival for the future”

The festival team say they will “continue to support the folk community” with a series of locally based events throughout Cambridge, alongside other initiatives to support local emerging youth and folk artists.

Members of the festival mailing list will also be invited to share feedback in the months ahead, with organisers pledging to work closely with everyone involved in the festival.

“Hearing from all of those who have supported the festival in the past will be a vital part of developing the festival for the future, as is hearing from those potential new audiences who haven’t attended before,” they add. “We will be asking for feedback during 2025 and want to hear from as many people as possible.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, local councillor Robert Dryden said the festival lost money last year, but added the decision to cancel had come “out of the blue”. “This is going to be a big disappointment to lots of people,” he added.

Cambridge Council previously ditched the city’s annual Big Weekend music event in 2023, saying it was too expensive to continue in its current form.

News of Cambridge Folk Festival’s cancellation came a day after Liverpool’s Africa Oyé announced it will be taking a fallow year in 2025. Africa Oyé’s artistic director Paul Duhaney cited rising costs of 30% as being unworkable, despite record attendance at last year’s event.

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As 2025 gets out of the starting blocks, a wave of festivals have made fresh lineup announcements – while a UK event has been called off.

In the Czech Republic, Metronome Prague (19-21 June) has confirmed international stars Die Antwoord, Alanis Morissette and Rag’n’Bone Man, alongside domestic acts Aneta Langerová, Barbora Poláková and Klára Vytiskova.

Switzerland’s Stars in Town Schaffhausen (30 July-9 August) will feature Nelly Furtado, Alice Cooper, James Blunt, Biffy Clyro, Nothing But Thieves, Ugly Kid Joe, H-Blockx and Kontra K, plus Hecht, Pegasus and Nemo, among others.

Australia’s Palace Foreshore venue in St Kilda, Melbourne, has also unveiled the first acts for its 2025 series. The programme includes The Kooks (27 February), Maribou State (28 February), Denzel Curry (2 March), Magdalena Bay (7 March), Fontaines D.C. (8 & 10 March), Honey Dijon (9 March) and Six60 (14 March).

Over in the US, Bonnaroo (12-15 June) will be headlined by Luke Combs, Dom Dolla, Tyler, the Creator, John Summit, Glass Animals, Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Justice, Hozier, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age.

Also on the bill in Manchester, Tennessee, are the likes of Sammy Virji, Insane Clown Posse, Megadeth, Nelly, Glorilla, Tyla, Remi Wolf, Raye, Royel Otis and Barry Can’t Swim. It will also unveil an Infinity Stage, touted as the “world’s largest” 360° live music experience.

The Governors Ball (6-8 June) will bring Tyler, the Creator, Benson Boone, Olivia Rodrigo, Feid, Hozier and Glass Animals to Flushing Meadows in New York City. The lineup will also include acts such as Raye, T-Pain, Tyla, Royel Otis, The Beaches, Conan Gray, Clairo, Wallows, Marina, The Japanese House, Mariah the Scientist and Amaarae.

The world’s largest hip-hop festival, Rolling Loud California (15-16 March) has secured headliners A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti and Peso Pluma for Hollywood Park Grounds, with the supporting cast including YG, Sexyy Red, Ski Mask the Slump God, Quavo, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely and Dom Kennedy.

Plus, Sips & Sounds Music Festival (7-8 March) at Auditorium Shores, Austin, Texas, is topped by Halsey, Khalid, Benson Boone and AJR. Acts will also include Suki Waterhouse, Ashe, Gus Dapperton, Chelsea Cutler & Jeremy Zucker, Nessa Barrett, Paul Russell and Claire Rosinkranz.

“Without intervention, the UK will keep losing these successful businesses and cultural cornerstones of communities all over the country”

Elsewhere, the UK has suffered its first festival casualty of 2025 after Liverpool’s Africa Oyé announced it will take a fallow year. Artistic director Paul Duhaney cites rising costs of 30% as being unworkable, despite record attendance at last year’s event.

“With increased infrastructure and compliance costs, it is simply a case that without major investment to cover the costs of delivering a festival of this size safely, it would be irresponsible to go ahead with the event in 2025,” says Duhaney.

The announcement comes after a record 78 events fell throughout the course of 2024 – more than double the amount (36) that did so the year before.

