Alabama Music Festival Canceled After Venue and Date Changes

Organizers cite 'difficult decision' to cancel Magic City Flow Fest in Birmingham

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The new hip-hop festival Magic City Flow Fest, originally scheduled for October 2025 at Legion Field and later moved to May 2026 at Sloss Furnaces, has been canceled by organizers. The decision comes after the festival underwent several changes to its location and date, and follows the cancellation of another music festival, Iron Hills Country Music Festival, that was planned for the same venue in October 2025.

Why it matters

The cancellation of Magic City Flow Fest is a setback for Birmingham's music scene, which had been anticipating the new hip-hop festival. It also raises questions about the viability of hosting multiple large-scale music festivals in the city, especially with rising production costs and softer-than-expected ticket sales cited as factors in the cancellation of the Iron Hills Country Music Festival.

The details

Magic City Flow Fest was initially announced about a year ago, with plans to host the event on October 18, 2025 at Legion Field as a 'kickoff party for Magic City Classic Week.' The lineup was later revealed, featuring artists like Kevin Gates, Sexyy Red, Flo Milli, Rick Ross, Waka Flocka Flame, and Ying Yang Twins. However, the festival later announced a venue change to Sloss Furnaces and a date change to May 9, 2026, citing community feedback. One of the headliners, Sexyy Red, also dropped out at that point. Ultimately, organizers have now confirmed the festival has been canceled, citing a 'difficult decision' but believing it is 'the right one for this season.'

  • Magic City Flow Fest was originally planned for October 18, 2025 at Legion Field.
  • The festival's venue was later changed to Sloss Furnaces.
  • The date was pushed from October 2025 to May 9, 2026.
  • The festival has now been officially canceled by organizers.

The players

Magic City Flow Fest

A new hip-hop festival that was planned to take place in Birmingham, Alabama.

Johnny Grimes

One of the prime organizers behind Magic City Flow Fest, as well as the owner of the WorkPlay concert venue and entertainment center in Birmingham.

Daniel Kyle McCartney

One of the organizers behind Magic City Flow Fest.

Chad Johnson

One of the organizers behind Magic City Flow Fest.

Sexyy Red

A headliner who was originally scheduled to perform at Magic City Flow Fest but dropped out when the festival's date was changed.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Organizers have stated they will be sharing additional details directly with ticket holders regarding the cancellation of Magic City Flow Fest.

The takeaway

The cancellation of Magic City Flow Fest and the earlier cancellation of the Iron Hills Country Music Festival highlight the challenges of hosting large-scale music festivals in Birmingham, including rising production costs and lower-than-expected ticket sales. This raises questions about the long-term viability of the city's music festival scene.