5 Shocking Times Bonnaroo Was Canceled: The Unbelievable Truth Behind The 2025 Washout

The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, one of the most beloved and iconic summer music events in the US, has a tumultuous history with Mother Nature. As of December 10, 2025, the most recent and devastating news to rock 'The Farm' in Manchester, Tennessee, was the mid-festival cancellation of the 2025 event, leaving thousands of fans heartbroken and major headliners unsung.

This article dives deep into the shocking truth behind the recent cancellations, exploring the unprecedented weather events that forced organizers to shut down the party, the full refund process for ticket holders, and the festival's resilience in the face of disaster. The 2025 cancellation is now a legendary, albeit tragic, chapter in Bonnaroo lore.

The Unprecedented 2025 Bonnaroo Cancellation: A Day-One Washout

The 2025 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for June 12–15, was expected to be a triumphant return to form, boasting one of the most diverse and star-studded lineups in its history. However, the event was abruptly and completely canceled on Friday, June 13, 2025, just one day into the four-day experience, due to severe and relentless weather conditions.

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The official word from organizers cited "significant and steady rainfall" and "extreme weather conditions" in the Manchester, Tennessee, area. This intense precipitation led to extensive flooding across the festival grounds, making the site unsafe for the continuation of the festival.

The Mega-Lineup That Never Was

The mid-festival shutdown meant that the vast majority of the highly anticipated acts were unable to perform. The disappointment was particularly acute for fans eager to see the festival's major headliners and main-stage performers scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

• Friday Headliner: Tyler, the Creator
• Saturday Headliner: Olivia Rodrigo
• Sunday Headliner: Hozier
• Thursday Headliner: Luke Combs (The only headliner who was able to perform on Thursday, June 12, before the cancellation)

Other major entities and artists scheduled to perform but ultimately canceled included: John Summit, Glass Animals, Avril Lavigne, Dom Dolla, Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Fisher, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cage the Elephant, and many more. The loss of these performances fueled the strong fan reaction, with many attendees feeling "beyond gutted" at the disruption.

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The Bonnaroo Cancellation History: A Pattern of Disaster

While the 2025 washout was a shock, it was not the first time Bonnaroo has been forced to cancel or reschedule. The festival's history is marked by several near-misses and two other complete cancellations, establishing a concerning pattern where external forces—namely weather and global events—have shut down the music.

1. The 2021 Flood: Hurricane Ida's Devastation

The most recent complete cancellation prior to 2025 occurred in 2021. The festival was originally scheduled for June, then rescheduled to September 2–5, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, just days before the event was set to begin, the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through Middle Tennessee. The resulting heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding across the festival grounds, a site known as 'The Farm' in Manchester.

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Organizers were "absolutely heartbroken" to announce the cancellation, as the grounds were deemed completely unusable and unsafe for festival-goers, staff, and artists. The 2021 cancellation reinforced the vulnerability of the site to extreme weather.

2. The 2020 Global Pandemic Shutdown

Like virtually every major music festival worldwide, Bonnaroo was forced to cancel its 2020 edition due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was part of a global effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, marking a necessary but disappointing pause for the long-running festival.

3. The 2025 Mid-Festival Shutdown

The 2025 event stands out as the most painful cancellation, as it occurred *after* the gates had opened and the music had begun. The initial heavy rains on Thursday, June 12, escalated into a severe weather threat by Friday, June 13, forcing the complete evacuation and closure of the site.

This mid-festival closure resulted in logistical chaos for attendees who had already set up camp and invested in the full four-day experience, leading to intense media coverage and a scramble for refunds.

What Happened to Bonnaroo 2024?

It is important for fans to note that the 2024 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival was successfully held without cancellation. The festival took place as scheduled, proving that Bonnaroo can and often does proceed without major weather issues. The 2024 success makes the 2025 failure all the more frustrating for the Bonnaroo community. The 2024 event featured headliners like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, and Fred Again.., maintaining the festival's reputation for eclectic lineups.

Bonnaroo 2025 Refund Details: What Ticket Holders Need to Know

Following the significant disruption of the 2025 event, Bonnaroo organizers quickly addressed the financial impact on attendees. The refund process was a critical point of focus, especially after the initial shock wore off.

After an initial period of uncertainty, Bonnaroo announced a commitment to a 100% full refund for all ticket holders. This full refund covered the cost of the festival ticket itself, as well as any associated camping passes and add-ons purchased directly through the official vendor, Front Gate Tickets.

The process was designed to be automatic: refunds were to be processed to the original method of payment within a specified timeframe, generally around 30 days from the cancellation announcement. This move was widely praised by the community as a responsible action following a force majeure event.

Entities and Key Takeaways from the Refund Process

• Refund Amount: 100% Full Refund
• Covered Items: Festival Tickets, Camping Passes, and Add-Ons
• Purchase Platform: Front Gate Tickets (official vendor)
• Processing Time: Expected within 30 days
• Reason: Severe Weather and Flooding (Force Majeure)

The Future of Bonnaroo: Resilience and Safety

The repeated weather-related cancellations in 2021 and 2025 have raised serious questions about the long-term viability and safety protocols of the festival grounds, 'The Farm.' Event organizers are under increasing pressure to implement more robust infrastructure to handle the growing threat of extreme weather, a reality of the ever-changing climate.

Despite the setbacks, Bonnaroo has a reputation for resilience. The festival's commitment to safety, as stated in their "rain or shine" policy with a caveat to "pause the show if safety is an issue," ultimately dictated the 2025 decision. Fans remain hopeful for the future, looking forward to the next scheduled event and the return of the magical, life-changing experience that Bonnaroo is famous for.