PANAJI: For the first time since its inception in 2007, the flagship edition of Sunburn Festival will not be held in Goa. Organisers have announced on social media that the three-day electronic dance music (EDM) event will take place in Mumbai this year on December 19, 20, and 21. The venue is yet to be revealed.
Touted as Asia’s largest EDM festival, Sunburn has long been associated with Goa’s party scene. It originally kicked off in Vagator, North Goa, and briefly shifted to Pune from 2016 to 2018 before returning to its coastal roots. But over the years, the festival has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters, local residents, village panchayats, civil society groups, citing issues ranging from noise pollution and crowd mismanagement to environmental degradation and cultural insensitivity.
Last year, the Goa government and festival organisers had proposed hosting Sunburn in Dhargal, Pernem, a first-time venue in the northernmost taluka. The move was backed by authorities looking to decongest traditional venues and spread tourism beyond the usual hotspots. However, it met with swift opposition from villagers and local panchayats.
Multiple gram sabhas, including those in Dhargal and nearby areas, passed resolutions against the event. Their concerns echoed long-standing grievances: poor infrastructure, risk to public safety, traffic snarls, disruption to daily life, and the environmental toll such large-scale events bring. Eventually, the plan was shelved.
Earlier, in 2023, attempts to consider South Goa as an alternate host region also faced resistance. Gram sabhas in Agonda, Chicalim, Vasco, and Varca opposed the move, citing similar concerns about livelihoods, waste management, and local culture being sidelined.
Now, with Sunburn shifting to Mumbai, organisers say the decision is backed by fan surveys and a broader vision. According to them, one in two respondents expressed interest in attending the flagship festival outside Goa, with a strong preference for Mumbai.
“The move allows us to offer better accessibility, scale, and a more immersive experience for fans,” the organisers said in a statement.
