Esoteric Music Festival Canceled After Permit Denial

The regional Victorian festival was called off just one day before it was set to begin due to safety and compliance concerns.

The Esoteric Music Festival in Donald, Victoria, was canceled after a municipal building surveyor refused to issue a Place of Public Entertainment Occupancy Permit (POPE-OP).
The refusal followed safety and compliance concerns, including issues related to last year's event, which saw a shigellosis outbreak affecting over 120 attendees.
Organizers had applied for a new ten-year planning permit, but only a one-year permit was granted earlier this week by the Buloke Shire Council.
Despite efforts to appeal the decision to the State Building Surveyor, the refusal was upheld, leaving thousands of ticket holders and local businesses in disappointment.
Organizers plan to postpone the festival until 2026 and have offered refunds or ticket rollovers to next year's event.