"With limited time to recuperate from back to back years of storms, including the heavy rainstorm on Sunday this year, The Farm, particularly the main venue, needs a break to rest and recover"
Manchester, TN's well-loved annual music festival Bonnaroo has announced that it will be taking a "much-needed year off" in 2027.
"As you know, we spent a great deal of effort and money working to improve the campgrounds and Centeroo in the months leading into the 2026 festival," the organizers wrote in a statement shared across the fest's social media channels. "That included improved drainage, 4.5 miles of new roadways, and 135 acres of new grass, all which strengthened The Farm's resiliency to Mother Nature."
It continued, "With limited time to recuperate from back to back years of storms, including the heavy rainstorm on Sunday this year, The Farm, particularly the main venue, needs a break to rest and recover."
Bonnaroo has suffered a pretty prolific streak of weather-related bad luck in the 2020s. As aforementioned, 11 sets had to be cancelled due to rain this year, which saw the festival move back to its original weekend in mid-June after surveying attendees about potentially moving the event to a different time of year. Most of Bonnaroo's festivities were cancelled in 2025 due to severe weather, and the 2021 edition before that wasn't able to take place because of flooding.
"This wasn't an easy decision, and not one we take lightly, but in our hearts, we know this break will only make Bonnaroo better," festival organizers added. "We hope you'll continue radiating positivity in your community throughout the year and thank you for loving this festival as much as we do."
Read the full statement below, as well as Exclaim!'s recent piece on how the climate crisis is changing concert culture.
To our Bonnaroo Family, THANK YOU for an epic Bonnaroo 2026. Our hearts are filled to the brim from the weekend that we shared in June. The Farm remains as special as ever, and for a few days, we were once again reminded of the good things in this world.
As you know, we spent a great deal of effort and money working to improve the campgrounds and Centeroo in the months leading into the 2026 festival. That included improved drainage, 4.5 miles of new roadways, and 135 acres of new grass, all which strengthened The Farm's resiliency to Mother Nature. With limited time to recuperate from back to back years of storms, including the heavy rainstorm on Sunday this year, The Farm, particularly the main venue, needs a break to rest and recover.
So, here's what we've decided: Bonnaroo will be taking a much-needed year off in 2027. This wasn't an easy decision, and not one we take lightly, but in our hearts, we know this break will only make Bonnaroo better.We hope you'll continue radiating positivity in your community throughout the year and thank you for loving this festival as much as we do.
