Refund concerns mount after John Mayer India concert is rescheduled

John Mayer’s much-anticipated India debut has hit a roadblock after his Mumbai concert was postponed just days before the scheduled date, triggering widespread anger among ticket holders over refunds and travel losses, and raising questions around accountability in India’s fast-growing live entertainment business.

American singer John Mayer, known for hits like Free Fallin', No Such Thing, Your Body Is a Wonderland, and New Light, was all set to make his India debut with a performance in Mumbai on January 22, 2026, at Mahalaxmi Race Course. However, on January 14, BookMyShow announced that the concert had been rescheduled to February 11 due to “unforeseen circumstances”, adding that all existing tickets would remain valid for the revised date.

However, the announcement offered no clarity on refunds, sparking immediate backlash from fans—particularly those travelling from outside Mumbai—who had already incurred significant costs on flights, accommodation, and leave arrangements.

Fans flag financial losses, demand refunds

Within hours of the announcement, BookMyShow’s Instagram post was flooded with comments from users questioning how they were expected to absorb losses from non-refundable airline tickets, hotel bookings, and rescheduled work commitments.

“Who’s going to refund my flights and tickets both? Where’s the refund option?” one user wrote.

Another commented, “11th Feb is a midweek show. People have booked flights plus hotel stays which are not easy to cancel. How dare you not even give us an option of refunds?”

Several fans highlighted that the revised date falling on a Wednesday made attendance difficult for working professionals, especially those travelling from other cities.

 “Tickets were booked from across India for Mumbai, with people arranging their jobs and work schedules in advance. The financial losses from cancellations are unacceptable,” another user said.

Working professionals bear the brunt

For many attendees, the postponement has resulted in losses extending beyond ticket costs, including wasted leave, disrupted schedules, and non-recoverable travel expenses.

 “I’m a cabin crew by profession, so for us we have to take leave three months prior. It’s not very easy to take leaves and leaves are also very limited,” said Srinjana Choudhury, a flight attendant who had planned her roster around the original concert date.

 “It is extremely disheartening to be informed of the rescheduling at such short notice. My leaves are getting wasted, I have made flight bookings that are non-refundable, and I am not even sure if I’ll get leave for the revised dates,” she added.

“It’s definitely an inconvenience because people have their leaves applied and plans lined up. An event like this getting postponed doesn’t really help. A lot of people won’t be able to attend, and a lot of people will attend only because they’ve already paid so much money—but it will come at the cost of something. Some people may not get paid leave and could end up with a loss of pay. So it’s a lot of hassle and inconvenience,” said Deepto Chakraborty.

Echoing similar concerns, Adhidev Mukherjee, who was travelling from Kolkata for the show, said the sudden postponement had left him and several others in limbo.

“I was coming for the John Mayer concert, we had the flights booked and everything, but then we got to hear this is being pushed. Unfortunately, because of several things at work, we won’t be able to reschedule and come back. We still haven’t heard back from BookMyShow on what their plans are for people who cannot attend on the revised day,” he said.

“I myself know five other friends who are also in this deep trouble because of the sudden pushback. We understand that it’s a very emotional and pertinent reason from the artist’s perspective, but some more compassion and consideration—from fans as well as from the event organisers at BookMyShow—could have been communicated better.”

Mukherjee added that the financial impact remained uncertain. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with our flights and hotels. There’s going to be a monetary loss also. It’s a very downbeat way to begin the year for the concert economy, for concertgoers and concert lovers. Bandland is also cancelled.”

The sentiment has been compounded by the cancellation of Bandland 2026, a two-day music festival scheduled to take place in Bengaluru in February. Organisers announced that the event would not go ahead after British rock band Muse, one of the headliners, cancelled their upcoming tour due to unforeseen circumstances. In a social media statement, Bandland India said all ticketholders would be eligible for a full refund within 8–10 working days. The lineup had also featured acts such as Grammy-winning pop-rock band Train and Australian progressive rock band Karnivool, along with several Indian and international artists, leaving fans disappointed after booking flights and accommodation for the festival.

“At least here there is a revised date, but let’s see what 2026 holds,” Mukherjee said.

Multiple fans echoed similar concerns, pointing out that airline tickets and hotels were booked weeks in advance, often at elevated prices due to the event-driven surge. Some users also said they were unsure whether the concert could be postponed again, adding to uncertainty around rebooking travel.

Refund ambiguity fuels consumer anger

While BookMyShow stated that customers could reach out for “ticket-related queries,” the absence of a clearly stated refund option has continued to fuel dissatisfaction.

Several fans demanded that refunds be offered at least to non-Mumbai residents, arguing that rescheduling travel for a weekday concert was neither feasible nor affordable. Others questioned why a postponement announced just days before the event did not come with consumer safeguards, particularly given the scale of the event and the volume of outstation attendees.

Supportive voices emerge amid backlash

Amid the outrage, a section of fans urged others to show restraint, suggesting the postponement may be linked to personal circumstances faced by Mayer following the recent death of his close friend and fellow musician Bob Weir.

“Please don’t cancel the show. Many of us are willing to wait and support you,” one fan wrote while tagging the artist.

Still, for many ticket holders, the lack of refund clarity has overshadowed anticipation for the rescheduled concert.

With expenses running into tens of thousands of rupees for some attendees, the postponement has become a flashpoint for consumer frustration, as fans continue to seek answers from BookMyShow on whether any relief will be extended to those unable to attend on the revised date.