FYRE Festival returns for a second installment of music on Mexico’s island of Isla Mujeres.
Concert-goers haven’t forgotten the controversy that came with the original music event, but the founder, Billy McFarland hopes to make a comeback and “take over the festival industry.”
Who is Billy McFarland?
Billy McFarland is an American businessman and founder of the Fyre Festival.
He was convicted of fraud and jailed for four years after guests paid up to $13,000 on the promise of a luxury experience at the first Fyre event in 2017 – only to receive cheese sandwiches, limited toilets, and bare mattresses in basic tents.
In October 2018, he was sentenced to six years in federal prison for engaging in multiple fraudulent schemes, including Fyre Fest.
On November 4, 2022, McFarland apologized for his role in the controversial music festival on Good Morning America – marking his first interview since getting out of prison.
“I need to apologize,” McFarland said on the show.
“I let people down. I let down employees. I let down their families. I let down investors. So I need to apologize. I’m wrong and it’s bad.”
He added: “I was wrong. I messed up. And I was so driven by this desperate desire to prove people right … I think I was just so insecure that I thought the only way to prove myself to them was to succeed.
“That led me down just this terrible path of bad decisions.”
Since his release, McFarland has been planning to redeem himself by planning a second iteration.
In an interview with Today he said: “FYRE 2 is real. My dream is finally becoming a reality.
“FYRE 2 isn’t really about the past, and it’s not really about me. It’s about taking the vision, which is strong.”
When is Fyre Festival 2?
After being delayed a month, Fyre Festival 2 will now run from May 30 to June 2, 2025.
Explaining the delay, McFarland said: “We just needed the extra month to give our partners time to get everything ready.”
The line-up for the event has not yet been confirmed.
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Where will Fyre Festival 2 be held?
The second Fyre festival will take place on Mexico’s Isla Mujeres, which is located off the coast of Cancún, in the Caribbean Sea.
The island is known for its white sandy beaches and Underwater Museum which was created by the English sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor.
How to get Fyre Fest II tickets
Tickets went on sale on 24 February 2025.
Festival entry tickets range from $100 to $1.1 million in price, depending on what package is selected.
For the whopping million dollar ticket, McFarland said: “You will be on a boat, have the luxury yachts that we partner with who will be docked and parked outside the island.”
McFarland claims the festival is not only about music but unforgettable experiences.
He said: “It’s about the adventure. So you’ll be scuba diving with me.
“You’ll be bouncing around to other islands and other countries on small planes.”
Ticket information and booking can be made through the dedicated Fyre Fest 2 website.