Bonnaroo’s 2027 Hiatus Comes With an Unexpected Cost for Its Tennessee Home

August 21, 2026, 2:48pm

The beloved Manchester, Tennessee, festival Bonnaroo has been canceled for 2027. Organizers are taking the year to improve the grounds for future festivals, following several years of weather-related cancellations that produced many unhappy campers. But what is good for the festival isn’t good for the local community, according to Mayor Joey Hobbs.

According to the Manchester Mayor, youth programs and non-profits used concessions at the annual music festival to raise money for local initiatives. “They put in long hours and raised money to support their programs and activities,” he said in response. “Those opportunities have made a real difference for many organizations in our community.”

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With Bonnaroo taking a break, Manchester loses out on an event that draws tens of thousands of people every year. The economic loss is spelled out quite plainly. And as much as fans are disappointed that they won’t be able to travel to “The Farm” next year, the improvements are directly related to a lack of weather preparedness in years past.

Cancellation for 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,” organizers wrote on their website. “That included improved drainage, 4.5 miles of new roadways and 135 acres of new grass, all of 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,” the statement continued. “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.”

For the past two years, Bonnaroo has faced rain cancellations. In 2025, the festival didn’t make it through the Friday of the event before they had to pull the plug. In 2026, a rainstorm caused severe flooding on the Sunday of the event, necessitating this restoration project.

(Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)