Jay-Z’s Made In America festival canceled for third consecutive year on the Parkway.
The Made in America music festival, organized by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, will not take place over Labor Day weekend for the third consecutive year. The absence of the festival from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway raises questions regarding its future, as organizers have failed to secure the necessary permits for this year’s event.
To hold such events, organizers are required to submit a permit application at least 90 days prior to the event. According to Joe Grace, a spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, the city did not receive an application for the Made in America festival. This significant deadline passing effectively cancels any plans for the festival in 2024.
In recent years, the festival, which typically attracted tens of thousands of fans from 2012 to 2022, announced its lineup in early June. This year, however, there has been no information released regarding performers or any related activities for the festival. The festival’s absence from the summer calendar coincides with the city’s broader planning efforts for major events, particularly the 2026 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of America.
Roc Nation, responsible for organizing the festival, did not respond to inquiries regarding the cancellation. Previous years saw the festival’s cancellation under various circumstances. Last year, just weeks before the scheduled event, the festival was called off after Lizzo and SZA were announced as headliners. At that time, Roc Nation indicated that “severe circumstances outside of production control” were to blame, although no specifics were provided. The controversy surrounding Lizzo, following a lawsuit filed by her dancers, added further scrutiny to the situation.
The 2023 cancellation marked another setback, as the festival has faced interruptions previously, including a suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The event resumed in 2021 and 2022 with high-profile headliners, including Lil Baby and Justin Bieber in 2021, followed by Bad Bunny and Tyler, the Creator in 2022. As of now, uncertainty looms around the future of Made in America, leaving fans to wonder if and when the festival will return to its Philadelphia home.
The ongoing developments surrounding the festival leave a noticeable void in the local music scene, particularly for those looking forward to the cultural celebration that Made in America has historically provided.
