Mumbai’s iconic Independence Rock festival officially cancelled for 2025
The iconic Independence Rock music festival in Mumbai will not take place in 2025, disappointing rock music fans in India. The organizers have confirmed this decision, citing a need for reflection and reimagining the future of the festival.
After the festival resumed in 2022, it will not be happening this year. The founder of the festival, Farhad Wadia, responded to a fan on Instagram, confirming that there will be no festival in 2025. The team behind the festival stated that after the landmark 30th anniversary edition in 2024, they felt it was the perfect time to pause, reflect, and consider what comes next.
The festival has always been more than just a music event—it has been a movement and a gathering of generations. Rather than rushing into another edition, the team is taking time to explore and reimagine how the festival can evolve to match today’s music scene and spirit. They see this as a moment of recalibration rather than goodbye and are grateful to everyone who has supported the festival over the years.
The Mahindra Independence Rock festival, which started in 1986 at Rang Bhavan, has been a must-visit event for rock fans not only in Mumbai but across the country. Over the years, the festival has featured some of the biggest rock bands in the country, including Parikrama, Indus Creed, Thaikkudam Bridge, Avial, 13AD, Pentagram, Pineapple Express, Swarathma, Bloodywood, Girish And The Chronicles, and more.
In recent years, other music festivals like Mahindra Blues Festival and Lollapalooza have become solid fixtures in Mumbai’s music calendar. Standalone performances by international acts such as Coldplay, Cigarettes After Sex, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, and Guns N’ Roses have also taken place in the city.
While the absence of the Independence Rock festival in 2025 may disappoint fans, it also presents an opportunity for the organizers to rethink and reshape the future of the event. The festival’s legacy and impact on the Indian rock music scene are undeniable, and fans can eagerly anticipate what comes next.