Did You Hear That? The Ocean is Calling: Oceans Calling Music Festival 2026

From Twenty One Pilots to Matchbox Twenty, here is everything you need to know about the late-September festival. Words by Paige Fulkerson with photos by Taylor Regulski & more

Ocean City’s annual Oceans Calling Festival takes place next week on the coast of Maryland, and with their star-studded three-day lineup, you are not going to want to miss it. 

While the East Coast has festivals all summer long, ranging from New York’s Governors Ball to Washington DC’s All Things Go, Maryland added to the festival lineup on the East Coast in 2023, but it can be set apart by its stages literally being on the beach of Ocean City, lining the beach boardwalk with rock, country, and folk music next week. 

The first day of the three-day festival takes place on Friday, September 25th, with Dave Matthews Band and Hootie & The Blowfish headlining the festival on the Sea Bright stage presented by Verizon. Earlier in the day, artists Shaggy, Better Than Ezra, KT Tunstall, and Linka Moja will play the same stage, with Linka Moja kicking off the festival at 12:15 pm. Also kicking off the festival at the Carousel stage is Chef Robert Irvine along with Gavin DeGraw. While one can’t be sure what a renowned chef is doing at a music festival, one can only hope he cooks up some awesome food.

Headlining the Rockville stage, presented by Allianz, is Ludacris at 8pm. Additionally playing the Rockville stage are O.A.R., Everlast, Sons of Legion, and King Stingray. Following Chef Robert Irvine on the Carousel stage are Shwayze, Gavin DeGraw, Liz Phair, and Yellowcard. 

Chef Antonia Lofaso at OCF 2025 by Andrea Escobar Garcia

The following Saturday is easily the day to be at the festival, with single-day passes selling out insanely quickly. The headliners for Saturday are pop/rock icons Twenty One Pilots and Gwen Stefani. Knowing Twenty One Pilots’ massive fan base, fans will be queuing for the doors of the festival at the crack of dawn to then hang out at the Sea Bright barricade until the boys go on at 9:30 pm. Ahead of Twenty One Pilots and Gwen Stefani, Third Eye Blind, Everclear, Dishwalla, and The Criticals will play the Sea Bright stage. 

At the Rockville stage, the Goo Goo Dolls will headline at 8:15 pm, with 311, Violent Femmes, Goldford, and Cassandra Coleman playing the stage beforehand. Yet again, we have a chef opening up the Carousel stage at 12:30 pm on Saturday, with Chef Alex Guarnaschelli paired with Taylor Hanson of the band Hanson. Following artists playing the stage are American Authors, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dashboard Confessional, and All Time Low. 

Vampire Weekend at OCF 2025 by Chad Wadsworth 

The last day of the festival takes place on Sunday, September 27th with a more folk-focused lineup with headliners Mumford & Sons and CAAMP on the Sea Bright stage. Earlier in the day, Hanson, Jet, and Fastball will perform on Sea Bright. 

Opening the festival is Thesaurus Rex at 12:30pm on the Rockville stage, followed by Cory Wong, The Head and The Heart, O.A.R. and Friends, and Matchbox Twenty. Sunday’s chef is Chef Antonia Lofaso on the Carousel stage at 1:15pm with Nick Hexum of 311 followed by artists Susanna Hoffs, OK GO and My Morning Jacket.

The lineup for Oceans Calling Festival may seem overwhelming, but aside from the headliners, you’re not going to want to miss other artists like Corinne Bailey Rae, Cassandra Coleman, and Linka Moja, and 2000s icons Liz Phair, KT Tunstall, and Jet, so get there early and prepare for the East Coast weather. While bikinis and flip-flops might not be applicable in late September, Oceans Calling is surely the perfect way to end the summer with one last beach trip.

Green Day at OCF 2025 by Chad Wadsworth

For tickets and the full festival schedule, visit www.oceanscallingfestival.com