Olly Arkins to Step Down as CEO of Australian Festival Association at End of August

When the Australian live‑music scene was still piecing itself together after the COVID shutdowns, a new leader stepped onto the stage.

Olly Arkins, the chief executive officer of the Australian Festival Association (AFA), will leave the role at the end of August 2026. The announcement, made by AFA chair Adelle Robinson on Tuesday, comes after four years in which Arkins steered the organisation through a period of intense change for the country’s live‑music sector.

Arkins took the helm in 2022, a time when festivals were still re‑establishing themselves after the pandemic. During his tenure the industry faced rising production costs, workforce shortages, shifting audience expectations, extreme weather events and the loss of high‑profile events such as Splendour in the Grass. The AFA, founded in 2018 by five of the nation’s largest festival promoters in response to the so‑called “War on Festivals,” has positioned itself as the peak body representing festivals across Australia.

Under Arkins’ leadership, the AFA secured several key policy and funding wins. The organisation successfully lobbied for the introduction of pill‑testing and drug‑checking trials at festivals in New South Wales and Victoria. These trials, which began in early 2025, provide free, confidential drug‑testing services to festival attendees and are framed by the AFA as harm‑reduction tools that deliver lifesaving information rather than encouraging drug use. The AFA also achieved increased government funding for festivals, legislative reforms that ease regulatory burdens, and stronger working relationships with agencies that oversee event licensing.

"Olly arrived at a time when festivals were still trying to work out whether we had a future," chair Robinson said. "She leaves the AFA with governments listening to our industry and festivals firmly at the table in music‑industry‑wide advocacy." Arkins echoed this sentiment, stating, "I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity the AFA Board gave me to advocate for our members and this remarkable industry. Together, we all made the case that festivals are major employers and tourism drivers. Importantly for me, they also give Australian artists some of their first opportunities to perform on a major stage and allow more fans to discover them. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past four years. Our association is stronger, the industry has an influential voice with government and in the media, and there is now a much deeper understanding of the cultural and economic value of festivals."

The AFA’s advocacy has also highlighted the economic impact of festivals on local communities. According to the organisation’s own reports, festivals contribute significantly to tourism revenue and provide employment for thousands of workers across the country. By securing policy reforms and funding, the AFA has helped to protect these economic benefits amid a challenging operating environment.

The AFA board has announced that it will provide further details on the leadership transition in the coming weeks. While the board has not yet named a successor, industry observers note that the organisation will need to maintain its momentum in lobbying for festival‑friendly policies and ensuring that festivals continue to thrive in a post‑pandemic landscape.

In summary, Arkins’ departure marks the end of a pivotal chapter for the Australian Festival Association. The organisation will continue to serve as a key advocate for festivals, artists, and tourism stakeholders, while a new CEO will take over the role at the end of August 2026.