The festival has taken place almost every Easter since 1990, where it began as the East Coast Annual Blues Festival, headlined by American acts Charlie Musselwhite and Canned Heat at the Byron Bay Arts Factory.
Over the next 34 years, the event grew massively, moving onto big outdoor spaces like Belongil Fields, Red Devil Park and its final home, the Byron Events Farm in Tyagarah, where over 100,000 can visit the festival over the Easter weekend.
Musically, it evolved beyond its blues roots into a musical celebration that knew no genre boundaries, happily hosting the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige, and Jack Johnson alongside music royalty like BB King, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Grace Jones.
"Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans," Festival director Peter Noble said in a statement.
"But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it's time to close this chapter."
The festival has faced a raft of challenges over the years, most prominently the cancellation of its events in 2020 and 2021 due to public health orders relating to COVID-19.
The 2023 event went ahead under controversial circumstances, as artists like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Sampa The Great withdrew from the festival, and organisers removed controversial Sydneysiders Sticky Fingers from the bill.
"Next year's festival will be happening, but it will be our last. I want to make it the most unforgettable experience yet," Noble said.
The end of Bluesfest is just another blow in a devastating year for the Australian music festival sector.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander s as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
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