<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> Thousands of Australians have been directly affected by the slew of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/all-american-rejects-knocked-loose-cancel-good-things-music-festival/04e52ad8-17f0-4e7d-bf58-800098fb87bc" rel="" target="_blank" title="music festival cancellations"><span>music festival cancellations</span></a><span> over the last 12 months, including </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/park-waves-festival-australia-cancelled/9d6565b7-a83c-42da-a502-d807022ebae7" rel="" target="_blank" title="Park Waves festival"><span>Park Waves festival</span></a><span> this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now they're calling for more government investment in the scene, according to a nine.com.au reader poll.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 40 per cent of the 434 readers surveyed agreed that federal and state governments should invest in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/music-festivals" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia's live music industry"><span>Australia's live music industry</span></a><span> to support festivals and prevent more cancellations in 2026.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/all-american-rejects-knocked-loose-cancel-good-things-music-festival/04e52ad8-17f0-4e7d-bf58-800098fb87bc" rel="" target="_blank" title="Two bands just cancelled their Australian shows. Only some fans will get refunds"><strong><span>Two bands just cancelled their Australian shows. Only some fans will get refunds</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government should support music the same way they support international sports such as tennis, golf and soccer," one told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A further 39 per cent of readers confessed to being at least 'somewhat concerned' about the future of Australian music festivals in light of recent events.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Park Waves festival, scheduled for February 2026, was cancelled on Tuesday due to challenges including economic issues.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-music-festival-cancellations-exclusive-poll-insights/d413b6db-52cb-446e-9438-35a4be3b68e1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ultimately, the numbers no longer stack up," organisers said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Changing Tides 2025 was canned, and Groovin' The Moo cancelled its 2024 shows and didn't return in 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Falls Festival and Splendour in the Grass gave 2025 a miss as well.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Money is the biggest issue for most Australian music festivals, according to two </span><a href="https://creative.gov.au/research/soundcheck-australian-music-festivals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Creative Australia reports"><span>Creative Australia reports</span></a><span> on the sector.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rising operational costs, a lack of available funding and grants, and insurance costs have made it challenging for organisers to finance festivals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians' ticket buying habits have also changed, creating uncertainty for organisers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Festival goers ages 18 to 24 are purchasing tickets at lower rates than pre-pandemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Patterns of later ticket buying are also continuing, creating additional costs and risks some organisers simply can't keep up with.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/double-demerits-2025-christmas-new-year-when-do-they-start-explainer/3f943681-39c0-4281-8e38-ace4f87b5620" rel="" target="_blank" title="The one state where this could cop you double demerits year round"><strong><span>The one state where this could cop you double demerits year round</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But when organisers have to jack up ticket prices to cope with rising operational costs, it prices some Aussies out altogether.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Music festival tickets are too expensive," one reader said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another added that it's not surprising that Aussies can't afford them when many struggle to afford groceries and rent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A combined 61 per cent of nine.com.au readers said they were 'not very concerned' or 'not concerned at all' about festival cancellations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defrost-chicken-poultry-red-meat-safety-warning/679370cd-7600-4d6d-b1f5-0859b2692949" rel="" target="_blank" title="Food authority issues warning over common act in Aussie kitchens"><strong><span>Food authority issues warning over common act in Aussie kitchens</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But only 30 per cent were opposed to government investment in Australia's live music industry to support festivals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One reader said events like festivals need to be self-sustainable, rather than relying on government support.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 28 per cent of readers were on the fence about government investment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't go to music festivals but some could bring more tourism to the country so perhaps the government should invest in some," one said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Others were concerned about how it could affect taxpayers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Festivals should be supported by the music labels to support our music industry, not be taxpayer-funded," said one.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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