Made in America festival promised a comeback, but Philly return is unclear
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Organizers have promised an "exciting return" of Jay-Z's Made in America festival, but so far it's crickets regarding whether it will happen in Philly this year.
Why it matters: The concert would draw thousands of people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day, injecting tourism dollars into the city during an otherwise sleepy holiday weekend.
State of play: As of Monday, festival organizers had not submitted any permit applications to the city, Natalie Faragalli, a spokesperson for Philly's office of special events, tells Axios.
- Roc Nation, which organizes the event, did not respond to Axios' several requests for comment about the festival.
Yes, but: Roc Nation still has time to apply.
- The city's standard permit policy requires submissions at least 90 days in advance of the event, giving organizers an early June deadline.
Catch up quick: The festival has gone dark for two consecutive years.
- In 2023, organizers unexpectedly canceled the festival weeks before it was scheduled to take place.
- Then, in 2024, organizers said they had looked forward to returning that year before nixing the event again.
- Last year, organizers said they were "reimagining a live music experience" and promised to bring it back.
Reality check: They never said when the festival would return.
Flashback: The concert launched in 2012 and has generated more than $180 million in economic activity for the city, festival producers have estimated.
- The only other time the festival was canceled was in 2020 due to the pandemic.
What they're saying: Dustin Dove, vice president of the Fairmount Civic Association, a nonprofit for the neighborhood where the festival happens, tells Axios he was in the dark about the festival's future this summer.
- Although residents have had some complaints about the festival in the past, "we've gotten used to Made in America happening."
A spokesperson for the mayor's office didn't return Axios' requests for comment.