Punk In The Park is going dark. The multi-city punk-rock festival series has canceled all 2026 events, and according to a statement from organizers, the cancellation is due to the ongoing uproar over the owner's donation to the Trump campaign.
Last year Punk In The Park faced backlash after word got out that Cameron Collins, owner of the event's parent company Brew Ha Ha Productions, donated $225 to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. A handful of bands including Destiny Bond and Time Heist dropped off Punk In The Park lineups, Dropkick Murphys vowed to never book another Punk In The Park event, and a petition to shut down the fest circulated.
Collins defended his Trump donation at the time, arguing that the American two-party system is too narrow, decrying Trump's actions with regard to ICE and the Epstein files, and asserting that "we all probably have common ground on a lot of big issues like being anti-racism, anti-war, and the belief in human rights for EVERYONE, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other identity."
Collins' political leanings came back in the spotlight this week. The Dead Kennedys announced they had just become aware of his Trump support and would not be booking any further Punk In The Park events. However, they planned to honor their existing commitments to perform at the Pittsburgh and Vallejo installments of Punk In The Park out of respect for "our supporters who have already purchased tickets & made plans to attend these shows" — a move that drew ridicule from founding Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, who is no longer in the band. ("They’re taking the money $$$, and THEN pulling out?" he wrote in a statement to Stereogum.)
Today, Punk In The Park issued a statement announcing the cancellation of all 2026 festivals due to "the current climate surrounding the events." The statement continus, "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." Later in the statement, we're told they hope to bring back Punk In The Park someday.
Here's the full message:
IT'S WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE CANCELLATION OF THE PUNK IN THE PARK ROAD SHOW EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR 2026.
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.
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.
ALL TICKET HOLDERS WILL RECEIVE FULL REFUNDS AUTOMATICALLY AT THEIR ORIGINAL POINT OF PURCHASE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.
WE WANT TO SINCERELY THANK THE FANS WHO SUPPORTED US, THE BANDS WHO STOOD WITH US, AND THE CREWS WHO WORKED HARD BEHIND THE SCENES. YOUR BELIEF IN THESE EVENTS HAS MEANT MORE THAN YOU KNOW.WE HOPE THIS IS NOT THE END OF PUNK IN THE PARK, BUT RATHER A PAUSE WHILE WE REGROUP AND LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE.
Brew Ha Ha Productions also produces Punk In Drublic, Summer Roots, Silverado Showdown, Camp Anarchy, and other events.
