UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, the Laneway Festival has announced it will move its 26th edition from Brisbane to Southport, just 75 kilometres south, igniting outrage among local music fans. The announcement, made on Tuesday, has left many questioning the future of festivals in Brisbane and sparked heated discussions across social media.
The decision to relocate the festival comes as part of preparations for the RNA Showgrounds to become Olympic-ready, raising concerns about the impact on Brisbane’s vibrant music scene. One Instagram user described the move as the “biggest crime of 2025,” a sentiment that resonates deeply with festival-goers, as the comment has received nearly 700 likes by Wednesday afternoon.
While the festival could have faced worse fates, such as cancellation, the shift to the Gold Coast feels like a significant loss for Brisbane. Organizers have yet to clarify how this will affect other events scheduled at the RNA Showgrounds, where the Good Things Festival is set to take place on December 7, only two months before Laneway’s new date in February.
The confusion deepens with the ongoing scheduling of events at the RNA Showgrounds. Despite the announcement of construction, the Stereosonic music festival drew tens of thousands of fans to the venue in previous years, and the Wildlands festival is still set for January 1. With the timeline for renovations unclear, questions abound regarding the fate of these events and the future of the Ekka, which has not yet been addressed by officials.
As Brisbane fans grapple with the loss of another beloved festival, the local music community is left wondering what this means for the city’s cultural landscape. The urgency of the situation is palpable, with festival enthusiasts eager for clarity on the future of live music in the region.
Next Steps: Fans and local stakeholders are watching closely as further announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Will the shift to the Gold Coast become a trend, or can Brisbane reclaim its status as a festival hub? The conversation continues, and the stakes are high for the local music scene.
