10 Shocking Details About Morgan Wallen's Sand In My Boots Festival (Including The 2026 Cancellation)

The highly anticipated Sand In My Boots Festival, curated by country music superstar Morgan Wallen, is set to make a massive splash in the music festival scene in 2025, but the event is already making headlines for reasons beyond its star-studded lineup. This brand-new three-day music and beach vacation experience is scheduled for May 16–18, 2025, on the idyllic shores of Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The festival, which takes over the site previously occupied by the beloved Hangout Music Festival, has generated immense buzz, not only for its eclectic, multi-genre roster but also for a major, unexpected announcement regarding its future. As of today, December 13, 2025, the music world is reeling from the news that the successful first year will not lead to a return in 2026, making the upcoming 2025 event a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

The Sand In My Boots Festival: The Full Biography and Breaking News

The Sand In My Boots Festival is a new, ambitious music event conceived and curated by Morgan Wallen, one of the biggest names in contemporary country music.

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• Full Name: Sand In My Boots Festival (often referred to as Sand In My Boots Fest or SIMB)
• Curator/Founder: Morgan Wallen
• Inaugural Year: 2025
• 2025 Dates: May 16–18, 2025
• Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
• Venue Site: The former site of the Hangout Music Festival
• Music Genres: Country, Rock, Hip-Hop, Multi-Genre
• Ticket Status: The 2025 event sold out in a matter of hours, with tickets reaching some of the highest prices for any music festival.
• Major Update: The festival will not be returning in 2026, as announced by Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft in December 2025.
• Economic Impact: The sold-out festival brought an estimated 40,000 fans to Gulf Shores for its first year.

The Unprecedented 2025 Lineup: A Genre-Bending Masterpiece

What sets the Sand In My Boots Festival apart is its refusal to be pigeonholed into a single genre. Morgan Wallen’s vision was to create a truly eclectic beach party, blending his country roots with rock, hip-hop, and EDM elements. The 2025 lineup is a testament to this ambitious goal, bringing together artists who rarely share the same festival bill.

The headliners alone represent a powerful cross-section of modern music and country legends, guaranteeing a dynamic three-day experience.

The Headliners (The Big Four)

• Morgan Wallen: The festival's founder and headliner, bringing his massive catalog of chart-topping hits to the Alabama coast.
• Post Malone: A major multi-genre superstar whose presence underscores the festival’s commitment to diversity.
• Brooks & Dunn: Country music legends who add a foundational layer of traditional sound to the mix.
• HARDY: A contemporary country-rock powerhouse and frequent collaborator with Wallen, known for his high-energy performances.

The Supporting Cast: Country, Hip-Hop, and Electronic Entities

The depth of the lineup is where the topical authority of the festival truly shines, featuring a host of high-profile artists across multiple genres. This diverse curation is a direct response to the multi-genre trends in the modern music industry.

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Country/Rock Entities:

• Riley Green
• Bailey Zimmerman
• The War and Treaty
• ERNEST
• Nate Smith

Hip-Hop/Rap Entities:

• T-Pain
• Wiz Khalifa
• 2 Chainz
• Three 6 Mafia
• Moneybagg Yo
• BigXthaPlug

Electronic/DJ Entities:

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• Diplo

This mix—from the classic sounds of Brooks & Dunn to the electronic beats of Diplo and the trap anthems of 2 Chainz—is what made tickets for the 2025 event sell out in a staggering two hours, despite being one of the most expensive festivals on the circuit.

Why the 2025 Festival is Now the "Last Chance" Event

The most surprising and current piece of news surrounding the Sand In My Boots Festival is the announcement that it will not be returning to Gulf Shores in 2026. This decision, communicated by Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft, has left many fans and industry observers stunned, especially given the overwhelming success and demand for the 2025 event.

The festival successfully replaced the Hangout Music Festival, which had faced increasing criticism and community friction in its later years. The first-ever Sand In My Boots Festival was widely considered a resounding success, praised for its organization, crowd behavior, and positive civic reception, making the cancellation even more perplexing.

The mayor’s announcement in December 2025 confirmed that both the Sand In My Boots and the Hangout Music Festival will not be held in Gulf Shores in 2026. While the exact, long-term reasons for the termination of the agreement are complex and subject to ongoing review, the result is clear: the 2025 event is a definitive one-off experience in this location.

This news instantly elevates the status of the May 2025 festival from a debut event to a historic "last chance" gathering. For fans who secured tickets, they are now holding passes to a unique moment in music history—the only iteration of Morgan Wallen’s curated beach party in Gulf Shores. For those who missed out, the search for ticket resales will likely intensify, driven by the scarcity of this singular experience.

The Gulf Shores Experience: Beyond the Music

The festival's location in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is a crucial part of its appeal, offering attendees a full beach vacation experience alongside the music. The venue, situated directly on the white-sand beaches, provides a stunning backdrop for the performances.

The three-day event is designed to be immersive, encouraging attendees to enjoy the coastal environment, local amenities, and the vibrant atmosphere of the Alabama Gulf Coast. The festival is not just a concert series; it’s a destination event, combining a high-caliber music lineup with the relaxation and fun of a beach getaway. Entities like Harris Vacations and local businesses rely heavily on the influx of visitors, making the void left by the 2026 cancellation a significant concern for the region.

Whether the Sand In My Boots Festival finds a new home in the future remains to be seen. For now, all eyes are on May 16–18, 2025, for what is set to be one of the most memorable and, unexpectedly, final major music events on the Gulf Shores calendar.