OCEAN CITY, Md. - Organizers have canceled the entire 2026 Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City as a developing nor’easter continues to threaten Maryland’s coast with flooding, strong winds, high tides and additional beach erosion.

The announcement Friday represents a significant escalation from Thursday, when organizers canceled only the festival’s opening day while continuing efforts to prepare the site for Saturday and Sunday.

Oceans Calling had been scheduled to run from Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27 along the Ocean City Inlet, beach and Boardwalk.

Organizers announced Friday morning that the remaining weekend performances would no longer take place.

Worsening storm forecast

Festival organizers said the National Weather Service had reported a stronger and more westward track for the developing nor’easter.

They said tides, flooding and high winds prevented crews from safely continuing construction and preparation of the festival grounds.

Organizers said the decision to cancel was made following National Weather Service guidance and in cooperation with local public officials.

The full cancellation comes as Maryland’s Eastern Shore faces a prolonged period of rough coastal conditions associated with the offshore storm.

Coastal flooding, large waves and beach erosion have already affected portions of the coastline.

Festival site already damaged

Problems at the Ocean City festival site became apparent before Friday’s cancellation.

Organizers said Thursday that repeated weather impacts and beach erosion had made it impossible to safely finish building the site in time for Friday’s performances.

Friday’s lineup was canceled first while crews continued evaluating whether the festival could open for the remainder of the weekend.

At that point, Saturday and Sunday remained scheduled.

By Friday morning, however, organizers determined that worsening conditions would not allow the festival build to safely continue.

That decision ended plans for the entire three-day event.

Major lineup wiped out

Oceans Calling was scheduled to feature more than 40 performances across three stages.

Artists on the weekend lineup included Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Ludacris, O.A.R., Twenty One Pilots, Gwen Stefani, Mumford & Sons and Matchbox Twenty.

The event was also scheduled to include food vendors, cooking demonstrations and attractions along the Boardwalk and at Jolly Roger at the Pier.

The festival had advertised the 2026 event as sold out before the weather disruption.

Full refunds announced

Organizers say all ticket types purchased directly through Front Gate Tickets will now be fully and automatically refunded.

Refunds will be returned to the original method of payment and may take up to approximately 30 days.

That replaces the earlier refund arrangement announced Thursday, when Friday single-day ticket holders were promised full refunds and three-day ticket holders were offered a 33% refund following cancellation of only the first day.

With the entire event now canceled, qualifying direct purchasers will receive full refunds.

Organizers acknowledged that many festivalgoers had already traveled to Ocean City before the cancellation.

They encouraged visitors already in the resort to enjoy the city while remaining aware of the dangerous weather conditions.

Impact on Ocean City

The cancellation removes one of Ocean City’s major fall tourism events from the weekend schedule.

The festival draws visitors who also spend money at area hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and other Boardwalk businesses.

The precise economic impact of the cancellation has not yet been quantified.

The full cancellation is nevertheless considerably more disruptive than Thursday’s one-day cancellation because visitors, performers and businesses had been preparing for events throughout the entire weekend.

The festival takes place during a period when Ocean City increasingly relies on large entertainment events to extend tourism activity beyond the traditional summer season.

Coastal conditions remain dangerous

The National Weather Service has warned of coastal flooding and strong winds associated with the nor’easter.

CBS News Baltimore reported coastal flood warnings were in effect for the Ocean City Inlet and nearby back bays, with water potentially reaching about a foot above normally dry ground around high tide.

Large waves and continued beach erosion are also expected along the Atlantic coast from Assateague Island north toward Delaware.

The same storm system is producing coastal impacts elsewhere along the East Coast.

Forecast changes were a central factor in the festival’s decision to cancel the remaining events.

Second weather-related full cancellation

This is not the first time severe weather has forced the event to cancel an entire weekend.

The festival’s 2022 edition was canceled as remnants of Hurricane Ian threatened the region.

The 2026 cancellation again demonstrates the vulnerability of large beachfront events to coastal storms during the early fall.

What happens next

No replacement dates for the 2026 festival have been announced.

Ticket holders who purchased directly through Front Gate Tickets are expected to receive automatic refunds without submitting a separate request.

Visitors remaining in Ocean City are being urged to monitor local forecasts and official warnings as the nor’easter approaches.

The cancellation means no Oceans Calling performances will take place Friday, Saturday or Sunday.