Splendour In The Grass will not go ahead in 2021, confirms 2022 dates

It’s official: Splendour In The Grass will not be going ahead in 2021.

After months of industry speculation as to whether the festival would push forward, organisers have today confirmed that the rescheduled November event will be unable to occur due to the current COVID outbreak in New South Wales.

Instead, Splendour In The Grass will return in its usual late July timeframe in 2022, with initial 2020 headliners The Strokes, Gorillaz and Tyler, The Creator being confirmed to appear at next year’s event.

Further details regarding the festival’s lineup will be shared at a later date.

Today’s announcement marks the fourth time that Splendour In The Grass has been forced to reschedule its event since the onset of the pandemic, with last year’s festival also being moved to October and subsequently cancelled due to COVID-19.

In an emotional letter released alongside today’s announcement, Splendour In The Grass co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco lamented the pace of Australia’s vaccine rollout, noting that the decision to cancel this year’s event would ultimately result in a superior festival experience in 2022.

“With vaccine rollout progressing more slowly than anticipated, we have made the decision to move the 20th anniversary edition of the festival to July 2022,” Ducrou and Piticco wrote.

“We are confident that moving the festival to July 2022 will finally see us enjoying Splendour In The Grass in all its glory. More of the population will be vaccinated, international talent will have the ability to enter the country more freely and we’ll be able to deliver the Splendour in the Grass that you know and love.”

Ducrou and Piticco also asked that all 2021 ticketholders hold onto their tickets and rallied for attendees to get vaccinated to help support the return of the touring sector.

“Australia’s live music industry was already on its knees and the current outbreak, this time with a lack of JobKeeper or wage subsidy, is having a major impact on the livelihoods of everyone within the sector. From the many sole traders and small businesses, to the larger tour and event promoters, our industry is in desperate need of government help,” the pair said.

“We send a heartfelt thanks to all of our Splendour community for sticking with us during this time, your support means the world to us. Please retain your tickets and support live music if you wish to attend Splendour in July. We can’t wait to be back at North Byron Parklands with you in 2022 for what is going to be one hell of a celebration!”

Last month, Splendour In The Grass staged Splendour XR, a virtual edition of the festival that was funded by a $1.5 million Government RISE grant.

The festival was also set to launch a spin-off festival, Splendour In The City, in Sydney prior to the state’s COVID-19 outbreak in July.