The future of the Sand in My Boots Festival and the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for 2026 remains uncertain..

The decision hinges on ongoing discussions between the City of Gulf Shores, festival organizers, and PUBLIC INPUT.

Here’s a breakdown of the current situation & the factors influencing the decision based on available information

1. City Council and Franchise Agreement:

   • The Gulf Shores City Council must negotiate a new franchise agreement with AEG Presents for any festival to continue in 2026. Grant Brown, Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, emphasized that the success of Sand in My Boots in 2025 would influence whether the city extends the agreement and whether it will be for Sand in My Boots, Hangout Fest, or a hybrid model. Discussions are expected to consider a new contract for “three, five, or ten years.”
   • Mayor Robert Craft noted that the shift to Sand in My Boots was partly to address past concerns about Hangout Fest, such as noise and crowd behavior. The city aims to have more control over future lineups to align with community values, citing issues like “foul language” at past events.

2. Public Input:

   • Following the 2025 festival, Gulf Shores is actively seeking public feedback to shape the future of the event. Posts on X from local news outlets like FOX10 News and AL.com indicate the city is engaging residents to decide whether Sand in My Boots should return or if Hangout Fest should resume. This suggests community sentiment will play a significant role.

3. Festival Performance and Community Impact:

   • Sand in My Boots was praised for its economic boost and smoother execution compared to past Hangout Fests, with fewer arrests and a lineup that resonated with regional audiences. However, some city officials, like Councilman Gary Sinak, expressed concerns about crowd behavior and language, which could impact future approvals.
   • The city values the tourism revenue from large events (Hangout Fest historically drove shoulder-season tourism), but increasing beachfront development is shrinking the festival site, which may limit capacity or logistics for future events.

4. Organizer and Artist Involvement:

   • AEG Presents and Hangout Fest producer Reeves Price have confirmed that Hangout Music Festival will return in 2026, suggesting confidence in resuming the original brand. However, Morgan Wallen’s involvement in future festivals is uncertain, as he typically tours every other year, making annual headlining unlikely.
   • A post on X from @HollerCountry speculated that Sand in My Boots could become a recurring event due to its success, but this is not confirmed by official sources.

5. Community and Fan Sentiment:

   • Some fans and residents expressed concern on platforms like Reddit that Sand in My Boots might shift Hangout Fest toward a country-heavy focus, prompting a Change.org petition to preserve Hangout’s diverse lineup. However, organizers have emphasized that Sand in My Boots was a one-off, multi-genre event, and Hangout’s broader appeal will likely return.
   • The rapid sellout of Sand in My Boots (compared to slower sales for recent Hangout Fests) may push organizers to incorporate elements of Wallen’s curation into future events to maintain high demand.

Possible Outcomes For 2026

• Hangout Fest Returns: The most likely scenario, based on statements from AEG Presents and city officials, is that Hangout Music Festival will resume in 2026 under a new franchise agreement, reverting to its traditional multi-genre format.
• Sand in My Boots Returns: If public feedback and city council discussions favor Sand in My Boots for its economic success and regional appeal, it could return, potentially with a new headliner or co-organizer, as Wallen’s availability is uncertain.
• Hybrid or Rebranded Event: The city and organizers might negotiate a compromise, blending Sand in My Boots’s country-leaning, curated vibe with Hangout’s eclectic legacy, possibly under a new or dual branding.
• No Festival: If negotiations fail or community concerns (e.g., noise, crowd behavior) outweigh benefits, the city could pause large-scale festivals, though this is unlikely given the economic impact.

What you need to know 

As of May 22, 2025, Gulf Shores has not finalized whether Sand in My Boots will return or if Hangout Music Festival will resume in 2026. The city is prioritizing PUBLIC INPUT and post-festival discussions to determine the best path forward, with a new franchise agreement required for any event. Organizers are confident in Hangout Fest’s return, but the success of Sand in My Boots and its alignment with local audiences could influence a continuation or hybrid model. For the latest updates, check sandinmybootsfest.com or hangoutmusicfest.com, and follow local news outlets like AL.com or FOX10 News for announcements on public forums and city council decisions.

Did you attend? Did you work the event and/or was your business affected by the festival? Comment below on how you feel about Sand In My Boots returning!