Playa Del Carmen Officials Deny Fyre Festival 2 Authorization Despite Organizer’s Claims

1 week ago 5

Billy McFarland, the controversial figure behind the original Fyre Festival debacle, insists that a second iteration of the infamous event is coming to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, later this spring, despite firm denials from local officials who say no such festival has been authorized.

In a statement posted to Instagram on April 4, McFarland and the official Fyre Festival account asserted that their plans are in the works, claiming they’ve been collaborating with Playa del Carmen authorities since early March to obtain permits for the music festival.

“FYRE has been working directly with the government of Playa del Carmen (PDC) and their officials since March 5, 2025, to ensure a safe and successful event,” the post reads. “All media reports suggesting our team has not been working with the government of PDC are simply inaccurate and based on misinformation.” It adds, "FYRE has operated as a good partner with PDC government and has followed the proper processes and procedures to lawfully host an event."

The Instagram post also features several photos of purported documents, including tourism permits, environmental permits and receipts of payments made to the Playa del Carmen government, all of which were allegedly filed or submitted in the past month.

However, the destination itself disputes these assertions. In a statement issued April 3, Playa del Carmen officials said, “Neither this event nor any event with its name will occur in our city.” It further stated, “After looking over the information around the situation, we can confirm that there have been no registrations, planning or conditions to indicate that this will happen in our municipality.”

According to People, this isn’t the first location to deny ties to McFarland’s plans. Fyre Festival 2 was originally announced for Isla Mujeres, an island located about an hour north of Playa del Carmen, but officials there also stated they had no knowledge of the event.

Despite the lack of formal approval, tickets for Fyre Festival 2 remain on sale. According to its website the festival is slated to occur between May 30 and June 2. General admission prices start at $1,400, with a top-tier package for eight people listed at more than $1 million. McFarland has said the event will feature luxury experiences and a full artist lineup, although no performers have been officially announced.

McFarland first teased the return of Fyre Festival in September 2024, telling Today that he’d secured a production company and was developing a private island off the coast of Mexico. “We have a private island off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean, and we have an incredible production company who’s handling everything from soup to nuts,” he said at the time, adding that the island had existing infrastructure to support guests.

The original Fyre Festival, held in 2017, became a global scandal when attendees arrived in the Bahamas to find makeshift tents and folding chairs instead of the promising luxury accommodations and no major musical performances—a far cry from the luxury experience that had been advertised. McFarland was later convicted of wire fraud and served four years in prison.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.