Know Before You Go: Oceans Calling 2026
Oceans Calling Festival returns to downtown Ocean City, MD September 25–27 2026 with three stages, dozens of artists and a festival footprint stretching through downtown. Here’s what to know before you go.
Oceans Calling is almost here, bringing Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons, Gwen Stefani, O.A.R., Matchbox Twenty, Hootie & The Blowfish, Ludacris and more to Ocean City for three days of music, food and Boardwalk festival life.
With three stages running throughout the weekend, the key is knowing the layout before you arrive and having a loose plan for the artists you do not want to miss.
KNOW THE LAYOUT
Oceans Calling is centered around three stages: The Sea Bright Stage, presented by Verizon, sits toward the North end of the festival grounds, while the Rockville Stage, presented by Allianz, is at the South end. The Carousel Stage, located near Jolly Roger at the Pier, sits between them. Sea Bright and Carousel performances frequently overlap, while many Rockville sets are staggered between them. If you plan carefully, you can fit quite a few performances into one day without constantly racing across the grounds.
The Boardwalk itself is also part of the festival footprint, with local businesses incorporated into the event area.
Multiple entrances are located along the Boardwalk, along with a separate Premium Entrance on Caroline Street. Entrances to the North of Somerset Street are historically less crowded than others.
The festival map includes designated GA+, VIP and Platinum areas, along with accessible viewing locations, ASL viewing areas, medical stations, restrooms, water stations, food, bars, merchandise, lockers and guest services throughout the grounds.
There is also a designated No Blanket / No Chair / Towel Zone near the Sea Bright Stage, so check the map before deciding what you plan to bring.
Transportation information is also included, with Beach Bus pickup and drop-off shown along Baltimore Avenue and a West Ocean City shuttle location marked on the festival map. Bike parking, the box office and a merchandise pop-up are located outside the main festival footprint between 1st and 2nd Streets.
CHECK THE OFFICIAL GUIDE BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Even if you already have the schedule saved to your phone, make the festival website your last stop before heading downtown. There you will find the official guide, parking and rideshare information, FAQs, bag policy, what is and is not allowed inside the grounds, accessibility information, transportation details and other important festival policies. It also includes a link to the official Festiverse App, which is worth having on your phone for the weekend.
And if you have not bought a ticket yet, Sunday tickets are still available. Sunday’s lineup includes Mumford & Sons, Matchbox Twenty, My Morning Jacket, O.A.R. and Friends, CAAMP, Hanson, The Head and the Heart, OK Go and more.
OUR BEST ADVICE: PLAN THE MUST-SEES, THEN WANDER
Pick a few artists each day that are non-negotiable, check where they are playing and build the rest of your day around them. Give yourself time to move between stages, especially Sea Bright and Rockville, and know where your entrance and transportation options are before you arrive. But do not schedule every minute. Part of what makes Oceans Calling different is that it happens right on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Leave yourself time to explore, stop into a local business, catch an artist you did not plan on seeing and enjoy the festival beyond the headliners.
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