The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will be taking a break in 2027 after two straight years of heavy rain and severe weather during the festival.
Festival organizers made the announcement in an Instagram post Friday after regular attendees had been speculating on social media the festival would not be happening. On Tuesday, anonymous posts on Reddit claimed that local first responders had been told the festival would not be taking place.
The festival, held at Grand Stage Park in Manchester since 2002, has been struggling in recent years.
In 2020 and 2021, the festival was canceled, and a rainstorm that flooded campsites in 2025 caused a cancellation after fans had already arrived. Another heavy rainstorm during the festival this summer sent attendees to their vehicles for shelter, and when Centeroo, the main festival area, reopened later that same day, fans returned to find a massive mud pit in front of the main stage.
“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,” the festival’s Instagram post said. “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.”
The post said the festival will be taking a year off but did not say the festival would never return.
Contact breaking news reporter Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.