OCEAN CITY, Md. - Oceans Calling Festival has announced its highly anticipated 2026 lineup, bringing a mix of rock, pop and hip-hop heavyweights to the Ocean City Boardwalk later this year.
Headliners include Dave Matthews, Mumford and Sons, Hooty and the Blowfish, Gwen Stefani, Matchbox 20 and Goo Goo Dolls, Twenty One Pilots organizers announced. The three-day beachfront music festival has quickly become one of the region’s marquee live music events, thousands of fans to Worcester County.
Colin Topping, general manager of Pickles Pub in Ocean City, said festivals like Oceans Calling bring in thousands of visitors they wouldn’t normally see. “It’s really been a godsend for our business as far as shoulder season business,” Topping said. On this year’s lineup, he added, “Regardless of your opinions of what you have there, it’s going to sell out regardless. And it’s going to be a really good weekend for Ocean City.”
Other major acts set to perform include Ludacris, Third Eye Blind, Hanson, Shaggy and Violent Femmes. Susanna Hoffs, Gavin DeGraw, Better Than Ezra, Everclear, Dishwalla and Matt Meyers are also scheduled to take the stage.
Jim Golden, a returning festival-goer, said he usually attends by boat but plans to join the crowd on land this year.
Festival organizers say the event will once again feature multiple stages along the boardwalk and beach from Sept. 25-27. Food vendors, local businesses and art installations are also expected to be part of the experience.
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Oceans Calling debuted in 2023 and has since generated an economic boost for Ocean City, with hotels, restaurants and small businesses seeing increased traffic during festival weekend.
According to the Marketing and Communications Director in Ocean City, Oceans Calling 2025 sold out, with more than 50,000 tickets purchased. The festival generated over $100 million for the local economy, and the town is hopeful that 2026 will be another sold-out event.
The presale starts on Thurday, March 5, at 10 a.m. to access general admission and 1-day tickets for one hour only.
Last year's music festival included big names like Nelly, Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy and more.
Oceans Calling 2025
The three-day music festival at the Ocean City inlet brought many big name artists to the beach, including: Green Day, Noah Kahan, Fall Out Boy and Weezer.
Courtesy of Harrison Webb.
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Courtesy of Harrison Webb.
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Courtesy of Harrison Webb.
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Courtesy of Harrison Webb.
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Courtesy of Harrison Webb.
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Courtesy of Harrison Webb.
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Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
Courtesy of Andrea Escobar Garcia.
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
Courtesy of Taylor Regulski.
Courtesy of Ismael Quintailla III.
Courtesy of Andrea Escobar Garcia.
Courtesy of Ismael Quintanilla III.
Courtesy of Taylor Regulski.
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
Courtesy of Ismael Quintanilla III.
Courtesy of Andrea Escobar Garcia.
- Andrea Escobar Garcia
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
- Chad Wadsworth
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
- Chad Wadsworth
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
- Chad Wadsworth
Courtesy of Andrea Escobar Garcia.
- Andrea Escobar Garcia
Courtesy of Andrea Escobar Garcia.
- Andrea Escobar Garcia
Courtesy of Taylor Regulski.
- Taylor Regulski
Courtesy of Taylor Regulski.
- Taylor Regulski
Courtesy of Andrea Escobar Garcia.
- Andrea Escobar Garcia
Courtesy of Ismael Quintanilla III.
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth.
- Chad Wadsworth
Courtesy of Taylor Regulski.
- Taylor Regulski
