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Oceans Calling Festival
StatusActive
GenreRock, alternative rock, pop, roots rock, reggae rock
FrequencyAnnually (last weekend of September)
VenueOcean City Inlet Beach and the Ocean City Boardwalk
LocationsOcean City, Maryland, United States
Years active2023–present
InauguratedSeptember 29, 2023
(inaugural 2022 edition cancelled)
FounderO.A.R., C3 Presents
Most recentSeptember 26–28, 2025
Attendance162,000 (2025, three days)[1]
OrganiserC3 Presents
Websiteoceanscallingfestival.com

The Oceans Calling Festival (often shortened to Oceans Calling) is an annual three-day music festival held on the beach and boardwalk at the Ocean City Inlet in Ocean City, Maryland. It was created by the concert promoter C3 Presents in partnership with the Rockville, Maryland–founded rock band O.A.R., who perform at each edition, including a closing "O.A.R. and Friends" set.[2][3] The festival takes place on the last weekend of September and features more than 40 acts across three stages, along with culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs and access to the boardwalk and the Jolly Roger at The Pier, which sits inside the festival grounds.[4][5]

The inaugural festival, scheduled for September 30 – October 2, 2022, was canceled the day before it was due to open because of the remnants of Hurricane Ian.[6] The first edition was held in 2023, and the festival returned in 2024 and 2025, growing to become the largest ticketed music event in Ocean City's history.[7] The 2026 edition was also cancelled because of a nor'easter.[8]

History

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Founding and 2022 cancellation

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Ocean City officials began working with the festival's promoters in May 2021.[9] The lineup for the inaugural festival was announced in May 2022, with headliners Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, The Lumineers and Alanis Morissette, and more than 30 acts scheduled across three stages at the southern end of the boardwalk.[10] Around 40,000 tickets were sold, and the stages, sound systems and vendors were in place when, on September 29, 2022, organizers cancelled the event because of unsafe conditions on the festival grounds and the forecast for high winds, tidal flooding and heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ian.[11][6][12] Tickets purchased through Front Gate Tickets were refunded.[6] In November 2022 the Ocean City Mayor and Council approved C3 Presents' request to hold the same late-September weekend in 2023.[11]

2023–2025

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The first Oceans Calling Festival took place from September 29 to October 1, 2023, headlined by Jack Johnson, Alanis Morissette, John Mayer and The Lumineers, several of whom had been booked for the cancelled 2022 event.[3] Organizers reported nearly 50,000 attendees on each day of the festival.[13]

Following the 2023 edition, the Town of Ocean City signed a three-year agreement with C3 Presents that included date holds through 2026; the agreement also led to the creation of a sister event, the Country Calling Festival.[14] The 2024 festival sold all 55,000 of its tickets,[15] making it the largest ticketed music festival held in Ocean City up to that point.[7] For 2025, the festival reported total attendance of about 162,000 over three days.[1]

2026 cancellation

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The 2026 festival, scheduled for September 25–27 and headlined by Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots and Mumford & Sons, sold out.[16][17] On September 24, 2026, organizers canceled the Friday program, saying continued weather and beach erosion had made it impossible to safely finish building the festival site.[18][19] The following day, citing guidance from the National Weather Service and local officials about the strengthening September 2026 nor'easter, organizers canceled the remainder of the festival.[8][20] It was the second time in four scheduled years that the festival had been called off before opening because of weather.[20]

Festival site

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The festival grounds occupy Ocean City Inlet Beach and enclose the boardwalk south of North Division Street, with the Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park inside the perimeter; admission to the amusement park is included with a festival ticket.[15][21] The festival uses three stages; those used in 2024 and 2025 were the Sea Bright Stage, the Rockville Stage (named for O.A.R.'s hometown) and the Carousel Stage.[22][23] Shuttle service runs from park-and-ride lots in West Ocean City and at the Ocean City Convention Center.[24]

Culinary program

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Each edition has included a culinary stage with cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs. Since 2023 the program has been hosted by actor Jason Biggs.[25][5]

YearChefs
2022 (cancelled)Andrew Zimmern, Robert Irvine, Amanda Freitag[10]
2023Robert Irvine, Amanda Freitag[25]
2024Robert Irvine, Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy[26]
2025Robert Irvine, Michael Voltaggio, Bryan Voltaggio, Anne Burrell (announced)[5]
2026 (cancelled)Robert Irvine, Antonia Lofaso, Alex Guarnaschelli [27]

Attendance and economic impact

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YearDatesAttendanceNotes
2022September 30 – October 2—Cancelled; about 40,000 tickets sold[11]
2023September 29 – October 1Nearly 50,000 per day[13]Inaugural edition
2024September 27–2955,000 (sold out)[15]Rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene on Friday
2025September 26–28About 162,000 total[1]More than 50,000 tickets sold each day[28]
2026September 25–27—Sold out;[17] cancelled due to September 2026 nor'easterr[8]

Ocean City officials have described the festival as a major economic driver for the town's autumn "shoulder season". Before the 2023 edition, the town projected an economic impact of more than $30 million, and said more than 60 percent of attendees were expected to be first-time visitors.[29] According to the town, an independent study found that the 2024 Oceans Calling and Country Calling festivals together generated $376.3 million in economic impact.[28] After the 2025 festivals, Ocean City's tourism director estimated a combined impact of around $300 million, pending a third-party analysis.[30]

Some local businesses have raised concerns about the festival's footprint. In 2023, a business owner near the grounds complained that the town closed businesses near festival exits after headlining sets to prevent crowding,[13] and in 2026 The Baltimore Banner reported that some bars and restaurants must close early because of the festival's security measures, while businesses outside the perimeter reported little benefit.[28]

Lineups

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Lineups are listed by day as announced or performed; headliners are listed first.

