Ocean City, Maryland, is preparing for the return of Boardwalk Rock, and the 2027 edition is bringing a major mix of rock and heavy music back to the waterfront. After a one-year pause, the festival is returning with an expanded three-day format, a packed lineup and a combination of established metal legends and contemporary alternative acts.

The announcement also raises the stakes for the festival’s comeback. With the Ocean City Inlet serving as its setting once again, Boardwalk Rock will bring music to the beach and boardwalk in May 2027, while fans prepare for a ticket presale scheduled for October 22, 2026.

Boardwalk Rock 2027 Dates, Location and Headliners

Boardwalk Rock 2027 will take place from Friday, May 14, through Sunday, May 16, 2027, at the Ocean City Inlet in Ocean City, Maryland. Produced by C3 Presents, the festival is scheduled to feature more than 40 bands across three stages.

The headline schedule has now been announced, with a different major act closing each day.

Festival date	Headliner
Friday, May 14, 2027	Korn
Saturday, May 15, 2027	Bad Omens
Sunday, May 16, 2027	Iron Maiden

The event will feature two stages on the beach and another along the boardwalk. Beyond the performances, attendees will have access to food vendors and businesses within the festival footprint, as well as Jolly Roger at the Pier.

The lineup stretches across heavy metal, hard rock, alternative rock, nu metal, punk, electronic music and hip-hop crossover. That range gives the three days distinct identities while keeping rock and heavier sounds at the centre of the event.

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Full Boardwalk Rock 2027 Lineup by Day

The announced bill brings together internationally recognised rock and metal acts alongside alternative performers and artists from several related genres.

Friday, May 14: Korn Headlines Opening Day

Friday’s lineup features:

• Korn
• Breaking Benjamin
• The Prodigy
• Cypress Hill
• Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators
• Clutch
• Sevendust
• Theory of a Deadman
• Filter
• All Them Witches
• Corrosion of Conformity
• Eve 6
• Local H
• Nonpoint
• Soil

Korn will headline the opening day, placing the California band at the top of a bill that combines several strands of rock and heavy music.

The group is closely associated with the nu-metal movement, and its presence gives Friday a strong connection to that era of American heavy music. The supporting acts broaden the day’s sound considerably.

Breaking Benjamin and Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators add established hard-rock names, while The Prodigy bring an electronic element to the programme. Cypress Hill contribute a hip-hop crossover presence, with Clutch, Sevendust, Filter, All Them Witches, Corrosion of Conformity, Eve 6, Local H, Nonpoint, Soil and Theory of a Deadman completing the bill.

Friday therefore brings together artists from different corners of the wider rock scene rather than concentrating on a single subgenre.

Saturday, May 15: Bad Omens Leads the Lineup

Saturday’s announced performers are:

• Bad Omens
• Good Charlotte
• Marilyn Manson
• Motionless in White
• Bullet for My Valentine
• Poppy
• Tesla
• Superheaven
• Buckcherry
• Drowning Pool
• Sponge
• Showing Teeth
• Tetrarch
• ASAVA

Bad Omens will headline Saturday, giving the middle day a contemporary heavy-music centrepiece.

The surrounding lineup connects newer branches of heavy and alternative music with established performers. Good Charlotte bring pop-punk to the bill, while Motionless in White, Bullet for My Valentine and Poppy add further variety to the day’s heavier sounds.

Tesla, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool and Sponge provide additional established names, alongside Superheaven, Showing Teeth, Tetrarch, ASAVA and Marilyn Manson.

The result is a Saturday programme that spans different generations of alternative and heavy music, with Bad Omens leading the day’s performances.

Sunday, May 16: Iron Maiden Closes Boardwalk Rock 2027

Sunday’s lineup includes:

• Iron Maiden
• Alice in Chains
• Judas Priest
• The Pretty Reckless
• Down
• Sleeping With Sirens
• The Warning
• Loathe
• The Hu
• Apocalyptica
• GWAR
• Dirty Honey
• The Flys
• Mac Sabbath

Iron Maiden will headline the final day, bringing the festival to a close on Sunday, May 16. The band’s appearance was announced as part of its wider 2027 touring plans.

The closing bill also includes Judas Priest and Alice in Chains, making Sunday particularly notable for fans of established heavy metal and alternative rock.

The Pretty Reckless, Down, Sleeping With Sirens, The Warning, Loathe, The Hu, Apocalyptica, GWAR, Dirty Honey, The Flys and Mac Sabbath round out the announced performers.

With Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Alice in Chains sharing the same day’s programme, the final bill connects established names from different periods of rock and metal with a wider selection of contemporary and genre-crossing acts.

Why Boardwalk Rock’s 2027 Return Matters

Boardwalk Rock began in 2025, making the 2027 event its second scheduled edition. Organisers and Ocean City officials decided not to hold the festival in 2026, resulting in a one-year pause.

The latest announcement confirms the event’s return with three days of music and more than 40 bands. The expansion from its original two-day format also marks a change from the festival’s debut.

Boardwalk Rock’s first edition took place in May 2025 at the Ocean City Inlet. Its lineup featured major rock acts including Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Nickelback and Shinedown.

That inaugural event established the festival as a large-scale rock gathering in Ocean City. The 2027 edition builds on that beginning with three headline performances and a broader programme covering multiple rock-related genres.

Ocean City Inlet: Beach Stages, Boardwalk Attractions and More

The setting remains an important part of Boardwalk Rock’s identity.

The Ocean City Inlet places the festival alongside the city’s beach, waterfront and established boardwalk attractions. According to the official festival website, two of the three stages will be positioned on the beach, while the third will sit along the boardwalk.

