Auckland City Limits organiser Campbell Smith says he spent "the entire weekend" trying to persuade Young Thug to perform at his festival.
The Atlanta rapper was booked to play this weekend's Western Springs festival but pulled out when his Australian visa fell through.
But he still had a visa allowing him to play in New Zealand, and Smith said he tried to persuade the rapper and his management to still make the trip.
"I wanted him to play the show - it's why we booked him," Smith said.
"It was particularly disappointing because we got a visa for here, we worked really hard and got it, we got it three weeks ago.