No decision yet on Couleur Cafe refunds after storm cancellation

The organisers of Couleur Cafe have said they are waiting for a response from insurers before deciding on compensation for ticketholders after one evening of the music festival had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

The festival was evacuated on Saturday 27 June due to violent thunderstorms.

sseghem Park had to be cleared completely. Visitors and campers were evacuated, and all performances scheduled after 20.00 were cancelled.

In a message published on its website, the festival organisers said that the evacuation was "the only responsible decision".

“For some, it may have felt premature, but every minute counted,” the message reads.

Couleur Cafe said the number of requests for compensation or refunds received so far remains limited, but that it does not have the necessary financial reserves to act immediately and is dependent on potential compensation from its insurers, a process that could take several weeks or even months.

The organisers also emphasised that the evacuation had a significant financial impact, due in particular to lost bar takings, additional staff costs, repairs, site clean-up and the need to provide emergency accommodation for campers at Brussels Expo.

Couleur Cafe is not yet able to quantify the exact extent of the damage, but organisers have spoken of a “severe financial impact”.

The festival organisers said they were continuing efforts to find "a fair and equitable solution" while ensuring that the event's long-term viability is not compromised.

Unlike many other commercially larger festivals, Couleur Cafe is run by a non-profit organisation with a team of four permanent staff, supplemented by freelancers, volunteers and associations.

The organisers said they did not have large financial reserves and were dependent on the outcome of insurance claims for any compensation scheme.

“We work all year round with a small, dedicated team to keep the festival accessible and affordable,” Couleur Cafe said.

“We simply cannot proceed with compensation straight away. We are entirely dependent on our insurers, and that process can take time.”

According to organiser Dennis Corbesier, there have been a few hundred enquiries about compensation to date, accounting for less than 2% of the total number of visitors.

It has not yet been decided what form any compensation might take. The festival is exploring various options, ranging from a (partial) refund of tickets or drink vouchers to discounts for a future edition.

“We’re looking into all possibilities, but cannot make any commitments until our discussions with the insurers have progressed far enough,” said Corbesier.

“Our priority is a fair outcome that does not jeopardise the future of the festival. Before we can decide on and communicate about compensation or refunds, we need to have all the figures, such as the invoices from our suppliers. Discussions with the insurers are still ongoing.”

The festival organisers thanked festival-goers for their understanding and patience, and emphasised that it will “provide concrete answers as soon as possible”.