Punk Rock Festival Tour Canceled After Backlash to Promoter’s Trump Support

The Punk in the Park festival tour canceled all shows this week after a backlash to the promoter’s past support for President Donald Trump.

The tour had three shows scheduled for the first part of 2026: Pittsburgh, PA, April 18; Orlando, FL, May 2; and Vallejo, CA, May 23.

The punk festival first ran into trouble last year when some acts, including the Dropkick Murphys, pulled out of the tour after it was revealed that promoter Cameron Collins, the owner of Brew Ha Ha Productions, had donated less than $1000 in 2024 to Republicans and President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Cameron addressed the controversy at the time (excerpt):

…Like many Americans, my political views don’t neatly fit into a single box or party affiliation. I believe in fairness, humanity, free expression, and fostering unity among people. That’s how I’ve tried to live my life and conduct my business.

We live in a two-party system, and unfortunately, you must choose based on a few important issues that resonate with you. For me, those issues were the promise to end wars and refrain from entering new international conflicts, lower taxes, and stopping government overreach.

At the time, it boiled down to those points for me. I must admit that I haven’t been pleased with a great many of the current President’s viewpoints, opinions, and policies thus far, particularly with the recent ICE atrocities and the backtracking on the Epstein files being released as well as all the posturing with our allies around the world.

I think 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.

…It’s important to note that the festival has not and will not donate any of its proceeds to any political party. However, we do make significant donations to various charitable causes, such as Punk Rock Saves Lives and Big Brother Big Sister.

…Over the years, I’ve been proud to provide a platform for artists to connect with hundreds of thousands of fans. We’ve invested millions of dollars in artist guarantees, and I’ve never censored or restricted a band’s message or voice. Our track record speaks for itself.

None of that matters to the hateful left. After a boycott campaign forced acts to drop out of this year’s Punk in the Park, the tour was canceled:

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.

Before the tour was canceled, headline act the Dead Kennedys posted a statement saying the group would not play any more Punk in the Park shows, but would honor their commitment to scheduled appearances in Pittsburgh and Vallejo.

We’ve become aware that the owner of Brew Ha Ha Productions, the company behind Punk in the Park, made financial contributions in support of the Trump administration.

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.

Dead Kennedys have always stood firmly against authoritarianism, racism and fascism. That has not changed.

After these scheduled appearances, we will not be participating in future Punk in the Park events.

Dead Kennedy will no longer participate in future Punk in the Park events after becoming aware that its owner made financial contributions in support of the Trump administration.

However, the group will still play its scheduled 2026 dates, saying it "did not feel it would be… pic.twitter.com/RGacni3pTL

— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) February 24, 2026

Punk rock used to be about freedom. Now it is just as dictatorial as the culture it revolted against decades ago.

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