Billy McFarland Announces Return of Fyre Fest After Prison Release

Billy McFarland, the founder of the notorious 2017 Fyre Festival, has announced that Fyre Fest II is set to take place from April 25-28, 2024, on a private island off the coast of Mexico. Despite the disastrous first event, which promised attendees luxury villas and gourmet food but instead delivered disaster relief tents and cheese sandwiches, McFarland is confident that this time he can succeed. In an interview with NBC News, McFarland, now 32, acknowledged the failure of the original event but insists that this time, things are being handled professionally, with the hiring of a festival production company to take care of logistics such as stages and bathrooms, although he refused to disclose the name of the company or the island.

Tickets for the upcoming festival range from $1,400 to $1.1 million for the most expensive package, which includes luxury yachts, scuba diving, and island hopping. McFarland explained that the focus of Fyre Fest II would be less on large crowds and more on an intimate experience, stating, “It’s about getting on a plane with six people…and going and exploring an island or a beach or a reef.” The first drop of 100 presale tickets, priced at $499 each, sold out quickly in August, even though no specific lineup or details were provided at the time.

McFarland also acknowledged his past mistakes, admitting in the interview that the failure of the first Fyre Festival was his fault, stating, “I was totally guilty. I committed a crime.” He spent four years in prison after being sentenced to six on fraud charges related to the original event. McFarland was released in 2022 and still owes $26 million in restitution. Despite his previous conviction, McFarland is betting that the event’s notorious reputation will attract people who want to witness what could be another epic failure. He joked about one infamous feature of the first festival, stating, “We will have cheese sandwiches, though…they’re going to be super expensive, too.”

No performers have been booked yet for Fyre Fest II, but McFarland has promised more details in the coming months. According to McFarland, the island actually has physical hotels and villas this time, in contrast to the temporary tents of the 2017 event. While Fyre Fest II has garnered plenty of skepticism, McFarland believes there is strong interest in seeing whether this version will succeed, with some people buying tickets just to have a front-row seat to whatever unfolds. Despite his past, McFarland remains determined to try again and capitalize on the festival’s infamy.