ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest — the free, community-powered festival celebrating the collision of music, art, and NYC’s underground culture — returns for Summer 2026 with four weekends of programming, July 24th to August 16th.

Founded in 2017 by Max Power, the festival will once again transform Rockaway Beach into a beachside creative playground featuring emerging and established talent from New York City and around the world. Via the app-site maxpowerrockaway.com you can get this year’s ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest schedule/lineup as well as discover artists from previous years and curated favorites from the infamous Max Power. 

Since its inception, ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest has become a staple of New York City’s Rockaway Beach. Drawing from the ocean scene in the 1981 classic film “Clash of the Titans”, Max Power has chosen the Kraken as the ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest mascot. In the movie, the god of the sea, Poseidon, released “The Kraken” sea monster. 

Beach festival…  sea creature…  you get it…

Max Power

Max Power (Matt Preis) and his brother Mike Preis, who has played an integral role in helping organize the ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest 2026.

Rockaway Local legend Frisco Granda of Wakala and Depresion Tropical @depresiontropical666 @wakala.nyc always makes sure the sound is great and runs smoothly. Frisco has been an important part of the ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest team for many years.



“‘Release the Kraken’ seemed a fitting theme for the ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest. The Summer Fest should be thought of as a release of energy and creativity at Rockaway Beach,” says Max Power. “ROCK! AWAY! started as a love letter to Rockaway Beach: a place where DIY grit, art, and pure live energy collide,” said founder and director Max Power. “2026 is our biggest vision yet. We’re scaling up while keeping the soul intact: free shows for the community and the kind of beachside magic you can only find here.”
Uniting musicians, visual artists, local businesses, and thousands of beachgoers daily the 2026 programming will include multi-venue concerts, outdoor performances, art activations, and community-forward events across Rockaway Beach, with additional details and lineup drops to be announced via the official app site maxpowerrockaway.com

Key Highlights for 2026

Free festival across four weekends, July 24th through mid‑August 16th, at and around Rockaway Beach. Including NYC parks, The Rockaway Amphitheater, and local venues in the surrounding community.
Expanded partnerships with local businesses, venues, and community groups to enhance beachside programming and visitor experience.
Open calls for sponsors, investors, hotels/lodging partners, and vendors to participate in this year’s festival footprint.
App Site – Save your favorite bands // Scavenger Hunt info: maxpowerrockaway.com

Ways to Get Involved

Attend for Free: ROCK! AWAY! Summer Fest is a free event for all. Exact dates, schedules, and locations will be posted to the event calendar on the app site maxpowerrockaway.com. Create an account, and you can save events, videos, and follow artists as well as play the “Release the Kraken” Scavenger hunt. 
Join the Mailing List: https://www.rockawaysummerfest.com/contact
Sponsors or Investors: Brands seeking high‑impact exposure to thousands of daily beachgoers can request the pitch deck and schedule a meeting.
List Hotels & Lodging: Local and regional accommodations can be featured to help attendees stay near the action.
Become a Vendor: N.A. beverage, merch, and experience vendors are invited to apply.
Donate: Support free arts programming — contributions help pay talent and event costs. 

Follow and links, etc. 

See what the press has to say! https://www.rockawaysummerfest.com/press

App site for festival lineup (and more!): maxpowerrockaway.com

Website: rockawaysummerfest.com

Instagram: instagram.com/rockawaymusicfest instagram.com/maxpowerpresents