After exploring every possible option to keep the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival afloat, organisers have announced it will not proceed in March.

They are hopeful of reviving the Festival in 2027 but Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald has announced Council was hoping to make late moves to keep the event on next year’s calendar.

For nearly four decades, the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival has brought the town alive by connecting local businesses, welcoming visitors, showcasing original Australian music and offering moments of joy, surprise and cultural pride.

Festival director Becky Guggisberg announced on Thursday that organisers had exhausted “every available avenue” before making the call.

“This is not a decision we made lightly,” she said.

“Despite our best efforts, we’ve reached the end of the window in which we must commit to artists, venues and partners.

“A combination of factors has made it impossible to deliver the Festival to the standard and integrity our community deserves:

• capacity restrictions at a key central venue,
• ongoing delays in local development approvals,
• significantly reduced financial support,
• the financial risk of a ticketed model,
• the long lead time before the Special Entertainment Precinct comes into effect.

Guggisberg said in recent years, their partnership with Fillmore’s had been central to the Festival’s viability, acting as a vital hub, supporting multiple stages, providing a consistent artistic home and underpinning the Festival’s financial sustainability.

She added that the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Fillmore’s development approvals had placed significant pressure on the Festival’s planning.

“Due to the delayed DA decision and a resulting 50-person capacity limit at a key venue, we cannot sell the number of tickets needed to sustain the Festival,” she said.

“It directly removed our ability to ticket at scale.

“Our move to ticketing was designed to fairly pay artists and keep the Festival viable long-term. With one of our core venues restricted to only 50 people and no clarity on capacity or DA approval, we cannot responsibly contract musicians or commit to programming.

“Without certainty, sustainability is not possible.”

Guggisberg’s message for Kiama Council is “live music needs certainty to survive”.

“Timely approval processes and support for creative venues are essential to cultural events. We hope this moment sparks a conversation about valuing music infrastructure and the economic and social return it brings to regional towns.

“The DA for Fillmore's, a key venue that supports the Festival has been in progress for eight months, the Special Entertainment Precinct is described as a ‘trial in 2027’. We have raised the alarms with our Mayor and Councillors since July and a last resort attempt to apply for a Temporary DA gave no certainty.”

Cr McDonald issued a statement later on Thursday morning to say “like many in our community, we are disappointed by the decision”.

“We want to be clear that the Festival has always been able to operate under existing approvals, as it has done successfully for many years,” he said.

“Council recently approved a $7000 grant for the 2026 event and remains fully committed to supporting a vibrant live-music culture in Kiama.

“Because this Festival means so much to our community, Council considers it too important to simply disappear from the calendar for 2026.

“Despite the organisers’ decision, Council is already exploring whether a viable alternative event or modified program can be delivered in partnership with local venues, businesses and artists.

“We are in the early stages of these discussions and will update the community as soon as more information becomes available.”

Guggisberg said the option of a reduced version of the Festival risked underpaying artists and compromising quality.

She was adamant this is a pause for the Festival, not an end.

“We are pausing to protect the integrity of the Festival,” she said.

“Our intention is to return in 2027 for the 40th celebration - with strength, sustainability and community support behind us.

“We acknowledge the impact on artists who rely on performance income, on businesses who reshape their spaces for the Festival, and on audiences who look forward to the music each March.

“Pressing pause is an act of respect for them - not a withdrawal from commitment.

“While this pause is heartbreaking, it is temporary. We now turn our focus to 2027 - the Festival’s 40th anniversary - with the aim of returning stronger, more stable and with the creative spark that Kiama knows and loves.

“We remain committed to protecting the Festival’s legacy and ensuring it thrives for decades to come.

“With the right support, KJBF can return stronger for its 40th year — delivering economic uplift, cultural identity, and community energy that money alone cannot buy.”

Kiama Tourism and Economic Advisory Committee chair Matt Brown said it was “a real shame” to hear about the Festival announcement.

“We hope to see it return sometime in the future.”