Made In America Festival Cancels 2024 Event

Organizers of the decade-long annual Ben Franklin Parkway event announced its cancellation for 2024

Jay-Z has canceled his annual Made in America festival for the second year in a row. The festival announced the cancellation on social media and its official website Wednesday. A specific reason was not outlined, and a representative for Made in America referred questions back to the statement. “As purveyors of change, the Made In America executive production team is reimagining a live music experience that affirms our love and dedication to music and the work we do. We promise an exciting return to the festival,” the statement read, without providing a timeline for the festival’s return.

Additionally, the festival did not announce or put out a lineup before their recent Instagram post. “Since its inception, this groundbreaking festival has celebrated music and community — from creating a space for fans to connect, to uplifting local small businesses and shining a light on important causes. It has strived for accessibility, eliminating barriers through affordable tickets and location,” Wednesday’s statement said.

In August 2023, a month before the festival scheduled to take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with Lizzo and SZA as the headliners, Made in America announced the festival would not happen “due to severe circumstances outside of production control,” according to a statement then. “This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without immense deliberation,” the organizers said in 2023.

At the time, they said they were looking forward to returning the following year. When the festival abruptly canceled last year, then-Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed disappointment. However, he stated that the city would “look forward to bringing Made in America back and bigger than ever to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway next year.” A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker did not immediately return comment about this year’s cancellation.