On NBC, McFarland described Fyre Festival 2 as a three-day “escape” on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The festival — which “is real”, according to a news release — will run from May 30 to June 2. Did the announcement include a roster of big-name artists? Or even one? Of course not.
A limited number of tickets for the sequel first went on sale in 2023, and, on Monday, 2000 tickets went on sale.
“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again,” McFarland said in the release. “But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for Fyre 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.”
According to the organisers, Fyre 2 is taking place on the “Playa Fyre” on Isla Mujeres, an island in the Mexican Caribbean about 20 minutes by boat from Cancún.
The website for the event lists co-ordinates for the exact location as 21°12′32.3 “N 86°43′43.3 “W. If you plug that into Google Maps, a pin shows up in the middle of the water near the south side of the island, just west of Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, a Hyatt brand.
What’s the music line-up?
There is no line-up. But the announcement does say that Fyre 2 will have “international and local talent”, as well as “boundary-pushing excursions” and “one-of-a-kind experiences in remote and unique locations”.
“We’re announcing the artists over the next few months,” McFarland said on NBC. “I’m not in charge of booking the talent.”
The first Fyre promised a star-studded line-up including Blink-182 and Migos. The acts never materialised.
The original Fyre Festival was the subject of a Netflix documentary that followed the rise and fall of the scandal-ridden luxury music event. Photo / Youtube
How much are tickets to Fyre Festival 2?
The official website has multiple tiers of tickets available, ranging from US$1400 ($2444) to US$1.1 million, excluding service fees.
The cheapest is the “Fyre Ignite package”, which comes to US$1604.17 after a US$140 service fee and US$64.17 processing fee. This basic option gets you access to the event. The end. Accommodations are not included. However, the website claims that the festival has partnered with some hotels in the area that will offer “preferred rates”.
The next tier is the “Fuego package”. For US$5000, this ticket gets you into the festival, plus VIP access around the grounds, front-row viewing of the “Water Stage” and “close viewing” of the fight pit; the website’s chatbot says attendees can “watch fights or competitions, with different levels of access depending on their ticket package”.
“We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration,” McFarland said on NBC. “We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning.”
Like the basic package, Fuego does not include accommodations, but you can pay US$25,000 to dock your boat if you’d like to BYOB.
Fyre Festival 2 will be held on an island in Mexico that's 20 minutes by boat from Cancún. Photo / 123rf
“Fyre Phoenix” is a US$25,000 package for two that promises “artist access to the festival grounds”, backstage access to that “Water Stage”, “pit side” access, a “curated itinerary of Fyre experiences” and access to the “FYRE Concierge”. Phoenix includes “luxury accommodations” for three nights, allegedly at the same hotels as the festival talent, plus private ground transportation to and from the Cancún airport, passage on “Fyre Ferries”, as well as something called “Phoenix transportation” throughout the weekend.
The website says Phoenix ticket-holders will get access to two hotel options, the Impression Isla Mujeres (where regular rates start around US$1400 a night) or the Almare Isla Mujeres (an adults-only, all-inclusive Marriott property, with daily rates that weekend listed around US$500). When you go to book the ticket, you have the option of selecting a king-size bed or two double beds, not pick which hotel you’d prefer.
Last — and the opposite of least — is the “Prometheus” package. The US$1,100,000 (plus US$5000 service fee)price tag gets you and seven friends top access to the festival and activities, as well as a “24/7 private chauffeur service, dedicated on-site concierge and access to the Prometheus Marina”. You’ll stay on either a four-stateroom yacht or a four-bedroom villa “with immediate proximity and access to Playa Fyre and the festival grounds”. Last but not least, you’ll get private air charter from Miami to Cancún by “Fyre Air”, followed by a helicopter ride to the island. McFarland said he’s already sold one.
Who’s running it?
McFarland told Today an “incredible production company” was “handling everything from soup to nuts”.
The official Instagram post for the latest festival news attributes many helping hands, including Soldout.com, a ticket marketplace that hosts live events; Lostnights, a Mexico-based event production company; FriendlySky, another online ticket platform; as well as “some of the Mexican Caribbean’s finest hospitality providers”.
Are people really buying tickets?
Yes. In 2023, the Washington Post interviewed a person who got one of the 100 presale tickets, which allegedly sold out at US$500 each, and provided a screenshot of a receipt. The Post reviewed a receipt for a Fuego ticket purchased on Tuesday.
Take a quick spin through the comments section of the latest Fyre Instagram post and you’ll find people claiming they’re still waiting for their refunds from the first flop.
Will there be more to eat than cheese sandwiches?
There is no mention of food on the new Fyre website, but according to the site’s chatbot: “We’re excited about the culinary offerings at Fyre Festival 2! While we don’t have specific menu details yet, cuisine is one of the key elements of our festival. We’re aiming to provide a unique gastronomic experience that complements our tropical, luxury vibe. The festival will feature arts, cuisine, music, and more, all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Rest assured, the food will be an integral part of the extraordinary celebration we’re creating.”
Food at the original Fyre Festival was shocking. Photo / Netflix
Is Billy McFarland even allowed to do this?
After admitting to defrauding investors of US$26 million, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison in 2018. He served close to four.
NPR reported in 2023 that there was nothing in McFarland’s terms of release that barred him from launching another festival. He was released under the supervision of the US probation office, which declined to comment about McFarland’s terms of release.
According to a story published by Today, at least US$500,000 from the new festival will go toward paying back McFarland’s debt from the original Fyre Festival.
In a 2024 Instagram post, he also claimed that 1% of all the ticket sales will be going “directly to the family and friends of incarcerated people”, he said. (However, there was no mention of that pledge in Fyre’s latest announcement.)
According to court documents reviewed by the Post, McFarland was granted permission to travel to Germany to speak at a tech conference in 2023.
When asked on Today if he’d be allowed to travel to Mexico, he said, “I don’t know”, and that he may have to watch it from a livestream on his computer.
Billy McFarland (right) with original Fyre Festival co-founder Ja Rule. Photo / Netflix
Where’s Ja Rule?
Rapper Ja Rule, who co-founded Fyre Festival with McFarland, is not mentioned in the news release and does not appear connected to the rebirth.
Is this the best use of your money?
It is almost certainly not. We’d recommend spending US$1400 to US$1.1 million on travelling pretty much anywhere else.
