Primavera Sound cancels South American festivals

Primavera Sound organisers have cancelled all of the brand’s South American festivals in 2024, blaming “external difficulties”.

Festivals in Argentina and Brazil, plus Primavera Day events in Uruguay and Paraguay had been slated to take place in late November and early December this year.

The Spanish institution debuted in Brazil, Argentina and Chile in 2022 to commemorate the event’s 20th birthday, and expanded its footprint on the continent last year.

“This is undoubtedly a difficult decision, taken after many months of work and after pursuing numerous paths in order to be able to hold these events with guarantees, especially in the context of the current musical industry situation and its challenges,” says Primavera Sound director Alfonso Lanza. “Now that we have exhausted all of the possibilities, we must be prudent and focus all our energy on future plans.”

Citing sources from the festival, La Vanguardia suggests the reason for the cancellations is related to complications around securing headliners.

Primavera attracted close to 350,000 people across its events in Latin America in 2023, with second editions of the festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina and São Paulo, Brazil drawing 120,000 and 115,000 people respectively, according to promoters.

Organisers stress their commitment to returning “stronger” to Latin America “as soon as possible

In addition, 35,000 people attended Primavera Sound concerts in Santiago, Chile, over 12,000 fans experienced the first Paraguay event to mark Asunción Spring Day, and more than 30,000 people went to the inaugural Road to Primavera concerts in Lima, Peru.

Headline acts included The Cure, Blur, Pet Shop Boys, Beck and The Killers, with The Cure also selling out standalone Primavera concerts in Montevideo, Uruguay and Bogota, Colombia.

Primavera organisers say they are already looking to the future and stress their commitment to returning “stronger” to Latin America “as soon as possible”.

“We want to thank our local partners for their dedication and effort,” adds Lanza. “They have given invaluable support for a project in which we continue to believe for its cultural value and for extending the musical routes in the southern hemisphere at atypical times of the year, something that we consider positive for all the parties involved in the process, from fans to artists.”

After debuting in Madrid in 2023, the Barcelona-hailing festival opted against running another instalment this year following a “complicated” debut edition.

The flagship Primavera Sound Barcelona will return to Parc Del Forum from 5-7 June 2025. Full festival tickets are available from €265. Portuguese spin-off Primavera Sound Porto is set for 12-14 June 2025 at Parque Da Cidade. Remaning three-day tickets are priced from €160.

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