Iron Maiden, Korn, and Bad Omens will headline the 2027 edition of the Boardwalk Rock festival when the multi-day music event returns to Ocean City, Maryland, from May 14 to May 16, 2027. Produced by C3 Presents, the oceanside rock and heavy metal gathering is expanding to three days following its debut in 2025 and a one-year absence in 2026, according to TicketNews. Organizers unveiled the complete roster on Tuesday, October 20, setting up a weekend bill that also features Alice in Chains, Judas Priest, Breaking Benjamin, Good Charlotte, Marilyn Manson, and The Prodigy.

The festival's return comes after scheduling setbacks forced organizers to skip the 2026 calendar. While outlets such as Consequence describe the 2026 gap as a hiatus and 47abc calls it a one-year pause, Loudwire characterizes the absence as a cancellation. Regardless of how the off-year is framed, the 2027 event adds an extra day of performances compared to the inaugural two-day format held in May 2025.

Day-by-Day Lineup and Schedule Breakdown

The 2027 festival roster spans multiple decades and subgenres of hard rock, nu-metal, metalcore, and classic heavy metal. Each of the three days is anchored by a distinct headliner and more than a dozen supporting acts.

According to Loudwire, Korn will headline the opening night on Friday, May 14. The Friday undercard includes Breaking Benjamin, The Prodigy, Cypress Hill, and Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. The opening day schedule is rounded out by Clutch, Sevendust, Theory of a Deadman, Filter, All Them Witches, Corrosion of Conformity, Eve 6, Local H, Nonpoint, and Soil.

On Saturday, May 15, Bad Omens tops the bill. Saturday's supporting roster features Good Charlotte, Marilyn Manson, Motionless in White, Bullet for My Valentine, and Poppy. Additional Saturday performances will come from Tesla, Superheaven, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool, Sponge, Showing Teeth, Tetrarch, and Asava.

British heavy metal veterans Iron Maiden will close out the festival on Sunday, May 16. The final day's lineup features major rock and metal staples Alice in Chains and Judas Priest, alongside Sleeping With Sirens, The Pretty Reckless, Down, and The Warning. Completing the Sunday slate are Loathe, The Hu, Apocalyptica, GWAR, Dirty Honey, The Flys, and Mac Sabbath.

Iron Maiden was initially revealed as the festival's first headliner on Friday, October 16, ahead of the full roster announcement. As reported by TicketNews, the Sunday performance in Ocean City is slated to conclude the band's 2027 "Run for Your Lives" North American tour, arriving two days after their scheduled festival appearance at Sonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio, on May 14. Fellow Boardwalk Rock performer Bullet for My Valentine is set to support Iron Maiden on their non-festival tour dates.

Why Boardwalk Rock Took a Year Off in 2026

Boardwalk Rock first launched in May 2025 as a two-day event. Coverage of the inaugural lineup notes performances by Def Leppard, Nickelback, and Shinedown, with CoastTV also noting Rob Zombie on the 2025 bill and Pollstar News highlighting Motley Crue.

Despite a high-profile debut, organizers announced on November 6, 2025, that the festival would not take place in 2026. According to CoastTV, officials with the Town of Ocean City stated at the time that two planned headliners had dropped out of the 2026 event, creating booking challenges that made it difficult to finalize a lineup that met fan expectations. In September 2026, promoters confirmed the festival had resolved its scheduling hurdles and would return in May 2027.

Boardwalk Rock is part of a broader live music strategy at the Maryland beach resort. The event shares its footprint with two other major C3 Presents productions: Oceans Calling and Country Calling. Pollstar News notes that the 2026 edition of Oceans Calling—which was slated to run September 25–27 with headliners Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons—was forced to cancel due to severe weather impacting much of the United States. In 2027, Boardwalk Rock, Oceans Calling, and Country Calling are all scheduled to operate as three-day events.

Ticketing, Presale Dates, and Venue Amenities

Fans looking to attend the 2027 festival will have multiple ticketing tiers to choose from, available in both 1-Day and 3-Day formats. A ticket presale begins on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET via boardwalkrockfest.com. Organizers stated that the lowest-priced General Admission (GA) tickets will be offered during the first hour of the presale, followed by a general public onsale at 11:00 a.m. ET for any remaining inventory.

Beyond standard General Admission, the festival offers three upgraded hospitality tiers:

  • GA+: Includes festival admission plus access to a private lounge with seating and shade, air-conditioned restrooms, complimentary water, a dedicated bar with drinks for purchase, and concierge services.
  • VIP: Offers dedicated viewing areas at every stage, including an elevated viewing platform at the Main Stage. VIP passholders also receive access to two VIP lounges featuring private bars, air-conditioned restrooms, relaxed seating, and locker and mobile charging unit rentals.
  • Platinum: Provides front-of-stage viewing access at all stages, a dedicated festival entry lane, and access to two Platinum lounges. The lounges feature complimentary full-service bars, all-day dining, complimentary lockers, mobile charging, and all lower-tier perks. (Note: While Loudwire cites air-conditioned restrooms for premium tiers, Pollstar News also mentions air-conditioned restaurants among the festival perks.)

All ticket tiers grant festivalgoers access to the Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, which sits directly inside the festival footprint, alongside local food vendors and the surrounding restaurants, bars, and shops lining the Ocean City Boardwalk.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Boardwalk Rock 2027 tickets go on sale?

The ticket presale starts on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET, featuring the lowest-price General Admission passes for the first hour. A public general onsale follows at 11:00 a.m. ET if tickets remain available.

Where exactly in Ocean City does the festival take place?

Media coverage describes the oceanside venue with varying degrees of specificity. While some outlets refer generally to the Ocean City beach and boardwalk, others specifically identify the grounds as the Ocean City Inlet and the adjacent Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, the same site used for the Oceans Calling festival.

Which bands are playing on which days?

Korn headlines Friday, May 14, supported by acts including Breaking Benjamin and The Prodigy. Bad Omens headlines Saturday, May 15, alongside Good Charlotte and Marilyn Manson. Iron Maiden closes the festival on Sunday, May 16, following sets by Alice in Chains and Judas Priest. Exact stage assignments and daily set times will be announced closer to the festival dates.

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