2022 (cancelled)

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The inaugural festival was scheduled for September 30 – October 2, 2022, but was cancelled on September 29 because of the remnants of Hurricane Ian.[31][6]

Friday, September 30

Saturday, October 1

Sunday, October 2

2023

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The 2023 festival was held September 29 – October 1, 2023.[25][3]

Friday, September 29

Saturday, September 30

Sunday, October 1

2024

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The 2024 festival was held September 27–29, 2024. A reunited Sublime lineup with original members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh and vocalist Jakob Nowell, son of the late Bradley Nowell, performed on Friday, and Blues Traveler performed their 1994 album Four in full for its 30th anniversary.[21] Dave Matthews, who had been booked to perform with Tim Reynolds at the cancelled 2022 event, made his festival debut with Dave Matthews Band as Sunday's headliner.[32] Wind and heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene affected Friday's program, delaying Blink-182's headlining set by nearly an hour.[15][22]

Friday, September 27

Saturday, September 28

Sunday, September 29

2025

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The 2025 festival was held September 26–28, 2025. Fountains of Wayne performed one of their first shows since the 2020 death of co-founder Adam Schlesinger, with Eve 6's Max Collins on bass, and Jack's Mannequin and 4 Non Blondes appeared as part of reunions.[33][34] Saturday's sets, including Vampire Weekend's, took place in rain.[17][30]

Friday, September 26

Saturday, September 27

Sunday, September 28

2026 (cancelled)

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The 2026 festival was scheduled for September 25–27, 2026, but was cancelled because of a nor'easter.[16][8]

Friday, September 25

Saturday, September 26

Sunday, September 27

[edit]

Following the success of Oceans Calling, C3 Presents added further festivals at the same Ocean City Inlet site:[14]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Oceans Calling confirms 2026 dates, find out more about the big return". Salisbury Daily Times. December 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026 – via AOL.
  2. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival". Grooveist. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Oceans Calling 2023 Lineup". Live for Live Music. March 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  4. ↑ Williams, Debbie (March 11, 2026). "Tickets Are on Sale for Oceans Calling Music Festival". Northern Virginia Magazine. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Oceans Calling 2025 Lineup: Green Day, Noah Kahan, Fall Out Boy, Weezer & More". Live for Live Music. February 12, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Oceans Calling Festival Canceled Due to Hurricane Ian". Live for Live Music. September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "2024 Oceans Calling: Harmonizing Again the Highs and Lows". OceanCity.com. October 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Oceans Calling 2026 canceled due to weather". WUSA9. September 25, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Hurricane Ian forces Ocean City to cancel 3 day Oceans Calling music festival". WMAR-2 News. September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Oceans Calling Festival Inaugural Line Up". The Waster. May 23, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "Oceans Calling Festival Confirms Fall 2023 Return; Same Late September Weekend Reserved". Maryland Coast Dispatch. November 9, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City cancelled as remnants of Hurricane Ian approach". CBS News Baltimore. September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 Ford, Jack (October 2023). "Oceans Calling boosts businesses". WBOC-TV. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Ocean City to host first country music festival in October". The News Journal. March 18, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Pierce, Rachel (September 2024). "Ocean City readies for Oceans Calling". WBOC-TV. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Oceans Calling Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup: Dave Matthews Band, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket and More". Relix. March 4, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 "Oceans Calling taps '90s nostalgia as rough weather looms". The Baltimore Sun. September 23, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival cancels Friday shows due to weather, beach erosion". WMAR-2 News. September 24, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Oceans Calling 2026: Friday canceled as powerful nor'easter threatens Ocean City". Fox 5 DC. September 24, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "O.A.R., Dave Matthews Silenced As Rare September Nor'easter Wipes Out Oceans Calling Festival". Daily Voice. September 25, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  21. 1 2 "Oceans Calling 2024 lineup". WUSA9. February 27, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  22. 1 2 Aronne, Theresa. "Explore Experience: Oceans Calling 2024". Visit Maryland's Coast. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Oceans Calling 2025". Humble. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City, MD". OceanCity.com. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 "Oceans Calling Festival 2023 Happening September 29th–October 1st In Ocean City, Maryland". ReadJunk.com. March 17, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival 2024 Lineup". Live for Live Music. February 27, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  27. ↑ Cite error: The named reference l4lm-2026lineup was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. 1 2 3 "Oceans Calling returns with Dave Matthews Band, Gwen Stefani, Mumford & Sons". The Baltimore Banner. March 3, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Ocean's Calling could bring $30M dollars of economic impact this weekend". WMDT. September 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  30. 1 2 "Ocean City looks to tally economic ripple after two festival weekends". WBOC-TV. October 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Dave Matthews, The Lumineers, Alanis Morissette & O.A.R. to Headline Oceans Calling Festival". WBOC-TV. May 23, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City headliners set for September". The Baltimore Sun. February 29, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Oceans Calling Festival Reveals Impressive 2025 Lineup: See Who's Playing". ALT 98.7 / iHeartRadio. February 12, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Oceans Calling 2025 lineup: Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, Vampire Weekend, Fountains of Wayne & more". BrooklynVegan. February 12, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  35. ↑ "New "Country Calling" music festival announced for Ocean City". WMAR-2 News. March 20, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Brooks & Dunn to Headline Country Calling Festival 2025". OceanCity.com. March 27, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  37. ↑ "New Boardwalk Rock music festival coming to Ocean City next year". WBOC-TV. December 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Boardwalk Rock Festival Announced: Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Nickelback & More to Headline Inaugural Event in Ocean City, MD". OC Shore Magazine. December 11, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
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