Because one scandalous event is not enough: Fyre Festival 2 also canceled for the time being

Playa del Carmen (Mexico) - After the huge scandal surrounding the failed 2017 Fyre Festival in the Bahamas, the new edition of the luxury event planned for this year seems to have been canceled for the time being.

Fyre organizer Billy McFarland (33) is also in danger of failing with his second festival attempt. (archive photo)
Fyre organizer Billy McFarland (33) is also in danger of failing with his second festival attempt. (archive photo)  © Mark Lennihan/AP/dpa

As ABC News reports, the organizers of the festival have sent a message to previous ticket purchasers stating that the event has been postponed. A new date for the multi-day event is yet to be announced. At least they said that a refund would be granted.

Tickets for the Fyre Festival 2, which cost from 1400 US dollars (around 1230 euros), went on sale in February 2025. The event was originally scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 2, 2025 at Playa del Carmen in Mexico. The website promised an "electrifying festival of music, art, cuisine, comedy, fashion, games, sports and treasure hunts".

The mastermind behind the event was once again Billy McFarland (33), who completely ruined the first Fyre Festival. In October 2018, McFarland was therefore sentenced to six years in prison and fined millions for fraud.

He was released from prison early in 2022 and later ventured into plans for the second Fyre Festival. A courageous undertaking.

Crazy to do it again

The Fyre Festival 2 was supposed to take place from May 30 to June 2, 2025 at Playa del Carmen in Mexico. (symbolic photo)
The Fyre Festival 2 was supposed to take place from May 30 to June 2, 2025 at Playa del Carmen in Mexico. (symbolic photo)  © 123RF/cc0collection

After announcing the second festival, McFarland reportedly said: "I'm sure a lot of people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I think I'd be crazy not to do it again." Surely festival-goers must also be a little crazy to trust McFarland with their money again after the first scandal.

In addition to the current postponement, there have apparently already been difficulties with the Playa del Carmen city council in recent weeks.

According to ABC News, a statement from the city said that there had been no registration for such an event. McFarland countered on Instagram and published photos of documents that looked like permits for the event.

The Netflix documentary "Fyre", which depicted the first major debacle, caused an international stir in 2019.

It remains to be seen whether Fyre Festival 2, which has been put on hold, will still take place or not - and whether there will be another similar disaster documentary.