Mexico’s two-day AXE Ceremonia music festival was effectively canceled by local authorities on Sunday after two people were killed by a crane that collapsed.
The festival — which boasted performances from Charli xcx, LCD Soundsystem, Fuerza Regida and more — shared an official statement on Sunday morning, reporting the confirmation of death with “profound sadness.”
“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the deaths of the two people injured during today’s incident,” festival organizers said in a statement in Spanish. “We are deeply saddened by this loss. We are contacting their families to be with them during this difficult time and offer our full support and solidarity. The safety of our community has always been our priority, and we have maintained, as we have from the very beginning, close collaboration and complete openness with the authorities.”
Organizers said they were working with the victims families and local authorities. Festival goers will be reimbursed via Ticketmaster, according to a social media update.
According to El Universal, a local newspaper in Mexico City, the tragedy occurred around 5 p.m. on April 5, while musician Meme del Real, a member of the rock band Café Tacvba, was performing. According to initial reports, paramedics transported the victims from the venue to a hospital, however, both individuals were pronounced dead upon arrival. Both were reportedly photographers for the independent Spanish-language media outlet Mr. Indie.
The AXE Ceremonia festival, was founded by Diego Jiménez in September 2013, at Centro Dinámico Pegaso in Toluca, Mexico. This iteration took place at the The Axe Ceremonia festival in Mexico City, Mexico, is scheduled for April 5th and 6th, 2025, at Parque Bicentenario.
Before details emerged, the festival continued on Saturday following the accident — including headlining sets by Charli xcx and Tomorrow X Together. On Sunday, Charli and other billed artists shared their condolences via social media.
