Myrtle Beach keeps a lively calendar year round, from spring golf tournaments to summer beach concerts and autumn seafood festivals. Below are the recurring 2026 happenings worth planning a trip around, each with its own dates and vibe.
Kicking off the summer tourist season, the Sun Fun Summer Concert Series runs weekly from June 5 through August 30, 2026 along the Boardwalk and at Broadway at the Beach. Expect free evening performances from tribute bands, beach music groups, and regional country acts, paired with fireworks on select Fridays. The series traces its roots back to the historic Sun Fun Festival and remains one of the most family-friendly ways to spend a warm evening. Bring a beach chair, grab dinner from a nearby boardwalk vendor, and settle in for sunset shows most weekends. Parking fills quickly near the SkyWheel, so arriving early or walking from a nearby hotel is recommended during peak weeks in July.
Held right on the sand, the Carolina Country Music Fest returns for June 11 to June 14, 2026, drawing major touring country acts to a beachfront stage near the Boardwalk. Multi-day passes grant access to daytime pool parties, autograph sessions, and nighttime headline sets, while local bars host official after-parties throughout downtown. Because the festival draws visitors from across the Southeast, hotel rates spike and rooms sell out months ahead, so early booking is strongly recommended. Between sets, the beach itself becomes an extension of the festival grounds, with fans wading in the ocean during breaks. It is the single biggest music draw of the Myrtle Beach summer and a bucket-list stop for country fans.
Every March, Myrtle Beach honors its long-standing ties to Canadian snowbirds with the Canadian-American Days Festival, running from roughly March 7 to March 15, 2026. Expect free concerts on the boardwalk, fireworks, maple-themed treats, and hockey-adjacent street events celebrating the thousands of Canadian visitors who winter in the area. Local hotels and restaurants join in with discounts and themed specials. It is a low-key, family-friendly way to bridge the end of winter and the start of the spring season, and a good excuse to stroll the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk before peak-season crowds arrive. Live music stages pop up near the SkyWheel, and many events are free to attend, making this an easy add-on to any early spring visit.
One of the biggest motorcycle rallies on the East Coast, Myrtle Beach Bike Week takes over the Grand Strand from roughly May 8 to May 17, 2026. Tens of thousands of riders converge for poker runs, custom bike shows, vendor rows, and live bands at venues up and down Ocean Boulevard. Traffic gets heavy and hotels book up fast, so reservations should be made well ahead of time if attending. Beyond the roar of engines, the event brings a festival energy with food vendors and evening concerts. Even non-riders often come out to watch the parade of custom builds. It is not for anyone seeking a quiet beach week, but it is a signature slice of Myrtle Beach culture each spring.
As the crowds thin and temperatures ease, the Myrtle Beach Seafood and Craft Beer Festival takes over Broadway at the Beach from October 9 to October 11, 2026. Local restaurants set up tasting booths featuring Lowcountry classics like shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and fresh oysters, paired with pours from regional breweries. Live music and cooking demonstrations run throughout the weekend, making it a relaxed way to sample the coast's culinary scene in one visit. Tickets typically include a tasting cup and sampling tokens, and lines are shortest during Friday's opening session. The event doubles as a soft farewell to the beach season before cooler weather sets in, with a distinctly local, unhurried feel compared to summer's bigger festivals.
Ringing in 2027, the Myrtle Beach New Year's Eve Beach Ball Drop takes place on December 31, 2026 at the Boardwalk near the SkyWheel. A giant lighted beach ball descends at midnight above a crowd bundled in coats, followed by fireworks over the Atlantic. Live bands and DJs play through the evening, and nearby restaurants offer prix-fixe dinner specials for the occasion. Unlike bigger-city countdowns, this one keeps a small-town, oceanfront charm, with families and couples mixing along the boardwalk rail. Arrive at least an hour early to claim a good viewing spot near the water, and dress warmly since coastal winter winds can cut through a light jacket quickly.
Tips for Events Calendar
- Book hotels months ahead for Bike Week and Carolina Country Music Fest — these two events sell out the Grand Strand fastest.
- Free boardwalk concerts and festivals get crowded on weekends, so arrive early for good spots and parking.
- Check official event pages close to the date since exact 2026 schedules can shift by a few days.
- Pack layers for the December 31 Beach Ball Drop — coastal nights are colder than daytime temperatures suggest.