Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will take a year off in 2027, according to an official announcement from organisers. The Manchester, Tennessee festival is pressing pause to allow its grounds, known as The Farm, to rest and recover following extreme weather events that disrupted recent iterations.
The Bottom Line
- The Hiatus: Bonnaroo will skip 2027 entirely, returning after grounds undergo a recovery period.
- The Catalyst: Extreme weather, including heavy rainstorms and saturated campgrounds, forced a cancellation in 2025 and impacted operations in 2026.
- Infrastructure Limits: Despite investments in 4.5 miles of new roadways and 135 acres of new grass ahead of the 2026 festival, the site needs a break to rest and recover.
Why The Farm Needs a Break Right Now
Bonnaroo organisers detailed the toll that extreme weather experienced over the past few years has taken on the Tennessee property.
Ahead of the 2026 festival—which featured headlining sets from The Strokes, Turnstile, Skrillex, and Noah Kahan—production teams invested in infrastructure. Organisers implemented upgrades, including improved drainage, 4.5 miles of new roadways, and 135 acres of new grass to strengthen The Farm’s resiliency.
With limited time to recuperate from years of storms—most notably the heavy rainstorm that hit on Sunday of the 2026 festival, following the cancellation of the 2025 event due to “record-setting rainfall”—the main venue needs a break to rest and recover.
A History of Weather Disruptions and Pandemic Hurdles
Bonnaroo’s relationship with severe weather has tested the production teams for years. The setbacks included 2020, when the festival was pushed back due to the Covid pandemic before being cancelled. The following year, it was called off due to rainfall.
In 2025, a lineup topped by Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier was cancelled due to “record-setting rainfall” causing unsustainable conditions for on-site campers.
| Year | Key Headliners / Status | Weather Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cancelled | Rainfall |
| 2025 | Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier (Cancelled) | Record-setting rainfall, unsustainable camping conditions |
| 2026 | The Strokes, Turnstile, Skrillex, Noah Kahan | Heavy rainstorm on Sunday |
| 2027 | Hiatus Announced | Recovery year for The Farm |
The Business Reality of Live Music Infrastructure
Organisers acknowledged the weight of the choice in their public statement, noting that “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.”
Looking Ahead to The Farm’s Return
For the community of festival-goers who make the pilgrimage to Manchester, an empty summer on The Farm will occur in 2027.
