Boardwalk Rock Returns in 2027 with Iron Maiden, Korn, Bad Omens and Maryland’s Own Good Charlotte and Clutch
The Ocean City festival expands to three days, May 14–16, with more than 40 bands and a pair of home-state favorites. Ticket presale begins October 22.
Boardwalk Rock announced its 2027 lineup today, October 20, confirming Iron Maiden, Korn and Bad Omens as headliners for a three-day return to Ocean City, Maryland. Scheduled for May 14–16, the festival will bring more than 40 bands to three stages at the Inlet, with two stages on the beach and another along the Boardwalk.
After its inaugural weekend in 2025, Boardwalk Rock returns with an additional day and a lineup spanning heavy metal, alternative rock, pop-punk and more. Alice In Chains, Breaking Benjamin, Judas Priest, The Prodigy, Marilyn Manson and Cypress Hill are among the major names joining the headliners.
For Maryland fans, there are two more names worth circling: Good Charlotte and Clutch.
Good Charlotte’s Saturday appearance brings a Southern Maryland story to the Ocean City beach. Founded in Waldorf by twin brothers Joel and Benji Madden, the band grew from its Maryland beginnings into an internationally recognized name in pop-punk. Their place near the top of Saturday’s lineup gives the weekend a home-state connection alongside its national and international acts.
Clutch will represent another part of Maryland’s musical history on Friday. The band formed in Germantown in 1991, with members who met at Seneca Valley High School. Their mix of hard rock, blues and heavy grooves offers a very different sound from Good Charlotte, but the two share a starting point: Maryland communities where their music first took shape.
Together, their appearances give local fans something beyond a chance to see familiar names. They bring two distinct chapters of Maryland rock history to a festival taking place on the state’s own shoreline.
OC Shore Magazine covered both days of Boardwalk Rock’s 2025 debut, from the afternoon sets across three stages to Def Leppard’s Saturday-night finale and Nickelback’s Sunday closing performance. Below are a few of our favorite shots by Mike Detwiler Photography.
Some of the moments that stayed with us happened beyond the headlining sets: we stopped at the Rock & Recycle booth and visited HeartSupport, whose work connects music fans with mental health support. On Sunday, local guitarist Gavin Hades joined Bret Michaels onstage during “Nothin’ But a Good Time,” bringing a particularly personal moment of hometown pride to the weekend.
Our coverage also looked beyond the festival gates, at the restaurants, hotels and Boardwalk businesses welcoming fans before the traditional summer rush. That local connection remains part of what makes a beach festival here worth watching. The music happens at the Inlet, but the weekend reaches into the rest of town.
Readers can revisit our 2025 Day 1 + Day 2 coverage for a look back at the first year.
Friday, May 14
Korn headlines opening night, joined by 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 and SOiL.
Saturday, May 15
Bad Omens takes the headlining spot, with Good Charlotte, Marilyn Manson, Motionless In White, Bullet For My Valentine, Poppy, Tesla, Superheaven, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool, Sponge, Showing Teeth, Tetrarch and Asava also scheduled.
Sunday, May 16
Iron Maiden closes the weekend with its Run For Your Lives tour, alongside Alice In Chains, Judas Priest, Sleeping With Sirens, The Pretty Reckless, Down, The Warning, Loathe, The Hu, Apocalyptica, GWAR, Dirty Honey, The Flys and Mac Sabbath.
Between sets, festivalgoers will have access to Jolly Roger at the Pier within the festival grounds, along with festival food vendors and the restaurants, bars and shops inside the Boardwalk festival footprint.
It is a setting that lets a concert weekend feel distinctly like Ocean City. Fans can move between stages, stop for food along the Boardwalk and spend time at the pier, with the beach serving as the backdrop throughout.
With the event expanding from two days to three, visitors planning to stay for the full weekend should account for Friday’s performances when arranging travel and accommodations.
The presale begins Thursday, October 22, at 10 a.m. Eastern, offering access to the lowest-price General Admission tickets for one hour. The general sale follows at 11 a.m. Eastern, if tickets remain.
Ticket options include one-day and three-day General Admission, GA+, VIP and Platinum.
GA+ adds a private lounge with shade and seating, air-conditioned restrooms, complimentary water, concierge service and a private bar with drinks available for purchase.
VIP includes dedicated viewing areas at every stage, an elevated viewing platform at the Main Stage and access to two VIP lounges. Platinum adds front-of-stage viewing at all stages, two Platinum lounges with complimentary full-service bars and all-day dining, a dedicated entry lane, and additional amenities.
For presale registration, the complete ticket benefits and festival updates, visit boardwalkrockfest.com. Full ticket information is available at boardwalkrockfest.com/tickets.
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