After thirteen years of bringing country music fans together for a summer weekend of big-name performances, camping and community at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, Watershed will not take place in 2026. Organizers took to their official website and social media late in January to tell fans that the festival, long one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest three-day country music gatherings, will be taking a hiatus. In their message they expressed gratitude for more than a decade of shared music, memories and camaraderie but offered little explanation for the break and simply noted that “any future plans will be announced accordingly.”
The festival had grown into a regional staple since its debut, drawing tens of thousands of attendees from across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and beyond, and hosting a roster of artists that over the years included Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Old Dominion and Bailey Zimmerman. Each summer the three-stage event combined top tier country acts with camping, parties and local culture at the scenic Gorge Amphitheatre, creating one of the region’s most anticipated annual music experiences.
While the statement from Watershed’s organizers leaned toward appreciation and uncertainty about what comes next, there was no clear reason given for why the festival will pause for 2026. Local news coverage echoed that absence of explanation, reporting that details about why the break was necessary remain unspecified and that the hiatus may come as a surprise to fans and the local community alike.
The announcement has already sparked reaction online, including petitions urging organizers to reconsider or find a way to keep the festival alive this year and social posts from fans reflecting disappointment at the unexpected gap in the summer music calendar. These voices highlight the role the event has played not just as a concert series but as a notable cultural and economic moment for the region’s live-music scene.
At this point, Watershed’s future beyond the 2026 hiatus is unresolved. Organizers have reiterated that any plans beyond this year will be shared in time, but for now the festival’s pause leaves both “Shedders” — as its community calls itself — and the broader country music ecosystem wondering what comes next for one of Washington’s standout summer fixtures.