Hypersonic cancels its 2026 Melbourne and Sydney festivals just weeks before they were due
The organizers say a move to a Friday in Melbourne didn’t work for an all-day festival. Ticket holders can take a refund or switch to Dreamstate 2027.
Hypersonic will not go ahead this year. The Australian dance festival confirmed in a statement on its website that its Sydney and Melbourne events “will not be going ahead in 2026.” Rolling Stone AU/NZ reported the news on Oct 28, just weeks before the shows.
Why Hypersonic called it off
The organizers point to scheduling conflicts. Because of them, Melbourne moved to a Friday this year. “Unfortunately, this change hasn’t worked out as hoped for an all day festival,” the statement says. “The flow-on impact has meant we can no longer deliver the festivals to the standard our artists and audience deserve.” The team added that it is “gutted” and apologized to fans.
The festival’s FAQ page had listed Melbourne for Friday, Nov 20, at Melbourne Showgrounds, according to an archived copy from Oct 2. Sydney was to follow on Saturday, Nov 21, at Royal Randwick Racecourse. The live page now shows only the cancellation notice.
Refund or Dreamstate
Hypersonic gives all ticket holders three options. First, fans get a full refund automatically within 21 days, with no action needed. Second, they can move their ticket to Dreamstate 2027 free of charge. To do that, they need to fill out a transfer form within seven days. Finally, double pass holders can keep their Dreamstate ticket and get a 50% refund through a separate form, also within seven days. If they do nothing, they get the full refund instead.
The lineup that won’t play
Armin van Buuren was set to headline both shows for the second year in a row, Rolling Stone AU/NZ reports. W&W, Showtek, Timmy Trumpet, Hybrid Minds, Cyril, Pendulum (DJ set) and Charlotte Haining were also on the bill. The festival launched in Melbourne and Sydney in 2025, with Alesso, Steve Aoki and Adam Beyer among the acts.
Symbiotic, the company that ran Stereosonic, produces Hypersonic, the outlet adds. CEO Richie McNeill and director Janette Bishara lead the company.
Will Hypersonic return in 2027?
For now, nobody knows. Rolling Stone AU/NZ has asked the festival’s PR whether Hypersonic will come back in 2027. EDMTunes also notes that the organizers haven’t confirmed a return. Meanwhile, trance festivals keep expanding elsewhere. Last week, BEZ reported that A State of Trance is bringing its festival to Los Angeles in June 2027.
Sources: Hypersonic, official statement; Hypersonic, FAQ (Wayback Machine archive, Oct 2, 2026); Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Oct 28, 2026; EDMTunes, Oct 29, 2026
The crowd and laser show at Hypersonic 2025. Image: Katarina Cvetko / Hypersonic, via EDMTunes
