The Changing Tides Festival scheduled for November in Kiama has been cancelled and "heartbroken" event organisers have decided against trying to bring it back in the future.

Organisers were hoping to attract 10,000 concertgoers to the third annual festival and with each visitor expected to spend , on average, around $300 during their stay, the hit to the Kiama economy is upwards of $3 million.

The festival kicked off in 2023 with around 6000 fans at Kiama Showground with 8000 last year and they were hoping for even more this year but with poor ticket sales, the organisers made the difficult decision to call it off.

The line-up for this year's festival was headlined by Sam Fender, with Noah Cyrus, The Rubens, Skegss, Holly Humberstone, The Rions, MAY-A, Retired Gentlemen’s League, Boy Soda and Chloe Parché also announced on the original bill for 22 November at the Showground.

"We’re heartbroken to share that Changing Tides Festival has been cancelled and will not be returning," Changing Tides organisers announced.

"This decision hasn’t been made lightly, and we’re so grateful for all the love, energy, and support from those who believed in our little coastal dream.

"We're truly devastated, but also deeply grateful for the love, excitement, and support so many of you have shown along the way.

"While this chapter is coming to a close, we're incredibly thankful to everyone who believed in the vision of Changing Tides, helped bring it to life and made beautiful memories with us in Kiama."

Kiama Tourism and Economic Advisory Committee chair, Councillor Matt Brown said it was disappointing news from a festival that catered to and won the hearts of a younger demographic.

"It's a real shame for the whole town because major events are part of our destination marketing and it's a shame for the operators and the locals who love to see big headline acts in their own backyard," he said.

"This will have a significant impact on the Kiama economy.

"A lot of the people who go to the festival stay overnight and make a weekend of it.

“Rest assured, we’ll be engaging with other event promoters to ensure we maintain the momentum and continue delivering vibrant experiences for our community in future years.”

Cr Brown told The Bugle they had already been in taclks with two festival operators over potentially filling the void in their events calendar for 2026.

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said Council understood the complex challenges facing event organisers today such as rising costs and shifting audience behaviours, and they were committed to supporting events that "align with our Destination Kiama brand promise and bring vibrancy to our community".

“Changing Tides has become a highlight of our events calendar, bringing colour, culture, and connection to Kiama,” he said.

“Following the research done to produce the Kiama Major Events Impact Report, it’s clear that support for suitable major events is strong across our community.

"Council has long supported the festival and was not involved in the organisers’ decision to cancel.

"We recognised its past positive contribution to our local economy and community spirit, and we share the disappointment of everyone who was looking forward to this year’s event.”

Ticket refunds are being processed via Oztix in line with their Terms & Conditions.

Those who purchased tickets are advised to the Changing Tides website.