Massive Gulf Coast Music Festival Given Clearance to Return in 2026

(KMDL-FM) When the calendar flips over to May in 2026, you can bet many Louisiana students and parents will be ready to fast forward to the end of the school year and the annual sojourn to the beach.

That usually won't happen in places like Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, New Iberia, or Shreveport until closer to Memorial Day, but next year in May, beachgoers from Louisiana could have an incentive other than sun and sand.

READ MORE: Warning: Flesh-Eating Bacteria Discovered at Popular Beaches

READ MORE: Beach Town Warns Guests to "Cover Up" Issues Fines for Underdressed

One of Louisiana's favorite places to get that sun and sand is on the fabulous Redneck Riviera. That's the stretch of beach that runs from L.A. ( Lower Alabama) to the beaches of the Florida Panhandle. And perhaps the unofficial capital of the Red Neck Riviera just might be Gulf Shores in Alabama.

What Is The Redneck Riviera?

Through the years, Gulf Shores has grown from a sleepy little seaside community filled with local seafood joints and boat charters to a more cosmopolitan example of what beach living is supposed to be about. You can still find a lot of the locally owned seafood places, but there are a lot of chain restaurants and lots and lots of multi-story condos blocking your view of the water.

Still, despite the urbanization of the Gulf Shores, it has remained a popular place for people to just come and hang out. Hence, the festival of the same name, the Hangout Music Festival. That event is historically scheduled on the third weekend in May in Gulf Shores.

Will Morgan Wallen Host a Festival in Gulf Shores Next Year?

Last year, the festival's eclectic mix of pop, hip hop, urban, country, and Americana acts was replaced by a more traditional country crowd. In fact, the festival was renamed the Sand in My Boots Festival after headliner Morgan Wallen's big hit of the same name.

Get our free mobile app

The local business people in Gulf Shores loved the Sand in My Boots crowd compared to the "Hangout Festival" crowd. Business owners reported a more affluent and well-behaved crowd last year compared to previous years.

Will There Be a Hangout Music Festival in 2026?

Last night, the Gulf Shores City Council voted unanimously to clear the way for the festival in 2026. What we don't know is if the festival will lean more toward the Hangout Festivals of old, with a variety of musical acts, or if the festival will lean more heavily on country stars and performers.

The country version of the festival certainly sold more tickets more quickly, and as we mentioned, there was less police involvement noted or necessary, and most businesses in and around the festival reported a nice increase in business. So, don't be too surprised if the Hangout Music Festival once again yields to something a little more country next May.