Fyre Festival 2 Lacks Permits, Local Officials and Hotels Say It ‘Does Not Exist’
Fyre Festival 2 is off to a turbulent start, with early signs of disorganization casting doubt on its legitimacy. Shortly after tickets went on sale, concerns emerged over the festival’s actual location, permits, and planning. Organizers had advertised Isla Mujeres, a small island off Mexico’s coast, as the event’s destination. Still, local officials have disputed any involvement, adding to the growing skepticism surrounding the controversial revival.
“For us, this is an event that does not exist,” Edgar Gasca, who works for Isla Mujeres’ tourist directorate, told The Guardian last week, adding that they had not had any “contact with any person or company about” the festival. Additionally, no necessary permits have been requested for the event.
“This festival is not going to happen. There are red flags all over the place. If you go on their website and take the coordinates they provide, then put them in Google Maps, it takes you to the ocean—between Cancún and Isla Mujeres.”
The original Fyre Festival was marketed as an ultra-luxurious music festival in the Bahamas, promising high-end accommodations, gourmet meals, and performances from top-tier artists. However, when guests arrived at Great Exuma in April 2017, they were met with disaster—unfinished tents instead of luxury villas, cheese sandwiches in place of fine dining, and a chaotic lack of basic necessities like running water and proper security.
Headlining acts had pulled out at the last minute, and as flights were canceled, many attendees found themselves stranded with no way home. The festival’s spectacular failure became a viral spectacle, exposing the power of influencer marketing and the dangers of unchecked “hype.”
Following the disastrous event, Billy McFarland, the festival’s organizer, also pled guilty to fraud. McFarland was sentenced to a six-year jail term in 2018 for participating in fraudulent schemes connected to the Fyre Festival. After his arrest, he admitted to defrauding investors out of $26 million and over $100,000 through ticket-selling schemes.
McFarland posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday night to defend the festival in response to the remarks made by the Isla Mujeres tourism board.
“I figured it would be best to hear directly from me what’s actually happening. First, Fyre 2 is real. Second, we have incredible partners leading the festival. They’re in charge of all the logistics, productions and operations. This includes an incredible production team in Mexico who does not f around. There is no way they would ever take on a fake festival.”
“We have talent. Artists, athletes and other performers are on board and scheduled for Fyre 2,” McFarland said about potential talent, though no one has been confirmed to be booked.
McFarland also addressed concerns about attendee lodging. Gasca had told The Guardian that he had contacted the hotels that Fyre Festival had listed on its website and that none of them knew about the festival.
“The organizers didn’t even bother to approach the authorities. It’s really odd because any manager knows that you need municipal permission to hold an event, much less a large one. I think they thought they would just announce it and see if it got traction, then ask for the permits halfway down the path. It’s a bit of a naive way to think.”
McFarland insisted that the festival had arranged for “accommodations.” However, Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, a five-star hotel that the festival website claims will provide lodging for attendees, says they aren’t working with Fyre Festival 2.
“Naturally, this is a huge point of emphasis given the issues surrounding Fyre 1. Our accommodations include contracts, the number of villas, yachts and hotels. This also includes two hotels who were contacted by the media and in response, gave misleading statements saying they never heard a Fyre and they aren’t working with us. After hearing this, I asked my team to terminate those contracts and to focus on the hotels and other partners who are eager to work with and support Fyre.”
In late February, tickets for the festival went on sale. Fyre Festival 2 offers four ticket packages, according to the festival’s website. Prices range from $1,400 to an astonishing $25,000, alongside an exclusive $1 million package.
According to the website, the $25,000 Phoenix package includes private transportation, assistance with travel accommodations, exclusive access, and four days of festival access for two people. The package also includes a three-night stay at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, as previously reported by USA TODAY. The hotel’s management has not rescinded its statement of being unaffiliated with the festival. However, the website has not been updated.
“My partners and I have remained in communication with local and state government to ensure full compliance and a successful event that benefits the local economy, shares the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean with the world, and helps make right for all the wrongs. Fyre 2 is moving forward, and we are moving forward with full integrity. From now on, updates will come directly from me.”
The festival is scheduled to occur between May 30 and June 2, 2025.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.