It’s Official: No Punk Rock Bowling in 2026
A popular music and culture festival, Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival, won’t be happening in 2026 according to organizers. Which is a bummer to punks, rocks and bowlers.
Punk Rock Bowling is held every year on Memorial Day weekend at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Sorry, almost every year. Awkward.
Punk Rock Bowling has been described as a “punk rock family reunion.” Family reunions aren’t a viable business model, unfortunately.
Founded in 1999 by brothers Shawn and Mark Stern of the punk band Youth Brigade and BYO Records, the gathering began as a small bowling tournament for punk musicians and friends before evolving into a full-scale festival that typically draws thousands of fans from around the world.
Punk Rock Bowling celebrates the spirit of punk beyond music, blending live performances, late-night club shows, pool parties, and of course, an actual bowling competition.
The bad news about 2026 came via a social media post by the event organizers.
Here’s the post: “Hey Punk Rock Bowlers, We know you’ve been waiting patiently for news about the next PRB, and we want to thank you for that. Putting Punk Rock Bowling together takes an enormous amount of hard work and dedication all year long. Our 25th PRB anniversary this year was an unforgettable celebration, and we appreciate everyone who joined us. Without you, there is no festival. Life has thrown some unexpected challenges our way over the past several months, and we’re all living through difficult times. Sadly, it has become clear that there will not be a PRB in 2026. This has been an incredibly tough reality for all of us to face. PRB isn’t just a festival, it’s a family reunion. It truly breaks our hearts not to be there with you in 2026. Please continue to show love and support for your local bands, venues, and scenes; they are the lifeblood of punk rock. Because punk has never been just about music; it’s about resistance, solidarity, and community. We can’t wait to see you again in 2027.”
In case you’re one of those “TLDR” people: Not happening, and it’s always about money.
The organizers didn’t get into the specifics of why the event isn’t taking place, but the phrase “we’re all living through difficult times” adds a little drama for no good reason.
This nonsense about “living through difficult times” is a popular refrain, the data paints a far different picture. Or “paint” if “data” is plural. Please stay focused.
By almost every measurable standard, this is the best time in human history to be alive. Global life expectancy has more than doubled over the past century and child mortality has fallen by more than 60% since 1990. Extreme poverty has dropped from over 35% of the world’s population in 1987 to less than 9% today. Violent crime and homicide rates are historically low, and war deaths per capita are a fraction of what they were in the 20th century. Access to education, healthcare and technology has never been broader, and billions of people now have information, medicine and opportunities that were once reserved for the elite.
Why do people believe we’re enduring difficult times? Bad news gets clicks and votes. Bad news spreads faster than good, and progress is gradual, not dramatic.
The truth is that, statistically speaking, humanity has never been safer, healthier or more prosperous than it is right now.
Oh, yeah, we said it.
This blog is all about resistance to the resistance.
Anyway, no Punk Rock Bowling in 2026.
The Downtown Las Vegas Events Center hasn’t announced what will fill those empty dates now that Punk Rock Bowling has self-excluded.
Punk Rock Bowling is undeniably one of Las Vegas’ most distinctive annual festivals, blending rebellion, community and Vegas spectacle in one loud, sweaty, beer-spattered weekend.
Fingers crossed it will be back as promised, because Rolling Stone killed off Life is Beautiful like it was a fruit fly trying to get into a Captain Morgan pour spout. Or something.
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