Watershed music festival canceled for 2026

GEORGE — The three-day Watershed country music festival, one of the major events at the Gorge Amphitheater near George, has been canceled for 2026. The venue is owned by Live Nation, and its owners said during a November presentation on company earnings that, at least for now, amphitheaters aren’t as popular as some other venues. 

“It’s turned out it seems to be a great stadium year, but there’s definitely been underperformance in the other venue sizes,” said Brandon Ross of LightShed Partners, asking Live Nation owners about company earnings through the third quarter.  

Live Nation President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino said stadium concerts were more popular than concerts in amphitheaters and arenas through the first three quarters of 2025. There’s also been a change in performer preferences, he said. 

“A lot of artists decided not to play arenas and amphitheaters and go for stadiums,” Rapino said. 

The company announced the cancellation Friday on the Watershed website, calling the cancellation a “hiatus.” Company officials did not answer requests for comment. 

“Any future plans will be announced accordingly,” the post said.  

Watershed was one of the main events at the Gorge each summer for 13 years.  

Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter said the cancellation won’t have much impact on the county, which receives money from ticket sales. But Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley said there will be an effect in Quincy. 

“Watershed is one of those Gorge events that always bring people to Quincy,” Haley wrote in answer to a question from the Columbia Basin Herald. “They will shop at the grocery store, dine in the restaurants, stay overnight in George. Any out-of-town business will be missed.”  

Some Gorge concerts resulted in a large influx of patients to Quincy Valley Medical Center, he said.  

“I think that has been stabilized because there is more onsite medical care at the Gorge,” Haley said.  

In answer to a question, Joe Berchtold, Live Nation president and chief financial officer, said the company had about 250 fewer amphitheater shows through the third quarter of 2025.  

“A big shift to stadiums,” he said. 

The 2026 Gorge concert schedule lists six shows, including EDM and jazz performer Griztronics, the Beyond Wonderland EDM festival, rocker Brandi Carlile and country singer and songwriter Chris Stapleton.