Boston Calling to hit pause in 2026

Boston Calling, one of the biggest festivals in New England, is set to take a break for the 2026 year. This news comes to a shock to many fans who plan on attending this festival year after year. Most of the fans who often attend the festival are viewing this break as a “gap year” as the festival is set to make a return in 2027.

The festival organizers announce that Boston Calling will be making a return, but on a different weekend than usual. The festival, which usually takes place on Memorial Day weekend, will now be held June 4-6, 2027.

While the festival did not provide a specific reason for the hiatus, industry insiders speculate that the decision allows organizers to restructure amid a shifting festival landscape, increasingly competitive lineups and rising production costs.

This marks the first planned break for the festival since the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations in 2020 and 2021. In recent years, Boston Calling has attracted massive crowds with top-tier headliners like Foo Fighters, The Killers, Metallica, and Paramore, and has been praised for its balance of national acts and local Boston talent.

Boston Calling’s last edition in 2025 featured headliners Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy, Dave Matthews Band, drawing tens of thousands of attendees across three days.