US EditionHangout Music Festival Won't Return to Gulf Shores in 2026
Gulf Shores canceled both festivals for 2026 due to missed deadlines and talent concerns, approving a return in 2027 after a successful 2025 event, Mayor Craft said.
- On Monday, Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft announced that Gulf Shores will not host the Hangout Music Festival or Sand in My Boots in 2026 during a city council meeting.
- Because organizers missed application deadlines, festival organizers failed to secure the talent the city wants and could not submit acts for city council approval in time for next year.
- The 2025 edition, curated by Morgan Wallen, sold out its 40,000 tickets and was described as a success.
- The council approved a 2027 comeback to give organizers more booking time, while Gulf Shores beaches will be quieter next year and local businesses may feel the impact.
- The franchise agreement notes the franchisee cannot control musical acts despite reviewing festival name and genre, while Craft's veto claim contrasts this amid public forums and city council meetings debate.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Hangout Music Festival won't return to Gulf Shores in 2026
Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said the extra time before 2027 will allow organizers to recruit “the type of talent we want on our beaches, to invite the right audience that we want on our beaches,” noting that last year's Sand in My Boots festival set the standard that the city expects.
Alabama’s Iconic Music Festival, Hangout Fest, Canceled for 2026: What This Means for Gulf Shores Tourism- Know More New Information
Home » TRAVEL EVENT NEWS » Alabama’s Iconic Music Festival, Hangout Fest, Canceled for 2026: What This Means for Gulf Shores Tourism- Know More New Information Published on December 9, 2025Gulf Shores, Alabama, is facing a significant shift in its annual tourism events, as two major music festivals—the Hangout Music Festival and the Sand in My Boots festival—have both been canceled for 2026. This decision was announced by the city’s mayor on Dec…
Hangout Music Festival won't return to Gulf Shores in 2026; city eyes 2027 comeback
Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said the extra time before 2027 will allow organizers to recruit “the type of talent we want on our beaches, to invite the right audience that we want on our beaches,” noting that last year's Sand in My Boots festival set the standard that the city expects.
The Advocate
NolaHangout Music Festival canceled in 2026 over lineup dispute, Gulf Shores mayor says
The beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, will be uncharacteristically quiet in the spring of 2026 after Mayor Robert Craft on Monday announced the cancellation of next year's Hangout Music Festival.
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