Cancelled Vibiscum reveals compensation offering

Organisers of cancelled Swiss festival Vibiscum have revealed a compensation system for its ticket-holders, but it is not in the form of a refund. 

Just days before its third edition was due to take place at Vevey’s Place du Marché in May, the music festival was cancelled. Organisers said a lack of ticket sales had made it impossible to cover the costs of artists and other vendors. An increase in ticket pricing and failure to attract well-known artists were among the reasons given for poor sales.

At the time of the cancellation, Vibiscum Festival said it was unable to refund those who bought tickets. Some tickets cost as much as CHF 195 (£168/€197/$214) with standing places available from CHF 79.

Now, Vibiscum is offering a compensation solution for ticket-holders in the form of entry to two other events.

Stars of Sounds Festival in Morat and the Openair Fluo in Neuchâtel have agreed to open their doors to all Vibiscum ticket-holders.

Those that purchased a ticket for the Rap evening on May 30 are able to exchange their ticket for an entrance to an evening at Openair Fluo in Neuchâtel on August 31. The entrance fee for this event is usually CHF 93.22.

However, ticket-holders for the Rock evening on May 31, Electro on June 1 or Classic on June 2 are able to exchange their ticket for entry to the Stars of Sounds festival across any evening of their choice: July 4, 5 or 6. The ticket is worth CHF 109 and will give access to watch acts such as Scorpions, Paul Kalkbrenner, Calum Scott, Take That and more.

Vibiscum ticket-holders have until June 20 to apply for their entry to the other festivals.

In a statement, organisers said: “We would like to express our gratitude for your patience since the announcement of the cancellation of the Vibiscum festival on May 16. This has allowed our teams to work actively to find a compensation solution for festival-goers, despite the difficult financial situation in which the Vibiscum Festival Foundation finds itself.”