PayPal has announced a special refund exception for ticket holders who purchased passes to the now-cancelled Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026 using the platform.
The online payment company, which was one of Bluesfest’s principal non-bank payment channels, said on Monday it would temporarily relax its standard refund policies in the wake of the festival’s sudden collapse.
“In light of Bluesfest’s sudden cancellation, and to support our customers, PayPal is making a one-time exception to its standard buyer protection eligibility window,” a PayPal spokesperson said.
“PayPal will consider all eligible claims for Bluesfest 2026 (Byron Bay) tickets purchased using PayPal, including those made more than 180 days prior to the dispute.”
Those who purchased tickets using PayPal’s buy now, pay later service “PayPal Pay in 4” have been directed to contact PayPal via the “contact us” section on the platform’s website to lodge a claim.
The move offers some relief to the estimated 10,000 ticket holders left out of pocket after Bluesfest went into liquidation on March 13, just weeks before its Easter weekend run.
A one-day adult ticket was priced at $257, with three- and four-day passes costing up to $554 and $686 respectively, while camping and car parking added further costs. In an email to creditors shortly after the cancellation, liquidator Worrells warned that refunds from the liquidation process were unlikely.
The refund situation has been complicated by the festival’s ticketing setup. Tickets were sold via Moshtix, which has disclaimed responsibility for refunds, stating that payments were made directly to Bluesfest via its own merchant facility and that it is therefore the event organiser’s obligation to refund purchasers.
PayPal has been listed as a creditor in documents filed with ASIC, owed $1.73 million. A second non-bank payment channel, Stripe, is listed as being owed $3.92 million. Those who purchased tickets by credit card may be able to pursue a chargeback through their bank.
Bluesfest was one of Australia’s longest-running music festivals, having operated for 36 years before its collapse.
The 2026 edition had been scheduled for April 2–5 at the Byron Events Farm in Tyagarah, with a lineup that included Parkway Drive, Erykah Badu, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sublime, Counting Crows, The Black Crowes, The Wailers, The Pogues and Split Enz.
