Punk in the Park festival cancelled amid artist boycotts
Travelling US festival Punk in the Park has been cancelled for 2026.
A string of artists recently bowed out of the event after discovering that Brew Ha Ha chief Cameron Collins, who runs Punk in the Park, had previously donated to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024.
The event was set to begin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before making stops in Orlando, Florida, and Vallejo, California. However, it will no longer go ahead.
In a statement, Punk in the Park explained, “It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the Punk in the Park road show events scheduled for 2026.”
The statement continues, “These shows were something we truly believed in, and we know how much they meant to many of you. Unfortunately, the current climate surrounding the events has created challenges that make it impossible for us to move forward in a way that delivers the experience our fans, artists, and partners deserve.”
It adds, “This is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved. Our goal has always been to bring people together through music, community, and shared passion — and it’s painful when circumstances prevent that from happening.”
They also thanked “the fans who supported us, the bands who stood with us, and the crews who worked hard behind the scenes”.
Punk in the Park went on to say that ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund for their tickets in the next week.
Earlier this week, Dead Kennedys issued a statement clarifying that while they will participate in 2026 Punk in the Park events, they will not appear at the festival in future years.
They shared, “Our first reaction was to cancel our upcoming appearances. However, we do not feel it would be fair to our supporters who have already purchased tickets & made plans to attend these shows.”
Their former frontman, Jello Biafra, attacked Dead Kennedys for their stance, stating, “The real Dead Kennedys would never have let this happen in the first place! One more sordid reason I don’t ever want to play with them again.”
Last year, after Collins’ support of Trump first emerged, Dropkick Murphys withdrew from the 2025 event, and the promoter issued a statement acknowledging his Trump support, while condemning “many of the President’s viewpoints, opinions, and policies thus far, particularly with the recent ICE atrocities and the backtracking on the Epstein files”.
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