“Last year was one of the most turbulent times for the UK’s festival market with a record number of events disappearing from the calendar – despite strong sales,” says Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) CEO John Rostron. “Festival promoters are used to working with fine margins, but they have been eroded to near zero since the pandemic with skyrocketing costs compounded by the impact of Brexit on some elements of the live music sector.

“This problem will not ease without direct government support. Without intervention, the UK will keep losing these successful businesses and cultural cornerstones of communities all over the country.”

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The US debut of K-pop touring series Waterbomb has been postponed due to “operational challenges”.

The water-themed music festival was set to take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles from 28-29 September, but has now been called off with less than three weeks to go. Ticket-holders will be automatically refunded.

Acts booked to perform had included ATEEZ, Chung Ha, Hwasa, K-will, Kwon Eunbi, Loco, PH-1, Ryu Sujeong, Simon Dominic and DJ HOWMINI.

“We deeply appreciate the support and enthusiasm you‘ve shown for Waterbomb LA 2024,” says a statement on the event’s Instagram page. “However, due to various operational challenges, we regret to inform you that the event has been postponed. Your safety and delivering the best experience possible remain our top priorities, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

“We’ll return stronger and better prepared to deliver the Waterbomb experience you’ve been waiting for.”

The festival was launched by Hong Kong-based streaming platform Viu and Singapore-based Evergreen Group Holdings, with local promoters helping bring it to new territories.

“Initially, we set ticket prices to cover these costs and ensure a reasonable profit. However, we recognise that this has become a burden for our fans”

Waterbomb mixes various water activities alongside local and international lineups of K-pop, hip-hop, and EDM performers. First held in 2015 in Seoul, South Korea, the series expanded to new markets last year with two editions in Japan and one in Bangkok.

This year, it was due to visit nine cities in South Korea, four in Japan, and one in Thailand, along with new editions in LA, Vietnam, Taipei and Dubai.

However, the LA spin-off had experienced a troubled build-up, with organisers receiving criticism from fans after setting admission at $135-380 per day. They later apologised in response to the backlash, lowering ticket prices and revising the seating plan.

“Unlike Waterbomb Seoul, where additional costs such as flights, accommodation, security, and transportation for more than 200 people including artists and staff are not required, hosting Waterbomb in LA incurs significant expenses in these areas,” said promoters in an online Q&A at the time.

“The extended stay due to long-distance travel has also increased artist fees, and the cost of obtaining performance visas for artists and staff in the US is significantly higher compared to other countries. Additionally, local production and operation costs in LA are much higher.

“Initially, we set ticket prices to cover these costs and ensure a reasonable profit. However, we recognise that this has become a burden for our fans. Therefore, we have decided to adjust the prices, prioritising the event over profit, in order to reduce the burden on our customers.”

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Poland’s Fest Festival is to return next year following a “restructuring process” at organiser Follow The Step.

The scheduled fourth edition of the event, which last took place two years ago, was cancelled in August 2023 – just days before it was due to take place – and filed for bankruptcy after selling only 50% of its tickets.

Follow The Step began a restructure in the wake of the cancellation, which came two months after it called off its Warsaw festival On Air, and suspended its participation in all its pending events, which it switched to other promoters.

However, Fest Festival 2025 has now been confirmed for Silesia Park in Chorzów, near Katowice, on 15-16 August.

“We spent the last year on intensive restructuring work,” says a statement by organisers. “The 2023 edition was a huge lesson for us and we learnt from it. We are coming back humble, stronger, and with an ambitious plan to create an even more beautiful festival.”

The 35,000-cap festival, which was set to feature the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Kasabian and Peggy Gou, had previously seen its attendance expand by 30% per year to become one of the fastest-growing music festivals in eastern Europe.

“Participants who have not received a refund for their purchased tickets will receive passes from us to next year’s Fest”

Next year’s capacity will revert to 20,000 – the same number as the first edition of the event, with ticket-holders left out of pocket by the 2023 cancellation to be offered free admission to the event. Tickets go on sale on 23 September.

“Our main goal is to focus on what matters most – you, our participants,” continues the statement. “We start the new year with a settlement from 2023 and as promised earlier, participants who have not received a refund for their purchased tickets will receive passes from us to next year’s Fest.

“Five thousand tickets will be given for free to customers who did not receive a refund for previously purchased tickets. The remaining 15,000 places will be divided into 12,000 two-day passes and 3,000 one-day tickets for each day of the festival.”

