Oceans Calling Is Back: What OC Visitors Need to Know
Ocean City, MD - The Oceans Calling Festival returns to Ocean City from September 25 through 27, 2026. The festival will bring big crowds, big names, and some big changes to the downtown area.
This year's lineup includes Dave Matthews Band, Hootie and the Blowfish, Twenty One Pilots, Gwen Stefani, Mumford and Sons, and Matchbox Twenty.
The festival grounds will sit on the beach near the Ocean City Inlet, stretching along the south end of the Boardwalk.
Because of this, the Boardwalk south of North Division Street will be closed to the general public during the festival weekend. The Boardwalk from 27th Street to North Division Street will stay open as usual.
Several road and parking changes are already underway. The Inlet Parking Lot closed to the public on September 15 and will stay closed through October 9.
The N. Division Street municipal lot is also closed and will act as a construction and loading zone during the event. Starting September 22, parking will be banned on the ocean blocks of Caroline, Talbot, Wicomico, and South Division Streets, and any vehicles left there will be towed to the Ocean City Police Department.
Traffic patterns will shift each festival day starting at 8 p.m. St. Louis Avenue will be limited to emergency vehicles, residents, and downtown employees, with other traffic rerouted toward Philadelphia Avenue.
Getting around town will look a little different too. The Beach Bus will run an express, reduced-stop schedule during the festival, and rideshare pickups and drop-offs will be handled at the 4th Street Municipal Lot.
Walking, biking, and scootering are all encouraged, and bike parking will be available between 1st and 2nd Streets. Riders should bring their own lock, and Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are not allowed on the Boardwalk.
A no-drone zone will also be in effect throughout the festival. The restriction covers a one-nautical-mile radius around Baltimore Avenue and Somerset Street, running from 11 a.m. to midnight each day between September 25 and 27.
Local officials say safety remains the top priority. All festival attendees will go through a security search before entering the grounds, and law enforcement will have an increased presence downtown to help with traffic and pedestrian crossings.
Businesses inside the festival footprint can still receive deliveries, but companies should be told to expect longer access times. Employees working within the festival grounds will need to use secure checkpoints and should plan for extra travel time.
