“Licensing uncertainties” lead DGTL India to move its Mumbai leg to Goa

The upcoming edition of India’s renowned electronic music festival DGTL is set to take place in Goa instead of Mumbai, as originally planned, following unresolved licensing complications impacting live events in Maharashtra. This adjustment was announced by Forward India, the event’s organiser, signaling a significant shift for the festival’s sixth iteration.

Initially scheduled for mid-November 2025 across two cities—Bengaluru and Mumbai—DGTL was poised to feature an impressive lineup including artists such as Colyn, Nina Kraviz, and Nox Vahn. However, persistent regulatory hurdles in Mumbai, described by the organisers as “ongoing licensing uncertainties,” have forced the relocation of the Mumbai leg to Goa, with the festival dates adjusted to 14 and 15 November 2025.

The move comes amid a broader climate of tightened restrictions on live music events in Mumbai and Maharashtra. These challenges have emerged in the wake of recent political protests conducted by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, which called for the resignation of India’s chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. Authorities’ heightened security concerns have complicated the issuance of necessary permits, causing disruptions across the city’s live entertainment sector.

This pattern of regulatory difficulties is not isolated to DGTL. For instance, Skillbox, a prominent promoter and ticketing platform, faced similar obstacles when organising the Mumbai shows for Swedish progressive metal band Opeth’s India tour. The venue was shifted multiple times—from Ballard Pier to the NESCO complex and finally to The Lalit hotel lawns—due to the same ongoing security and licensing issues. Additionally, Skillbox was denied alcohol service licenses for these events, a factor that critically impacts revenue streams for live music promoters.

The denial of liquor permits has become a recurring impediment for live concerts in Mumbai. Australian artist Chet Faker’s recent Mumbai show also lacked authorization to serve alcohol, further illustrating the challenging environment for event organisers. Given that alcohol sales often constitute a substantial portion of event profitability, these licensing restrictions pose serious financial risks.

Earlier in the year, the ripple effects of such regulatory challenges were evident when Punjabi singer Karan Aujla’s concerts in Lucknow and Ludhiana were cancelled due to the absence of liquor permits. This trend underscores a growing difficulty for live music events in securing essential authorisations, which may be deterring promoters from investing in certain Indian cities.

Despite these obstacles, it is noteworthy that DGTL has opted to relocate rather than cancel its Mumbai segment, illustrating a commitment to maintaining its presence in the Indian market. Similarly, Skillbox’s ability to identify alternative venues for their events demonstrates adaptability in an environment of increasing unpredictability.

The cumulative effect of these ongoing licensing and security issues raises questions about Mumbai’s future as a premier destination for international live music tours. The city, traditionally considered India’s entertainment hub, risks losing ground to other regions like Goa, which may offer a more accommodating regulatory framework for large-scale events.

As DGTL prepares to bring its festival to Goa in November 2025, industry stakeholders will be closely observing how these developments influence the broader landscape of live music in India. While details remain limited regarding the long-term implications, the current scenario highlights the complex interplay between political developments, regulatory policies, and the live entertainment industry’s viability in major urban centres.