FISHER’s anticipated Out 2 Lunch festival, initially slated for May 2026, has been postponed to 2027 due to significant pressures impacting the Australian live event industry and its audiences. The 2026 edition was planned to be the most ambitious iteration yet, evolving from a single hometown show on the Gold Coast to an expansive four-city, coast-to-coast touring festival across Australia. This grand plan envisioned a nine-day rolling party kicking off on May 2 at Melbourne’s Fleming Racecourse, followed by stops at the Gold Coast’s Doug Jennings Park on May 3, Sydney International Regatta Centre on May 9, and concluding at Perth’s Wellington Square on May 10. The festival boasted a star-studded lineup featuring Gorgon City, Skream, Sarah Story, Azzecca, Little Fritter, and headliner FISHER, with an estimated 100,000 tickets already sold for what promised to be a major EDM spectacular.

The difficult decision to postpone was announced by organizers TEG Live on Friday, April 10. Their statement cited "significant pressures currently impacting Australian live event audiences and the industry," explaining that fans and communities nationwide are grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, escalating inflation, and broader economic uncertainty. A critical factor exacerbating these issues is the war in the Middle East, which has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices across Australia, severely affecting consumers' disposable income and budgets. TEG Live emphasized the importance of ensuring that Out 2 Lunch fans can fully enjoy the festival without added financial strain, acknowledging that every cost is mounting in an "unprecedented situation for Australia."

Beyond consumer financial woes, the logistical challenges for staging such a large-scale touring event proved insurmountable in the current climate. TEG Live specifically highlighted "considerable challenges as the diesel fuel shortage will impact the trucking logistics, power generators, production infrastructure and a multitude of suppliers and services that underpin a major touring festival." This decision by Out 2 Lunch is not isolated, as it closely follows the cancellation of Bluesfest 2026, which immediately went into liquidation. A growing list of other Australian festivals, including Rolling Loud Australia, Esoteric Festival, Caloundra Music Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo, and Listen Out, have either skipped a year or ceased operations entirely, underscoring a pervasive crisis within the nation's live music sector.

Tim McGregor, global head of touring for TEG Live, commented on the situation, stating, “Given the severe pressures on fuel supplies and consumer sentiment right now, we have to do the right thing and postpone the festival so that greater needs can be prioritized during this critical period, which we understand will be most acute during the next 6-8 weeks.” He reiterated that the immense scale of the touring festival demands a world-class experience, and rescheduling to 2027 is deemed the best approach to deliver the high-quality event fans deserve. New dates for Out 2 Lunch 2027 will be announced in due course.

For existing ticket holders, the TEG statement confirmed that tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled dates. Furthermore, all ticket holders who wish to obtain a refund are able to do so. FISHER, whose real name is Paul Fisher, expressed his disappointment, remarking, “I’m really bummed at the moment, at what is happening. And no one more than me would like to put on this show for you guys.” He acknowledged the team explored all possible avenues but ultimately had to postpone due to the circumstances. Drawing a parallel to past experiences, he noted, “I’ve seen this before, back in 2020 and 2021 when we had to postpone my shows 2 times before they ended up playing out, although it wasn’t what we wanted, it was the right thing for the fans in the end so we could put on the best show for you. Sometimes the pause is part of the plan. 2027 is worth the wait.” The Out 2 Lunch festival held its inaugural event on May 4, 2024, at Coolangatta Beach, setting a precedent for its future return.