TEG Calls Off New Country Music Festival LONGHAUL

TEG has cancelled brand new country music festival LONGHAUL only weeks after announcing the event.

The inaugural festival was slated to go ahead in January 2027, with shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with a line-up that included major acts such as Kane Brown and Kacey Musgraves.

In a statement given on Wednesday, promoters TEG confirmed the cancellation.

"TEG has a long history of supporting country music artists,” the statement read.

“Despite our excitement to bring this brand-new format to the market for fans, we have realised that unfortunately it’s not the right time to launch a new country music festival in Australia.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel the festival sooner rather than later, to provide certainty to our valued fans and talented artists. We are disappointed in this outcome and sincerely apologise to the fans who purchased tickets. Full refunds will of course be provided. Many factors need to work together for an event of this scale, and bringing something brand-new to the market is always challenging. We will continue to bring country music tours to Australia for the many fans who, like us, love country music.”

The news comes amidst reports that TEG dismantled its country music division only six months after the company announced plans to expand the team.

Among those to depart is Nashville-based executive Brad Turcotte, who was recruited earlier this year as senior vice president of country at TEG Live and tasked with leading the company's push into the genre.

The restructuring comes despite country music continuing to enjoy significant growth in Australia. Spotify data previously showed Australian country music streams grew 115% in the three years to July 2025, while Live Nation has described Australia as the world's third-largest country music market behind the US and Canada.

TEG, which is owned by North American private equity firm Silver Lake, has meanwhile been navigating the loss of several significant ticketing contracts, including Melbourne Park and Venues NSW.

From Rolling Stone AU/NZ