Charlotte de Witte Cancels Australian Shows

The artist had been scheduled to headline the Pitch Music & Arts Festival, which takes place at the Grampian Plains beneath Gariwerd in Victoria from 6–10 March. She was also due to perform a standalone headline show at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on 6 March.

In a statement posted on social media, de Witte said the decision followed recent military developments in the region that have affected major airline routes between Europe and Australia.

On 28 February, coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel reportedly targeted multiple locations in Iran, including the capital Tehran. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes against US military bases in several Gulf countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan. The situation has led to increased security concerns, drone interceptions and temporary airspace disruptions across parts of the region.

Major Middle Eastern hubs such as Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport are commonly used stopover points for flights travelling between Europe and Australia. With some airspaces temporarily closed and airline operations disrupted, rerouting long-haul travel has become more complex and costly for touring artists and their crews.

In her statement, de Witte said the situation made it impossible to guarantee safe travel.

De Witte added that her team is working with promoters to reschedule the Sydney show and is exploring the possibility of an alternative performance in Melbourne later this year. Ticket holders will be contacted by event organisers regarding refunds or potential new dates.