A321 Flight Attendant reported a fumes event during preflight which ultimately resulted in everyone deplaning and subsequent flight cancellation. After much back-and-forth; the flight crew were allowed to return back to base and a replacement aircraft was assigned at a later date.

Narrative

On Day 0; FA 4 started smelling an acrid; musty smell in the cabin. She reported it to the Captain; right after the DH (Dead Head) Captain took his seat; while the Captain was talking to the DH Pilot. The Captain smelled the fumes odor. FA 4 thought that the odor was concentrated by 3L/3R doors; where the DH Captain's seat was located; but as she walked through the cabin; she noticed that the odor was strong and pervasive throughout the entire cabin; and passengers were complaining. Some of them knew it that it was fumes. FA 4 went to get FA 2 from the galley; and FA 2 also did a walkaround and smelled it. After returning to the galley; both FA 2 and FA 4's throats started being scratchy; and their sense of taste was also affected; as they tasted like a sweet; sour taste. FA 2 started coughing. We received an interphone call from FA 3; in the front galley. FA3 stated that passengers also noticed the smell and wanted to get off the aircraft. As we were talking; the Captain started making an announcement that everyone was supposed to deplane the aircraft. We all deplaned. We; the crew; all recognized the odor as the typical acrid; musty odor of toxic fumes; and we started feeling symptoms - headache; scratchy throat and eyes; compromised sense of taste; lightheadedness. Thank God the Captain was able to get us off almost right away! The plane was grounded; and we went to the hotel.As we went outside; our symptoms started to improve a little; but for some of us; some of them remained. The aircraft was supposed to be ready at XA:00 the following day. Captains were able to be released and dead head to ZZZ on Day 1. We went to the airport the same day; but the aircraft was still out of commission. The flight was cancelled. The passengers were irate and started vocalizing their anger. Some of them seemed to become violent. We were caught in the middle; with no place to go. We received notification that we were supposed to return to the hotel; but we couldn't even leave the area because the doors to Customs were closed; and we couldn't leave. The agents were dealing with the passengers; so they couldn't initiate the reopening of the doors to Customs. The passengers were getting closer and closer and were cursing at us. After a while; the agents were able to release us to Customs. Our new Captain from ZZZ1 told us that the aircraft would not have been ready the next morning either; informed the Company; and requested a new aircraft. The Company sent a new aircraft and new crews from ZZZ1. The Captain told us that he and the FO were supposed to ferry the broken plane back to ZZZ1; without passengers; on Day 2. We were assigned to work that flight; but there was no need for us to ferry on that flight because there weren't supposed to be any passengers. However; after hours and hours on hold with tracking; daily operations; and messages with a representative in ZZZ; Tracking would not release us and would not allow us to dead head back to ZZZ; as they heard that passengers were still listed on the ferry flight; on the broken plane.We went through a fumes event; and some of us were still not feeling 100% good; FA 4's bag was stolen at the hotel on Day 1. Even if the hotel security was able to retrieve it; we were no longer feeling safe at the hotel; we had no more clothes; only our uniforms; which still smelled like fumes; we ran out of medicines; and we just needed to go home. Thankfully; the next morning; another representative was contacted; and they started looking at our situation; and; finally; Tracking agreed to dead head back to ZZZ on a flight; the new segment which was created; with the new plane and the new crew; which were sent from ZZZ1; and our passengers from a flight.Suggestions: Not sure that fumes events can be prevented. The ZZZZ - ZZZ Captain heard our concerns and acted pretty quickly to deplane crew and passengers; and that was the key for us not to have more serious repercussions. As for our destinies after ourflight was cancelled; whenever crews are exposed to toxic fumes and experience a fumes event; they should immediately made go back to base; as they might need medical attention or just rest; as fumes can make crews sick; or tired. What happened to us was chaotic; as the FAs were forced to remain tied to a broken aircraft for no reason; since it was supposed to be ferried back to ZZZ1 with no passengers. There has to be better awareness and better coordination. Also; Tracking/Scheduling is the key here: they should be better trained to recognize the words 'FUMES EVENT' and; when they hear them; to return the affected FAs back to base as soon as possible; not to keep us hanging the way they did. This is inexcusable!