India’s Biggest EDM Festival Sunburn Forced To Relocate Due To Public Backlash

Sunburn says goodbye to North Goa after almost a decade of being the home to India’s heartbeat in the electronic music scene.

The festival organizers of Sunburn Festival post a statement on social media reflecting on their twenty-year journey as a festival. Moreover, Sunburn shows gratitude for Goa’s energy, landscape, and community for giving Sunburn a home for close to two decades.

The festival introduces the announcement by describing the upcoming era as a chapter filled with possibilities, energy, and a renewed sense of purpose. Moreover, Sunburn mentions they listened to festival goers’ feedback on fresh energy and better access being needed.

Ultimately, Sunrbun Festival will be moving locations from North Goa to South Goa, in a town called Mumbai. From 2007 to 2015, Vagator, North Goa, hosted the Sunburn Festival. Sunburn then relocated to Pune in 2016 before making its way back to Vagator in 2019.

This comes at the expense of local communities in South Goa protesting the festival. Moreover, citizens have raised concerns about noise pollution, environmental impacts, and overcrowding. However, this festival has also brought economic benefits for hotels and restaurants in North Goa.

Sunburn describes the new permanent location as a city that has long echoed with the sound of electronic music. Instagram fans react positively to the news, showing excitement for the location change.

Notably, Sunburn Festival features innovative stage designs and pyrotechnics, as well as its captivating lasers and eclectic visuals. Not to mention, their food court areas, flea markets, and curated environment are intended to bring out your inner child—and they do just that.

Sunburn Festival quickly became India’s EDM scene hub when Shailendea Singh founded the festival in 2007. Over the years, the festival has hosted legendary international performances from Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Armin Van Buuren, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Hardwell, and many more.

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Caroline Rodriguez

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