Rolling Loud Australia cancelled: Why were the international hip-hop festival’s Sydney and Melbourne events called off? Check reasons and update on refund

Rolling Loud Australia, the international hip-hop festival, has officially been cancelled. The organisers of the music extravaganza shared a post on the social media platform Instagram to confirm the development that the Sydney and Melbourne shows set for March 2026 will “not move forward".

Pointing the blame for cancellation towards local promoters Primuse Entertainment, Rolling Loud Australia organisers, in a statement, said, “Unfortunately, our local partner, Primuse Entertainment, failed to meet critical payment deadlines and related obligations. These ongoing delays left us without the necessary guarantees so close to the event.” “We will not compromise the safety or experience of our fans, artists and vendors,” the statement further stated.

Will ticket buyers get a refund?

In the statement, organisers clarified that all those who purchased the ticket to watch the two-day event “will be entitled to a refund.” “All ticket purchasers will be entitled to a refund. Further details will be provided by the event organizer and/or official ticketing partners,” they said.

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A post shared by Rolling Loud Australia 🇦🇺 (@rollingloud.au)

Rolling Loud debut in Australia

The renowned hip-hop festival made its debut in Australia in 2019 with a lineup featuring the likes of Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Tyga, Smokepurpp, and local favourite Manu Crook$. The stage was set for its much-anticipated return in 2024, but mere weeks following the announcement, the festival was indefinitely postponed. In October 2025, it announced its 2026 return, with the new two-day festival format.

The 2026 lineup of the now cancelled event would have featured Gunna, Ken Carson, Sexyy Red, Tya, Swae Lee, Lil Tjay, Quavo, Hooligan Hefs, YNG Martyr, and more. It was also scheduled to have a dedicated local stage, spotlighting Australian and New Zealand hip-hop talent, according to The Rolling Stone.