Hangout Music Festival will not take place in 2026, following confirmation from Gulf Shores officials that the event’s organisers failed to meet the city’s application deadline. The cancellation, confirmed during a city council meeting on Monday evening, brings a temporary halt to one of the Gulf Coast’s most high-profile beach festivals, with plans now shifting to a 2027 return.

Mayor Robert Craft addressed the festival’s status directly, stating, “The Hangout Music Festival will not occur in 2026. We are already approving the event in 2027.” Craft added that organisers struggled to secure a lineup that aligned with the city's vision, saying, “They've got time now to pursue the type of talent we want on our beaches—to invite the right audience that we want.”

The announcement follows a significant shift in the festival’s identity. In 2025, Hangout was rebranded as Sand in my Boots, a country-focused event curated by Morgan Wallen, who also headlined. That edition leaned heavily into country and crossover acts, with Wallen joined by Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, Hardy, and others—marking a departure from the genre-diverse lineups that once featured Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and The Killers.

While Hangout is not permanently cancelled, its 2026 absence signals a reset as the city and organisers evaluate its direction. Craft made clear that future editions must reflect a different tone and demographic, distancing the festival from previous lineups and controversies. Work on the 2027 event is already underway, suggesting that Hangout will return—but likely with a new look, new leadership, and a revised musical identity.