Partner Press Release from Vail Valley Foundation
Vail, Colo., October 30, 2025- This Halloween season, the Vail Valley Foundation’s Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is delivering all treats and no tricks. The venue announced today that rock band O.A.R. will be returning to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater on June 19, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Amp Summer Concert series.
The multi-platinum-selling group has become a fan favorite in the Vail Valley, having performed at The Amp in both 2024 and 2025. This past summer’s performance drew such an enthusiastic response that they completely sold out the venue.
“O.A.R. has proven to be one of our community’s most beloved acts,” said Peter Blosten, Sr. Operations Director for the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. “Their energy and connection with our audiences is unmatched, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them back for a third consecutive year. This performance will give even more fans the opportunity to experience what makes O.A.R. shows so special.”
The Maryland-based band has spent the last three decades building one of music’s most dedicated fanbases through their electrifying live performances and genre-fluid sound. Since their formation in 1996, the group has created a signature style that weaves together rock, reggae, and folk elements, resulting in shows that feel like celebrations shared between the band and their audience.
The 2026 performance will include support from Gavin DeGraw, known for his early-2000s hits such as “I Don’t Want to Be” and “Chariot”, as well as rock band Phantom Planet, whose track “California” became the theme song for the TV series The O.C.
Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, November 7 at 10:00 a.m. Fans can secure their tickets at grfavail.com or by calling the box office at (970) 845-8497.
Concertgoers attending the 2026 performance will get to enjoy brand-new pavilion seating. The first phase of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater’s $19 million renovation is expected to be completed by spring 2026, featuring new myrtle green upholstered seats and enhanced hand railings.
This marks the beginning of a multi-phase transformation that will continue during off-season months, with future improvements including remodeled and expanded concessions, enhanced green rooms and dressing areas, upgraded acoustics and lighting, and a new multi-use studio and special event space. The complete renovation, part of the Vail Valley Foundation’s $72 million Empowering Possibility Capital Campaign, is slated to be finished by May 2028, positioning The Amp to deliver world-class experiences for generations to come.
About the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Each summer, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail plays host to an array of cultural and entertainment offerings, ranging from headliner music and comedy, to internationally renowned dance and classical music presentations, courtesy of the Vail Dance Festival and the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, to the free Tuesday night concerts of the Bulleit Hot Summer Nights series. In addition, community events annually grace the Amphitheater stage. The venue, named after President Gerald R. Ford and family, opened in 1987, and is operated by the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation.
Learn more at grfavail.com.
About the Vail Valley Foundation
The Vail Valley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit with a mission to provide leadership in arts, athletics, and education, and address community needs to enhance our valley as a place to live, work, and visit.
The organization’s work in education is through YouthPower365, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation which provides programs from early childhood to college and career to help youth reach their full potential and support youth and families every step of the way. The VVF puts on several annual events including the GoPro Mountain Games, Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup races, Vail Dance Festival, and Bulleit Hot Summer Nights and Town of Eagle ShowDown Town free concert series. The organization manages the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Village and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, hosting over 150 events annually. The VVF also operates Eagle River Valley Childcare, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation focused on enhancing early childhood education and development services across the community. The first initiative in Avon is a partnership with the Town of Avon, with donations eligible for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC).
Vail Valley Foundation is grateful for our cornerstone partners: Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek Resort Company, GoPro, Nature Valley, Constellation Brands, CELSIUS, Diageo, Lifetime Home Remodeling, and Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate.
To learn more, visit vvf.org.