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\n\tPayPal has announced a special refund exception for ticket holders who purchased passes to the now-cancelled Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026 <\/a>using the platform.<\/p>\n \n\tThe online payment company, which was one of Bluesfest\u2019s principal non-bank payment channels, said on Monday it would temporarily relax its standard refund policies in the wake of the festival\u2019s sudden collapse. <\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIn light of Bluesfest\u2019s sudden cancellation, and to support our customers, PayPal is making a one-time exception to its standard buyer protection eligibility window,\u201d a PayPal spokesperson said. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cPayPal will consider all eligible claims for Bluesfest 2026 (Byron Bay) tickets purchased using PayPal, including those made more than 180 days prior to the dispute.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThose who purchased tickets using PayPal\u2019s buy now, pay later service \u201cPayPal Pay in 4\u201d have been directed to contact PayPal via the \u201ccontact us\u201d section on the platform\u2019s website to lodge a claim.<\/p>\n \n\tThe move offers some relief to the estimated 10,000 ticket holders left out of pocket after Bluesfest went into liquidation on March 13, just weeks before its Easter weekend run. <\/p>\n \n\tA one-day adult ticket was priced at $257, with three- and four-day passes costing up to $554 and $686 respectively, while camping and car parking added further costs. In an email to creditors shortly after the cancellation, liquidator Worrells warned that refunds from the liquidation process were unlikely.<\/p>\n \n\tThe refund situation has been complicated by the festival\u2019s ticketing setup. Tickets were sold via Moshtix, which has disclaimed responsibility for refunds, stating that payments were made directly to Bluesfest via its own merchant facility and that it is therefore the event organiser\u2019s obligation to refund purchasers. <\/p>\n \n\tPayPal has been listed as a creditor in documents filed with ASIC, owed $1.73 million. A second non-bank payment channel, Stripe, is listed as being owed $3.92 million. Those who purchased tickets by credit card may be able to pursue a chargeback through their bank.<\/p>\n \n\tBluesfest was one of Australia\u2019s longest-running music festivals, having operated for 36 years before its collapse. <\/p>\n \n\tThe 2026 edition had been scheduled for April 2\u20135 at the Byron Events Farm in Tyagarah, with a lineup that included Parkway Drive<\/a>, Erykah Badu, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sublime, Counting Crows, The Black Crowes, The Wailers, The Pogues and Split Enz.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n