The Strokes, Pitbull and Alanis Morissette will headline the 2027 Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona. But with Major League Baseball facing a potentially lengthy labor stoppage, there’s a significant question surrounding the annual Spring Training music festival: What happens if there’s no baseball?
The ninth edition of Innings Festival will return to Tempe Beach Park and Arts Park from February 26–28, 2027, featuring more than 30 musical acts over three days.
Pitbull will headline Friday’s performances, joined by 5 Seconds of Summer, Train, 4 Non Blondes and Shaggy. Saturday’s lineup features The Strokes, Pierce the Veil, Interpol and Yellowcard, while Alanis Morissette closes the festival Sunday, along with The Neighbourhood, Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon and Passion Pit.
As always, baseball will be part of the festivities, with appearances by former MLB players including Darryl Strawberry, David Justice, Dexter Fowler, Nelson Cruz and Rollie Fingers. Former pitcher Jake Peavy will host the All-Star Jam, while Ryan Dempster returns with his popular Off the Mound show.
But will there be Spring Training?
Innings Festival has traditionally been an excellent complement to a Spring Training vacation, allowing fans to spend their afternoons watching baseball before heading to Tempe for an evening of live music.
However, the 2027 edition comes with considerable uncertainty.
Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, 2026, and owners and players remain deeply divided over several economic issues, particularly the owners’ push for a salary cap. A lockout is widely expected, and there is growing concern that a prolonged work stoppage could delay or cancel Spring Training.
That’s a particularly significant issue for Innings Festival, which has built its identity around the annual arrival of baseball fans in Arizona.
Despite that uncertainty, organizers have moved forward with announcing the festival and its ticket sales. Thus far, they have offered no public guidance about whether the event would proceed as scheduled if Spring Training were canceled.
Of course, the musical performances themselves are not dependent on MLB games taking place. But for fans who traditionally combine the festival with a Spring Training vacation, the possibility of traveling to Arizona without any baseball is an important consideration. And for those fans who would only want to go to Phoenix if Spring Training was happening, you should think twice about purchasing non-refundable concert tickets until the labor situation is resolved or the event organizers issue information about any refund policy.
Doubleheader Digest: Other sporting events that weekend in Phoenix
Fortunately, baseball isn’t the only sporting attraction in the Phoenix area during Innings Festival weekend.
The Phoenix Suns will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, February 27, at 7 p.m. at Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix.
College sports fans will also have several options. Arizona State’s hockey team will host Omaha at Mullett Arena in Tempe on Friday, February 26, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 27, at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, Grand Canyon University will host San José State in men’s basketball on Friday, February 26, at 9 p.m. at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix.
These events offer additional entertainment opportunities for visitors, regardless of whether Spring Training takes place.
Check out our Ultimate Sports Calendar for Phoenix for more information on what’s happening in Phoenix that weekend.
Tickets go on sale Thursday
The Innings Festival presale begins Thursday, October 29, at 10 a.m. Arizona time. Fans can register through the official Innings Festival website to receive a presale access code, with any remaining tickets available to the general public afterward.
Single-day, two-day and three-day ticket packages will be available, along with several premium seating and hospitality options.
We’ve attended Innings Festival multiple times and have always found it to be a terrific addition to a Spring Training vacation. The combination of baseball, live music and Arizona’s typically excellent February weather makes for a memorable weekend.
The 2027 lineup certainly gives fans plenty of reasons to return. The bigger question, at least for baseball fans, is whether there will be any Spring Training games to attend while they’re there.
