The remoteness of Australia’s music festival will not be able to host an event this year after it was announced on Friday that the 2026 event has been cancelled.
A rain event in late February and early March, resulting from a tropical low system making its way down from the tropics, has caused widespread flooding in the outback.
The area has recorded more than its annual rainfall in just a few days. Stations north of Birdsville have recorded up to four times their annual rainfall.
The area where the event is held, at the base of the tallest sand dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert, known as Big Red, will not be able to dry out in time for the scheduled event in July.
The event attracts 10,000 campers to one of the remotest locations in Australia for a three day concert event.
Outback Music Festival Group founder and managing director Greg Donovan said in a statement on the event’s website, “After careful consideration of the available options, we decided that relocating the Birdsville Big Red Bash was not feasible for 2026.”
Before making the choice, organizers had spent weeks looking into other locations in the Birdsville region.
In order to determine interest in a relocated event, they also polled ticket holders, obtaining what Donovan called a 95% response rate.
In the end, the feedback supported what the logistics had already indicated: moving was not a practical choice.
The financial implications for the region will be considerable, as the Big Red Bash Festival usually brings in $20 million annually to the region of outback Queensland.
Donovan also asked people to come to the region, saying that the rains would have changed the landscape considerably and that wildflowers would be in bloom.
There are three options that the ticketholders have until 19th June 2026, a full refund through Oztix, a transfer to the 2027 Big Red Bash Festival scheduled for 6 to 8 July or a transfer to the 2026 Mundi Mundi Bash in Broken Hill, scheduled for 20-22 August.
Those who do not take any action will automatically be transferred to the 2027 festival.
Stuart Field, the Co Founder of Oztix, said that the task was a heavy one saying in a statement, “This is an incredibly tough call for Greg Donovan and the Big Red Bash team, particularly with the event 90% sold out.”
The cancellation is Australia’s regional festival circuit’s second setback in March.
Earlier this month, Byron Bay’s Bluesfest was canceled for 2026 due to poor ticket sales and growing production expenses.
To manage the event’s finances, a liquidator was appointed. However, the Big Red Bash has a very natural cause.
The organizers have stated that they will confirm any changes to the bill by the end of April, and the majority of the 2026 artist lineup has committed to returning for the 2027 edition.
