Fyre Festival 2 postponed with no new date set

It seems the second time may not be the charm for the Fyre Festival.

The sequel to the notorious event was announced amid a burst of publicity in February, but its future remains in doubt after organisers shared – and shortly deleted – an announcement stating it was postponed.

Fyre 2 was scheduled for May 30 to June 2 at Mexico’s Isla Mujeres. It was promoted as a follow-up to the original Fyre Festival, which was cancelled in 2017 after a string of bungles, including ramshackle tents and a lack of bathrooms.

The first Fyre Festival was a mess of ramshackle tents and cold cheese sandwiches.

According to US outlet ABC News, an announcement on the event’s website on Wednesday (US time), said it “has been postponed and a new date will be announced”. Ticket holders were told refunds had been issued, and that they could repurchase tickets once a new date had been announced.

However, this message was shortly removed and organisers insisted the event was “still on”. Ticket holders were told new locations were being vetted and a new destination would soon be announced. Tickets were shown as “unavailable” on the website, before links to the purchase page appeared to stop working.

Following the 2017 event, promoter Billy McFarland was sentenced to six years’ prison for defrauding investors of $38.5 million, and the festival became the subject of a popular Netflix documentary. McFarland was released in 2022, and announced Fyre’s second iteration this February, saying he would work with Mexican festival producer Lostnights.

Billy McFarland was handed a six-year term after the first bungled Fyre Festival.Credit: Getty Images

However, the Isla Mujeres government said no approvals had been granted.

“Due to information circulating in the media regarding the Fyre Festival 2, the General Directorate of Tourism of Isla Mujeres informs that no person or company has requested permits from this office or any other Municipal Government department for said event,” the government said in a statement on Facebook.

Organisers denied this on April 5, claiming the event had “followed the proper processes and procedures to lawfully host an event”.

Despite promising a mix of A-list artists, as well as an “MMA [mixed martial arts] champion”, no acts or activities had been confirmed ahead of its apparent postponement.

About 2000 tickets were reportedly available, ranging in price from $2206 to $1.7 million. The most expensive “Prometheus God of Fyre” package was available for only eight guests, granting full access with accommodation in a four-bedroom villa or yacht and the services of a 24/7 private chauffeur. The festival’s website claims this package has already sold out.

“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again,” McFarland said on Instagram after announcing Fyre 2. “But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again.”

McFarland acknowledged attendees would be taking a risk, as he “made a lot of bad decisions and messed up the first festival”, but it would be an “adventure” for those who chose to take it.

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