Muse cancellation leads to two festivals being called off
Muse have cancelled four scheduled live performances in February due to what the band described as “unforeseen circumstances,” resulting in the full cancellation of two festivals where the band was set to headline.
Muse confirmed they will not proceed with planned shows at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on 4 February, Calabash South Africa in Johannesburg and Cape Town on 7 and 11 February, and Bandland Festival in Bengaluru, India, on 14 February.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we will be unable to proceed with the upcoming scheduled shows in India, South Africa and the UAE,” the band said. “This has been a very difficult decision and one we did not take lightly.”
Following the announcement, organisers of Calabash South Africa confirmed the cancellation of this year’s festival, citing the scale of the event and the short notice as key factors. In a statement, the festival said it had been unable to secure a suitable replacement headliner within the available timeframe and therefore made the decision to cancel the event.
Bandland Festival in India also confirmed it would not proceed with its 2026 edition. In a message to ticket holders, organisers said that with the event less than a month away, cancelling was the only viable option in order to maintain the standards and overall experience the festival aims to deliver.
Both festivals are expected to communicate refund details directly to ticket buyers. No further information has been provided regarding the nature of the circumstances behind Muse’s withdrawal or whether the cancelled shows will be rescheduled.