In its first move out of Goa to Mumbai, David Guetta to headline Sunburn Festival in December

For years, the December calendar in Goa was defined by one event: the Sunburn festival. Yet, for the first time in over a decade, the main Sunburn festival is leaving its spiritual home and moving to Mumbai. From December 19 to 21, the 18-year-old electronic dance music festival will swap the beaches of the Sunshine State for the cityscape of Mumbai.

The first headliner for this new chapter is Grammy winning artiste David Guetta, who will perform on December 20 (as part of his The Monolith Tour) at a venue that has not yet been disclosed. This is not David’s first Sunburn rodeo, but it is a significant one. He has a long history with the festival, from closing the 2015 edition with his anthem Titanium to his #Guetta4Good charity tour in 2017.

The organisers’ reasons for moving the festival to Mumbai are unclear. However, numerous articles have cited public opposition, concerns about hurting religious sentiments, and issues around noise and traffic as recurring challenges in the festival’s relationship with Goa.

David Guetta
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy davidguetta/Instagram

This is where Mumbai comes in. The city’s well-developed infrastructure and direct air connectivity for both domestic and international travellers make it a logical choice. Mumbai has already proven its ability to host major international acts, with artists like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran drawing large crowds in recent years. This track record suggests that the city has both the capacity and the audience for such events.

The relocation prompts questions about the type of audience it will attract. Will the new urban venue draw a different crowd from the sun-and-sand demographic of Goa? How will the festival’s character, traditionally defined by a beach-party atmosphere, adapt to a cityscape?

David Guetta performing
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy davidguetta/Instagram

From a commercial perspective, the move could prove shrewd. Mumbai’s metropolitan population and its strong connection to youth culture offer a larger, more diverse audience pool. The city is a key player in India’s live events economy, with a substantial population of professionals and students with disposable income. By moving to Mumbai, Sunburn gains access to a cosmopolitan audience right on its doorstep, potentially boosting ticket sales and brand partnerships.

The question now is whether Sunburn can successfully translate its beachside spectacle into an urban phenomenon.

Tickets are available on BookMyShow