NSW government releases high risk festival list

The NSW government has released its list of music festivals deemed high risk and insisted only festivals on the list will be impacted by new licensing changes.

A list of music festivals the NSW government deems as "high risk" has been released. (AAP)

The four NSW festivals where revellers died from suspected drug overdoses in the past six months are among 10 others classified by the state government as "high risk".

The government on Saturday released its list of 14 high risk festivals which will have to adhere to a new licensing scheme from March 1.

NSW Racing Minister Paul Toole said no other festival will be affected by the changes.

Five revellers died at FOMO festival in Parramatta, Defqon.1 in Penrith, the Knockout Games of Destiny at Sydney Olympic Park and the Lost Paradise festival on the central coast between September and January this year.

All four of those festivals are on the high risk list.

"The NSW government wants music festivals to thrive - but serious drug related illnesses and deaths have demonstrated that we need to help make a small number of them safer," Mr Toole said in a statement on Saturday.

"We will continue to work with operators of higher risk festivals to ensure they have appropriate safety arrangements in place, and can comply with the new licensing scheme."

The government said high risk festivals had serious drug related illness or death occur in the past three years or the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority determined there may be a significant risk of such illness or death at those festivals.

The list will be regularly reviewed and festivals which improve their safety may be removed from the list while others may be added, the minister said.

It follows an announcement by Mr Toole earlier in the week that music festivals determined to be low risk would obtain a free licence under the coalition's new licensing regime.

Events found to be high risk will pay $650 for a licence - which is equivalent to the fee they currently pay to operate.

The NSW government has copped criticism over the changes with the Australian Festival Association claiming it's "a fact" that well-run festivals with excellent safety records are already being negatively affected.

Mountain Sounds and Psyfari festival organisers have cancelled their events citing excessive costs including huge bills from NSW Police.