In order to be “completely transparent” with fans, the team have detailed the plans on the event’s new website, including a rolling ticket sales counter.

“The 2025 edition is held under the sign of full transparency and transparent communication,” it adds. “To prove these words, we have placed a counter on the website indicating the current number of participants in the upcoming edition of the event. This data will include the total number of tickets sold and participants who received tickets for the next edition of the event.”

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Ticket-holders for Belgium’s W-Festival have been warned they have a “nearly zero percent” chance of refunds after the event was cancelled two weeks before it was due to take place.

The 80s and 90s-themed beach festival’s ninth edition was scheduled to be held in the city of Ostend from 23-25 August, featuring acts such as Adam Ant, 2 Unlimited, Adamski, Culture Beat, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Snap! and Tony Hadley.

But the company behind the event, Wave to Synth, says it has been forced to “throw in the towel” and has filed for bankruptcy, citing slow ticket sales, among other factors.

A statement from promoters reads: “The festival sector will become a bit quieter. After years of struggle, the last notes have been played on the W-Festival stage, as our organisation, with a heavy heart, officially will file for bankruptcy.

“The W-Festival board has taken extensive steps to keep the company running, but now, just a few weeks before the start of the festival, we are faced with the heart-wrenching decision to throw in the towel.

“The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions have had a devastating impact on the event sector. Additionally, the W-Festival faced the bankruptcy of our ticket provider, Festicket, in 2022, and unfortunately, we are experiencing disappointing ticket sales in 2024, contrary to all forecasts. After years of dedication and efforts to adapt to the new circumstances, as well as various initiatives to mitigate the damage, it is no longer possible for the W-Festival to keep the organisation afloat.”

“It is incredibly painful to conclude this musical adventure after nine years”

Around 30,000 people attended last year’s edition but ticket sales were said to be around half that for 2024 at the time of this year’s cancellation. Day tickets cost between €79 and €94, with three-day tickets costing €219.

“It is incredibly painful to conclude this musical adventure after nine years,” adds a statement from the company’s board. “For now, our focus is on closing the bankruptcy properly.”

Trustee Petr Seymoens tells The Brussels Times that the company has “no money”, and puts the chances of compensation for “ordinary creditors” such as ticket holders at “nearly 0%”.

VRT reports that in the wake of the cancellation, a group of seven volunteers from the festival took it upon themselves to organise an alternative event over the same weekend.

Earlier this year, promoters of Switzerland’s Vibiscum Festival offered ticketholders admission to two other events as compensation after saying they were “unable to provide refunds” as a result of financial difficulties.

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Promoters of Slovakia’s Pohoda Festival have put speculation about the event’s future to rest after confirming it will return in 2025.

The most recent edition of the three-day independent festival in July was curtailed on its second night amid adverse weather after a thunderstorm caused a large tent stage to collapse and injured 29 people.

Scheduled sets by acts such as Royal Blood, Morcheeba, Nia Archives, Black Pumas, Mount Kimbie and Ezra Collective were unable to take place as a result.

“The safety of our guests is our priority, and therefore we believe that our decision, made with great regret, will be understood by everyone,” said organisers at the time.

However, it has now been announced that the 30,000-cap event will take place at Trenčín Airport from 10-12 July next year.

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us to complete the prematurely ended 2024 edition”

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us to complete the prematurely ended 2024 edition, and there are many questions to which we do not yet have answers,” says the festival team. “Nevertheless, we look forward with hope to the coming days, weeks and months as we prepare the new edition of the festival for you.”

Led by CEO Michal Kaščák, the music and arts festival was launched in 1997 and has featured acts such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Pulp, Kraftwerk, The xx, Liam Gallagher, Wolf Alice, The Chemical Brothers, PJ Harvey, The Prodigy, M.I.A. and The Libertines.

A campaign, set up in the aftermath of this year’s cancellation to help ensure Pohoda’s survival, has raised more than €140,000 to date. A series of fundraising gigs have also been held.

“We thank you for all the support you have shown us, whether it be through positive messages, tributes, Concerts for Pohoda, donations or other acts of solidarity,” add festival organisers. “Each act of kindness and support has touched us deeply, and we receive them with heartfelt thanks. They give us the strength to begin preparations for Pohoda 2025.”

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