Final month, extreme climate pressured the cancellation of Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Pageant, which was already underway. This was a complete nightmare for everybody concerned, and it was not with out precedent. It was the third time in 5 years that Bonnaroo, one in every of North America’s largest music festivals, needed to cancel, and it was clear that issues couldn’t hold going like that. Bonaroo planners began take into account the thought that they could transfer to a unique weekend. At the moment, nevertheless, the group behind Bonnaroo introduced that the competition will return to the identical location on the identical weekend subsequent 12 months — June 11-14 on the Farm in Manchester. Subsequent time, although, some issues might be completely different.
In an announcement posted on social media, Bonnaroo planners declare that this 12 months’s climate was a freak prevalence: “Climate consultants have confirmed that we noticed record-setting rainfall this spring and early summer season, making what we skilled extraordinarily unusual. All issues thought of, our conventional June timeframe stays essentially the most optimum time of 12 months for Bonnaroo.” As Steve Miller is aware of, “extraordinarily unusual” climate is changing into a complete lot extra widespread lately. However the Bonnaroo group can also be planning to spend hundreds of thousands enhancing the competition’s campgrounds and different areas, hopefully making them higher capable of face up to that sort of climate. They’ve additionally promised to cease utilizing the campground areas that have been most affected by flooding. Right here’s the complete announcement:
We’ve been taking your suggestions to coronary heart over the previous few weeks as we plan enhancements and speak about what’s subsequent for the competition. And now, it’s time to share these plans with you:
BONNAROO WILL RETURN TO THE FARM JUNE 11-14, 2026!
Some issues will change, and a few will stay the identical. Right here’s what you possibly can count on in 2026:
• Campsites situated in areas most affected by flooding won’t be utilized. It will lead to a diminished capability on The Farm (extra dancing house).
• Tenting entry and programming in Outeroo will start on Wednesday.
• We’ll kick issues off Thursday night on the What Stage with an epic welcome get together. All different Centeroo phases might be programmed in full Friday by Sunday along with your conventional Centeroo Expertise.
• The The place within the Woods UFO Stage might be making its touchdown in Centeroo. It will take the place of the Infinity Stage and have late evening DJs and dance events. The The place within the Woods house will proceed to function a leisure haven in Outeroo.
• Centeroo and the caliber of artists you count on from us will stay similar to earlier years.
After the cancellation from Hurricane Ida in 2021, we consulted with drainage and land administration consultants to enhance situations on The Farm within the occasion of heavy, sustained rain. We created a multi-million-dollar multi-year plan and have been tackling initiatives post-festival every year. These enhancements have helped, however there may be nonetheless extra work to do.
Within the 2025/2026 low season we’ll be dedicating a further multi-million-dollar funds and initiating enhancements that prioritize the campgrounds and different areas affected by the acute climate in 2025. A few of these initiatives will embrace reseeding the property, persevering with to extend entry roads throughout the campgrounds, including extra drainage and reinforcing main water runoff pathways.
We admire your suggestions on future Bonnaroo dates, and we heard you loud and clear that your robust choice is to maintain Bonnaroo in June.
Climate consultants have confirmed that we noticed record-setting rainfall this spring and early summer season, making what we skilled extraordinarily unusual. All issues thought of, our conventional June timeframe stays essentially the most optimum time of 12 months for Bonnaroo.
See you in 2026 ⛺️🌈 pic.twitter.com/j3mZqzQQuR
— Bonnaroo (@Bonnaroo) July 17, 2025
