Festival of King Island 2025 cancelled

The 2025 Festival of King Island has been cancelled.

"A combination of economic headwinds and reduced core volunteer levels has meant that the committee have decided to take an additional year to work towards the next iteration of FOKI in 2026", Festival of King Island (FOKI) President, Kim George said.

"Over the years FOKI ticket and bar prices have been kept very low to ensure that as many Islander’s as possible could attend. It's an all-ages all-styles all-community event.

"Like all festivals around Australia, rising operating costs (particularly flights, accommodation, insurance and security) have hit hard. These costs are not able to be offset with increased revenues, as the cost-of-living crisis has hit the island particularly hard.

Mr George said that over the last last years, the Island has had to deal with Covid lock-downs and has just gone through its worst drought crisis in living memory. Uncertainty also shrouds the future of one of the main airlines servicing King Island, and a couple of the major local employers. All this impacts early attendee commitments and sponsorship levels.  

He added that FOKI is a 100 per cent volunteer-run festival, relying on a small group of core organisers working throughout the year, and a host of amazing volunteers before, during and immediately after the event. Many of these volunteers have been active with FOKI since its inception back in late 2012, and are asking for the next generations to get involved and help in the evolution of FOKI.

"In the meantime, we will do a lot of research as to what people would like to hear and see happening with FOKI," Mr George said.

"We will also do all we can to ensure that ticket and bar prices remain affordable for the community.  

"These are just a few of the key elements that have to be worked on over the next 12 months. In the meantime any tickets purchased will be fully refunded.

"Please let us know if you are interested in working with us. We need to come up with new ideas and work on a brighter and more sustainable future for FOKI," Mr George concluded.