Australian musician Keli Holiday, whose real name is Adam Hyde, has been forced to cancel his New York show after being refused entry back into the United States during his North American tour. The incident occurred midway through his tour when he was stopped at the US-Canadian border following a performance in Toronto.
Detained at the Border
Holiday revealed on Instagram that he was detained at the Canadian border and denied re-entry into the US, despite possessing what he believed to be proper visa documentation. He was due to play his final show at Baby’s All Right, a popular music venue and bar in New York, but ticket holders were informed that the performance had been cancelled.
In his Instagram post, Holiday expressed his disappointment: “Hello stunnas, unfortunately I’m not going to make it to tonight’s show at Baby’s All Right in NYC. I have spent all day detained at the Canadian border and denied entry back into the US despite having the proper visa documentation in place. I’m still trying to get clarity on the situation myself. I’m honestly gutted. I know a lot of you bought tickets and were planning to come out tonight, and I hate letting people down and to be honest really wanted to party with you all.”
Entry Requirements for Australians
Australian citizens travelling to the US must have a valid passport and an approved ESTA for stays under 90 days, or a visa. According to Smartraveller, strict entry requirements now apply, including potential mandatory social media disclosure and the long-term retention of personal data by authorities. Holiday has yet to confirm the official reason for his refusal of entry. 7NEWS.com.au has reached out to Holiday’s management team for comment.
Return to Australia and Upcoming Shows
News.com.au reported that Holiday has since returned to Australia and is preparing for the next leg of his tour, with shows across New South Wales and Victoria set to begin on Thursday. He thanked fans for their support and patience in his Instagram post.
Holiday is best known as one half of the electronic duo Peking Duk. His girlfriend, reality star and radio host Abbie Chatfield, has been a creative influence on his solo work. Holiday previously said she inspired his track Dancing2, which in January landed at No. 2 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2025.
