Rolling Loud, the hip-hop music festival founded in Miami and long associated with South Florida’s cultural identity, won’t return to Miami Gardens this year. Instead, the festival will take its only U.S. edition of 2026 to Orlando, with the event scheduled for May at Camping World Stadium.
The decision marks a significant shift for a brand that helped position Miami as a global hub for hip-hop culture.
ALSO READ: What are the two global events that Miami will host in 2026?
The Rolling Loud festival moves from Miami to Orlando
Festival co-founder and co-CEO Matt Zingler said the move was driven primarily by accessibility and long-term growth. “With Orlando, we’re able to be more accessible for fans, expand our footprint and think long-term,” he said. Before settling at Hard Rock Stadium in 2018, Rolling Loud was staged in Wynwood and later at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, growing rapidly alongside the city’s rise as a music and lifestyle destination.
Co-founder and co-CEO Tariq Cherif emphasized that the festival’s evolution now extends well beyond South Florida. In recent years, Rolling Loud festival has expanded internationally, hosting events in countries such as India and Australia. “As the brand has grown globally, it made sense to bring everything into one definitive U.S. show and build the ultimate flagship experience,” Cherif said. The Orlando edition will be the festival’s sole U.S. stop in 2026, while international dates remain part of its calendar.
ALSO READ: Archer Troy Miami joins Royal Caribbean
The announcement comes as Hard Rock Stadium faces an already packed schedule without Rolling Loud. The venue, owned and operated by the Miami Dolphins, is set to host the college football national championship game later this month, Formula 1-related events in May, and FIFA World Cup matches in July. Representatives for the stadium and the city of Miami Gardens did not respond to requests for comment.
The reaction of the fans
Reaction from fans, particularly in Miami, has been mixed. On social media, some expressed disappointment at the festival’s departure from the city where it was born. Others cited logistical concerns, including the four-hour drive to Orlando and competition with other major music festivals in Florida during the same period.
Founded in 2015 by Zingler and Cherif—both Miami natives—Rolling Loud began as a one-day event and grew into one of the most influential hip-hop festivals in the world. Artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Future and Travis Scott have headlined the festival, alongside Miami-based acts including Rick Ross, City Girls and Denzel Curry, reinforcing the city’s imprint on the brand.
For Orlando, landing Rolling Loud represents more than just another major concert. It signals the city’s growing role as a national entertainment destination capable of hosting large-scale, youth-driven cultural events traditionally associated with Miami. The move underscores a broader shift in Florida’s live music landscape, as festivals increasingly prioritize centralized locations, infrastructure and regional accessibility over historical ties alone.