Food vendors and local businesses within the festival footprint will also form part of the event environment.

Another attraction is Jolly Roger at the Pier, which is located within the festival grounds. Attendees will have access to the amusement park’s rides and games between performances.

Restaurants, bars, shops and other businesses along the Ocean City Boardwalk will add to the surrounding festival atmosphere. The combination of live music and nearby attractions gives the event a setting that differs from a conventional venue-based concert.

Boardwalk Rock 2027 Tickets: Presale Time, General Sale and Packages

The Boardwalk Rock 2027 ticket presale is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET.

According to Live Nation, the presale offers access to the lowest-price general-admission tickets for one hour. A general public onsale is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET if tickets remain after the presale.

The official festival website carries the same information. Availability and pricing may change as tickets are purchased, so fans should consult the official festival ticket page for the latest purchasing details.

The announced ticket categories are:

• 1-Day General Admission
• 3-Day General Admission
• GA+
• VIP
• Platinum

Each option offers a different level of access and amenities.

GA+ includes a private lounge with shade and seating, air-conditioned restrooms, concierge service, complimentary water and a private bar where drinks are available for purchase.

VIP includes dedicated viewing areas, VIP lounges, private bars, air-conditioned restrooms, seating, lockers and mobile charging options.

Platinum offers front-of-stage viewing at all stages, alongside Platinum lounges, complimentary full-service bars, all-day dining, air-conditioned restrooms, complimentary lockers and mobile charging. Platinum ticket holders will also have access to a dedicated festival entry lane.

Fans considering the event should check the official ticket page for current prices and availability rather than assuming that initial ticket offers will remain available.

Boardwalk Rock and Oceans Calling: What’s the Difference?

Boardwalk Rock shares its Ocean City location with Oceans Calling, another festival produced by C3 Presents.

Oceans Calling’s 2026 edition was scheduled for September 25–27 but was cancelled because of severe weather affecting the region. The cancellation followed weather-related concerns involving the Ocean City area.

Some reporting suggests Oceans Calling is expected to return during its usual period in 2027. However, that expectation should not be treated as a confirmed festival date unless organisers make a formal announcement.

For Boardwalk Rock, the position is clearer: its May 14–16, 2027 dates and lineup have been officially announced.

The two events share an Ocean City setting, but their schedules should be treated separately. Boardwalk Rock’s confirmed May dates are the key detail for fans planning around its 2027 return.

A Rock Festival Spanning Generations and Genres

The announced lineup brings together artists whose music represents different periods and styles.

Iron Maiden and Judas Priest are associated with generations of British heavy metal, while Korn is closely linked to the rise of nu metal in the United States. Alice in Chains bring a major name from Seattle’s alternative-rock movement, and Good Charlotte add pop-punk to Saturday’s programme.

Friday also reaches beyond conventional guitar-driven rock. The Prodigy bring electronic music to the bill, while Cypress Hill represent a group whose music has long crossed the boundaries between hip-hop and rock.

Meanwhile, Bad Omens, Motionless in White, Poppy, The Warning and Loathe represent contemporary branches of heavy and alternative music.

Rather than relying on one sound, Boardwalk Rock 2027 combines heavy metal, hard rock, alternative rock, nu metal, punk, electronic music and hip-hop crossover. The three-day structure gives those different styles room across separate daily lineups, with Korn, Bad Omens and Iron Maiden each leading a distinct day.

Boardwalk Rock 2027 at a Glance

Detail	Confirmed information
Event	Boardwalk Rock 2027
Dates	May 14–16, 2027
Location	Ocean City Inlet, Ocean City, Maryland
Producer	C3 Presents
Headliners	Korn, Bad Omens and Iron Maiden
Stages	Three
Performers	More than 40 bands
Festival features	Beach and boardwalk stages, food vendors and Jolly Roger at the Pier
Ticket categories	1-Day General Admission, 3-Day General Admission, GA+, VIP and Platinum
Presale	October 22, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET
General public onsale	11 a.m. ET if tickets remain after the presale

Following Updates From Rock Veterans
Festival lineups also offer a chance to catch established musicians whose touring plans are changing. Read our Lou Gramm touring retirement report for details about the veteran rock singer’s announced touring plans.

Conclusion

Boardwalk Rock 2027 is set to return to Ocean City after its 2026 pause with a three-day programme led by Korn, Bad Omens and Iron Maiden. The lineup combines established metal and rock acts with contemporary heavy and alternative performers, while the Ocean City Inlet setting adds beach stages, boardwalk attractions and access to Jolly Roger at the Pier.

With the festival scheduled for May 14–16, 2027, and its ticket presale set for October 22, the announcement establishes the main details for its comeback. Fans can consult the official festival website for ticket availability, pricing and any subsequent event updates.

Source and Research Disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided below, including the official Boardwalk Rock website, Live Nation’s announcement and relevant music-industry reporting. It reflects the information available in those sources and does not imply independent verification beyond the supplied material. Festival schedules, ticket prices, availability and other details may change before the event.

Sources

• Live Nation: Iron Maiden, Korn and Bad Omens to Headline Boardwalk Rock 2027
• Official Boardwalk Rock 2027 Website
• Pollstar: Boardwalk Rock 2027 Lineup Announcement
• Revolver: Boardwalk Rock 2027 Lineup and Daily Breakdown
• Consequence: Boardwalk Rock 2027 Lineup Announcement

Featured Image Credit: C3 Presents / Boardwalk Rock