DJ Hardwell cancels SAGA festival performance after equipment failure

Hardwell halts SAGA Festival set, accusing organizers of equipment failure and non-payment; SAGA refutes claims.

World-renowned Dutch DJ and producer Hardwell halted his set at SAGA Festival in Bucharest on July 5, calling out the event for equipment malfunctions and accusing organizers of not paying him. During his performance, Hardwell addressed the crowd, expressing his frustration: “The equipment is failing, and they haven’t even paid me for this set.”

⚠️ HARDWELL canceled his show at SAGA Festival right now due to the festival's terrible production team. pic.twitter.com/e2DrIRFoRK

— A L E 𝕏 (@_alexvdcorput) July 6, 2024

In response, SAGA Festival issued a statement on social media, countering Hardwell’s claims. The organizers asserted that had they been informed about the equipment issues, they would have acted swiftly to resolve them. They also noted that the equipment was transported from the Netherlands along with the DJ. “The equipment was fully functional, as demonstrated by other major headliners like Will Sparks performing without issues,” the festival stated. Additionally, they confirmed that Hardwell was indeed paid for his performance.

The festival, which runs from July 5-7, features a diverse lineup of artists, including Nicki Minaj, Armin van Buuren, and Deborah de Luca. Despite the incident, the organizers emphasized that other artists performed on all stages without any problems.