Just days out from Forwards Festival 2025, American rapper and rising star Doechii has withdrawn from the event. The artist was originally billed as a headliner on the festival’s Sunday lineup, scheduled to perform on the Downs in Bristol. Her cancellation has also affected other European dates, including All Points East in London and Rock en Seine in Paris.

Festival organisers confirmed the news via Instagram, expressing disappointment over the cancellation. “We are very sad to announce that Doechii will not be performing at her upcoming shows,” they shared. While no official reason was given, the team emphasised their continued support for the artist, noting: “She is an incredible artist and we were as excited as you were to bring her to our hometown of Bristol.”

Despite the setback, Forwards Festival’s Sunday lineup remains strong, with three powerful female headliners—Jorja Smith, The Last Dinner Party, and Olivia Dean—leading the charge. They are joined by a wide array of acts including Confidence Man, Barry Can’t Swim, Ezra Collective, and Orbital, all set to perform across the two-day event on 6th and 7th September, 2025.

The full lineup also includes Mount Kimbie, Annie Mac, Squid, Pa Salieu, LTJ Bukem, Happy Mondays, Moonchild Sanelly, English Teacher, Nilufer Yanya, Jamz Supernova, Fabio & Grooverider with The Outlook Orchestra, Mermaid Chunky, The Silhouettes Project, and many more. Despite Doechii’s absence, Forwards 2025 continues to deliver a diverse and dynamic programme celebrating boundary-pushing talent from across the globe.