Oceans Calling 2026 Canceled as Nor’easter Track Worsens

Oceans Calling has canceled its entire 2026 festival in Ocean City, Maryland, one day after organizers called off Friday’s opening program while hoping to salvage the remainder of the weekend.

Festival organizers announced the full cancellation Friday, saying a stronger and updated westward track for the nor’easter has made it impossible to safely continue building the beachfront event.

“The tides, floods, and high winds have prevented us from safely continuing the build of Oceans Calling Festival,” organizers said, adding that the decision was made following National Weather Service guidance and in cooperation with local officials.

The decision wipes out Saturday and Sunday after Friday had already been canceled Thursday. Twenty One Pilots had been scheduled to headline Saturday, alongside a lineup including Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, All Time Low, 311, Dashboard Confessional and Violent Femmes. Mumford & Sons was set to close the festival Sunday, with My Morning Jacket, Caamp, The Head and the Heart, Hanson and Jet among the other performers scheduled for the final day.

Dave Matthews Band had been slated to headline Friday before that portion of the festival was canceled, along with Hootie & the Blowfish, Ludacris, O.A.R., Yellowcard and others.

The full cancellation also substantially changes the refund situation for three-day ticketholders.

Oceans Calling said all ticket types purchased directly through Front Gate Tickets will now be fully and automatically refunded to the original method of payment, with refunds arriving in as little as 30 days.

That replaces the policy announced following Thursday’s Friday-only cancellation. Under those terms, Friday single-day buyers were set to receive full refunds while purchasers of three-day passes would receive a 33% refund for the lost opening day. With the entire event now off, qualifying Front Gate purchases are instead due full refunds.

The festival’s latest notice specifically addresses tickets purchased directly through Front Gate and does not detail refund handling for tickets bought through resale channels.

Oceans Calling had directed fans looking for sold-out tickets to Ticketmaster Verified Exchange, which it identifies alongside Front Gate as an authorized place to purchase festival tickets. The festival separately warns that it cannot resolve wristband or ticket issues involving purchases through other third-party marketplaces.

Thursday’s initial cancellation came after days of coastal weather and beach erosion interfered with construction of the festival grounds. At the time, organizers said their production and safety teams were still working to get the site ready for Saturday and Sunday.

That effort ultimately proved unsuccessful as the storm forecast shifted.

The National Weather Service had Ocean City under a Coastal Flood Warning extending into Saturday morning and a High Surf Advisory through Friday evening. Friday’s forecast called for sustained north winds around 26 mph with gusts approaching 38 mph, while coastal flooding and hazardous surf remained concerns.

The cancellation eliminates what had been a sold-out three-day festival featuring more than 40 performances across three stages along the Ocean City Boardwalk. Oceans Calling had announced Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots and Mumford & Sons as its three 2026 headliners in March.

It is not the first time weather has wiped out an entire planned Oceans Calling weekend. The festival’s inaugural 2022 edition was canceled before it could begin as the remnants of Hurricane Ian threatened Ocean City with high winds, tidal flooding and heavy rain. Oceans Calling ultimately made its debut in 2023.

This time, organizers acknowledged that many attendees were already in Ocean City when the decision was made, encouraging those remaining in town for the weekend to enjoy the city while staying safe.