UPDATE: The full Oceans Calling festival has been canceled for 2026. "The National Weather Service is reporting a stronger and more updated westward track of the Nor’easter storm system," reads a statement from festival management. "Tides, floods, and high winds have prevented us from safely continuing the build of Oceans Calling Festival."
The statement continues:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS REPORTING A STRONGER AND MORE UPDATED WESTWARD TRACK OF THE NOR'EASTER STORM SYSTEM. TIDES, FLOODS, AND HIGH WINDS HAVE PREVENTED US FROM SAFELY CONTINUING THE BUILD OF OCEANS CALLING FESTIVAL.
FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WE MUST MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CANCEL OCEANS CALLING 2026.
ALL TICKET TYPES PURCHASED DIRECTLY THROUGH FRONT GATE TICKETS WILL BE FULLY AND AUTOMATICALLY REFUNDED IN AS LITTLE AS 30 DAYS TO THE ORIGINAL METHOD OF PAYMENT.
THANK YOU TO THE OCEANS CALLING FANS. WE KNOW HOW FAR YOU HAVE TRAVELLED, AND THE TIME AND ENERGY YOU HAVE PUT INTO BEING HERE. IF YOU ARE IN TOWN ALREADY AND STAYING THROUGH THE WEEKEND; PLEASE ENJOY OCEAN CITY AND BE SAFE.
The National Weather Service is reporting a stronger and more updated westward track of the Nor’easter storm system. Tides, floods, and high winds have prevented us from safely continuing the build of Oceans Calling Festival.
— Oceans Calling Festival (@OceansCallingMD) September 25, 2026
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/GWheQCtzeK
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The other week, Santa Monica's Ocean Way Festival was canceled due to beach erosion. Now, the first day of Maryland's Oceans Calling Festival has been canceled for similar reasons.
The festival was supposed to kick off Friday (Sept. 25) in Ocean City on the boardwalk with Dave Matthews Band and Hootie And The Blowfish headlining. Other acts included Ludacris, O.A.R, Yellowcard, Shaggy, and Liz Phair. The scheduled sets will no longer be taking place, and it's unclear whether Saturday and Sunday will end up happening. Here's what the statement says:
Despite the extraordinary efforts of our production, site, safety teams, and the city staff/officials the impacts of this week’s continued weather, including beach erosion that affected the festival site, have made it impossible to safely complete the build in time for Friday.
As a result, Friday will not move forward as planned. The safety of our fans, artists, crew, and community must come first.
1-Day Friday Tickets and 33% of 3-Day Tickets purchased directly through Front Gate Tickets will be automatically refunded in as little as 30 days to the original method of payment.
Please continue to follow our official channels for updates. We are working very hard to get the show up for the remainder of the weekend, and hoping the conditions improve.
Saturday's headliners are Twenty One Pilots and Gwen Stefani, and Sunday's are Mumford & Suns and Matchbox Twenty.
