(Just Some Thoughts, Take It or Leave It)
India’s live events world is buzzing with government backing, packed pipelines, and crowds roaring. It’s everybody’s dream season. Deals are closing, international and national artists are lining up for the next 2–3 months, and the industry finally feels like it’s soaring again. The Prime Minister has announced support for this boom, states are contributing, and the entire ecosystem is elated.
But then the news scroll begins. Iran-Israel tensions escalate with talk of a Strait of Hormuz blockade. Suddenly, that high crashes.
Why? Because nearly 20% of the world’s oil flows through there.
Just a couple of days ago, the reaction was simple: “So what? It’s not our problem. Let the music continue.” But scrolling through Instagram and WhatsApp painted a different picture. Reports surfaced about countries already struggling with energy supplies and governments beginning to prioritise essential sectors during shortages. Live events often sit at the top of the non-essential list.
At the same time, disruptions in regions like the UAE are already being felt. Airports shut, tourism halted, markets closed, and events cancelled, big and small alike. If global supply chains tighten further, the ripple effects could soon knock on India’s doors.
Iran-Israel tensions may seem distant, but the consequences could reach India’s event industry quickly, bringing fears of rising costs, disrupted tours, and cancelled shows that affect everyone from top executives to the ground crew who power every production. At a moment when India’s event scene is thriving, the industry may need peace more than ever.
A War Not Ours, But a Crisis Closing In
With more than two decades of experience in India’s live entertainment scene, the business has been built around curating concerts, festivals, and multi-city tours.
The industry has worked tirelessly to rebuild after the devastation of COVID. Momentum has returned, confidence is growing, and the ecosystem has begun to breathe again.
Yet a geopolitical conflict thousands of kilometres away could threaten that fragile momentum.
The Iran-US-Israel tensions may feel distant, but a disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could starve the world of oil. For industries like live entertainment that depend heavily on logistics, mobility, and energy, the risks are real.
Oil Shockwaves Hit Home
A blockade affecting the Strait of Hormuz would disrupt a significant share of global seaborne oil supply, sending fuel prices soaring and triggering echoes of past energy crises.
Many countries are already dealing with pressure on energy supplies, and prolonged disruption could force governments to prioritise essential sectors first.
Events are particularly vulnerable. The industry relies heavily on diesel generators to power stages, lights, and sound systems. During past shortages, restrictions have already been imposed in cities like Delhi.
A booming season could disappear almost overnight.
Meanwhile, restaurants, catering companies, and hotels are already facing pressure from LPG shortages. Rising diesel prices would push costs higher across the entire event ecosystem, while disruptions to global travel could place international tours and artist pipelines at risk.
Shutdown Order: Events First to Go
In times of crisis, governments ration resources according to priority.
• Exempt: Military and hospitals, where lives depend on uninterrupted supply.
• Priority: Public transport and food supply chains.
• First Cut: Events, exhibitions, and entertainment.
Historically, non-essential sectors face restrictions first, followed by other industries as shortages deepen.
The events industry sits low in this priority order. It is energy intensive, generator dependent, and often viewed as expendable during emergencies. With India importing nearly 85% of its oil, even modest disruptions could trigger cascading cost pressures across the sector.
Could This Become COVID 2.0 for Live Events?
If such a disruption drags on, the consequences could resemble the darkest days of the pandemic.
Shutdowns. No gigs. Freelancers without work. Vendors struggling to survive. Crews leaving cities like Delhi and returning to their hometowns.
Artist tours could be cancelled. Event pipelines could dry up.
The working class that fuels the events ecosystem would be the first to feel the impact.
For years, distant wars often seemed disconnected from industries like live entertainment. But a global oil chokehold spares no one. Decisions made in geopolitical power struggles ripple through economies, industries, and livelihoods far beyond the battlefield.
The industry rebuilt itself once after COVID and will find ways to bounce back again. But the question remains.
Why must global conflicts repeatedly disrupt sectors that are far removed from the conflict itself?
Are we heading toward another COVID-like shutdown? This time, not because of a virus, but because the world runs out of fuel.
A Plea from the Events Industry
This isn’t just business. It’s livelihoods.
Today’s wins bring gratitude, but tomorrow brings concern.
World leaders must recognise the cascading impact of escalating conflicts and act before industries across the world are forced into another shutdown.
The time to act is now.
India’s event professionals have fought too hard to rebuild after COVID to see their momentum halted by another global crisis.
The hope is simple.
Let the stages light up, not shut down.
– By Ali Safdar Zaidi Director of Event Network Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
