Comedian Matt Rife’s rescheduled Halifax shows ‘nature of the business’: economist

Matt Rife, who was scheduled to headline the Halifax Outdoor Comedy Fest, has backed out.

A popular comedian who was set to play a Halifax festival won’t be coming to the city this summer.

Stand-up comic Matt Rife was scheduled to play the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival (GOCF) on Aug. 7 and 8.

“Due to a shift in his filming schedule, Matt Rife’s Halifax shows have been rescheduled to 2026. We know this isn’t the news you were hoping for — and we’re just as disappointed,” reads an email from the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival.

“As per our policy, the line-up and show schedule are subject to change, including the postponement of headliners to future festival dates. Replacement performers may be added, and such changes will not warrant a refund or exchange.”

Sackville, N.B., resident Devon Richards purchased tickets for Rife’s show for his fiancée, along with his sister and her boyfriend.

“You know, you spend a lot of money on these tickets, and if the artist or whoever cancels, you know, you could lose quite a bit of money,” he said.

“We spent… a little over $1,300 for a table section and admission.”

The festival has announced new headliners for the Thursday and Friday night shows. Aziz Ansari, Matteo Lane, and Ricky Velez will perform on Aug. 7 and the Aug. 8 show will feature Tony Hinchcliffe & the Killers of Kill Tony.

A presale for the Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 show will go live on Thursday.

Economist Moshe Lander says the change in lineup is “the nature of the business.”

“If we were talking about the music industry and somebody gets a sore throat, somebody gets sick, they can’t perform, that’s the way that it goes,” he said.

“When you’re dealing with actors and when you’re dealing with people like comedians, they get a movie gig, and next thing you know, they’re not available. It happens. It’s part of the risk.”

Rife has been rescheduled to perform at the GOCF on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, 2026. In a Tuesday social media post, the festival said ticket holders will receive further information via email.

Richards says he was told he has until June 29 to obtain a partial refund, but with hotel accommodations already booked, he says that does little to soften the blow.

“I get they offered it for next August, but, you know, a lot of people made plans around this this August,” he said.

CTV News Atlantic requested an interview with festival organizers, but was directed to the news release provided to customers.

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