Morgan Wallen returns Sand in My Boots to Gulf Shores for 2027
The festival lineup features Ella Langley and Kings of Leon as headliners, while longtime collaborators Hardy and Bailey Zimmerman are absent from the bill.
By David Marshall ·
Morgan Wallen’s Sand in My Boots festival took a break in 2026 due to logistical issues, but the event is returning next year. The organizers released the full lineup on Monday, Nov. 2, confirming the festival will run from May 21 to 23, 2027. The event will again take place in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This marks the second iteration of the festival, which held its inaugural event in 2025.
The 2027 bill features three main headliners: Morgan Wallen, Ella Langley, and Kings of Leon. The lineup maintains the genre mix that defined the first year, blending country with rock, rap, and electronic dance music. Fans can expect performances from a variety of artists across these styles rather than a strictly traditional country card.
Ella Langley’s position on the lineup reflects a rapid change in her career trajectory. In 2025, she appeared in the middle of the bill, shortly after releasing her first No. 1 single, a duet with Riley Green titled “You Look Like You Love Me.” At that time, she was preparing to release “Choosin’ Texas,” a track that propelled her to major superstardom and led to the success of her album Dandelion. For the 2027 event, she has moved up to the headlining slot. Her presence alongside Wallen suggests a high likelihood they will perform their duet “I Can’t Love You Anymore.”
The absence of certain familiar names drew immediate attention from observers. Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman, and Ernest all performed at the 2025 festival, and Hardy served as a headliner that year. None of the three appear on the 2027 lineup. Hardy is a frequent writing partner and close friend of Wallen, making his omission particularly noticeable to fans.
Tour schedules for the three missing artists do not show public conflicts for the May 2027 dates. Hardy and Ernest are scheduled to play Stagecoach the month before the Gulf Shores event. Bailey Zimmerman is booked for the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival a few days after Sand in My Boots concludes. Despite the open dates, artists often commit to tours months in advance, which may explain why these names are not yet confirmed or announced.
The lineup also lacks veteran country acts from the 1990s and 2000s. The 2025 festival featured Brooks & Dunn as headliners, providing a bridge to older country audiences. The 2027 bill does not include similar legacy performers such as Tracy Lawrence, Travis Tritt, Gretchen Wilson, or Jo Dee Messina. Instead, the veteran presence is limited to acts like Midland and Cole Swindell, who represent the current era of country music.
The festival continues to emphasize new and emerging talent. The 2027 lineup includes several newer acts such as Vincent Mason, Hudson Westbrook, Gavin Adcock, and Avery Anna. Electronic music is also more prominent this year, with headlining support from Norwegian DJ Kygo and the duo Empire of the Sun. Kings of Leon anchors the rock side of the lineup, continuing the festival’s multi-genre approach.
The return of the festival follows a year where it was canceled. The 2026 hiatus was attributed to red tape and franchise agreements rather than a lack of interest from Wallen. With the 2027 dates set, the event moves forward with a roster that prioritizes current chart-toppers and cross-genre appeal over traditional country heritage.
