Can Australian Music Survive in the Age of Spotify?
Bluesfest 2026: What Chargeback Rights Mean for Ticket Holders
Background
On 12 March 2026, Bluesfest Enterprises Pty Ltd was placed into liquidation, with Jason Bettles of Worrells appointed to oversee the process. According to a report being prepared for ASIC, the festival owes roughly A$23 million to ticket holders alone. Though conflicting reports suggest that this might be overstating the position and the real figure may be considerably lower. Four-day entry tickets had been sold for $686.40 plus booking fee, with some audience members paying up to $15,000. The liquidator has stated that there will be nothing left for ticket holders. Therefore, they should look to employ the charge back process.
The Chargeback Option: How It Works
Given the slim prospects of recovery through the liquidation process, the chargeback route is the most promising avenue for most ticket holders who paid by credit or debit card.
You can contact your bank or credit union to request a chargeback if the merchant became insolvent after you purchased the goods or service and you have a valid chargeback right — for example, they did not provide the goods or service you paid for.
Card schemes such as Visa or Mastercard govern the chargeback process, and each has their own rules for when you can get a chargeback.
Banks and credit unions are legally obliged to pursue a chargeback on your behalf if you have a right to one under your card scheme’s rules.
The grounds for a Bluesfest claim are clear-cut. There are chargeback rights when services are not provided, including when they are cancelled by a merchant due to insolvency or other exceptional circumstances, unless the merchant has a right to provide you with reasonable alternatives based on the terms and conditions.
In Bluesfest’s case, no alternative has been offered.
Key Rules and Time Limits
Act quickly — time limits are the critical risk for ticket holders.
For “services not provided or merchandise not received” under Visa and Mastercard scheme rules, cardholders have 120 calendar days from the transaction processing date before chargeback rights expire. The timeframes differ depending on your bank, the card issuer and the transaction type — and some banks set their own shorter timeframe, such as 30 days after the date of the statement on which the transaction is recorded. In our opinion the 120 days should run from the non-provision of the service not the date of purchase. Visa may ask you to prove that you have tried to resolve things with Bluesfest.
An email should suffice.
Debit cards are also eligible. Ticket holders can ask their bank or credit union to initiate a chargeback on their credit or debit card, which reverses a transaction and secures a refund for an event that is no longer going ahead. Banks are less worried when the money has come from your account.
How the Process Unfolds
When you tell your bank or credit union you would like help making a chargeback request, the bank starts by reviewing your claim to see if a valid chargeback right exists. If it decides there is, it notifies the merchant’s bank that you are seeking a chargeback and explains the reason why.
If the bank or credit union deems your chargeback request valid, it will notify the retailer’s bank, which may accept the request and refund your money, or possibly reject it. If your bank disagrees with the retailer’s bank’s reasoning, it can ask the credit card scheme such as Visa or Mastercard to make the final decision. A chargeback can take up to 120 days to appear in your bank account.
What to Do Right Now
1. Lodge a claim with the liquidator anyway Even though recovery seems unlikely, registering as a creditor with Worrells preserves your position should any funds become available.
2. Contact your bank promptly and request a chargeback citing “non-delivery of services” due to merchant insolvency.
3. Gather your documents booking confirmations, payment receipts, and any communications from Bluesfest or Moshtix.
4. Check your specific card’s timeframe Visa generally allows 120 days from the transaction date, but your individual bank may have shorter internal deadlines.
5. Don’t accept an alternative you don’t want. You are not required to accept an alternative offer such as a credit voucher if you are entitled to a refund under Australian Consumer Law or the terms and conditions of your purchase.
About the ALMBC
The Australian Live Music Business Council is the peak national body representing the interests of Australia’s live music businesses, advocating for sustainable policy, fair commercial practices and a thriving live music industry.
