SeaWorld has announced its most ambitious coast-to-coast live music series for 2026, spotlighting hip-hop stars **Soulja Boy**, **Bow Wow**, and **Flo Rida** across parks in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio, despite ongoing protests from PETA targeting these performers. The series, running from late January through late summer and included with park admission, features more than 30 full-length concerts blending hip-hop, pop, rock, and other genres, with Annual Pass holders gaining season-long access.[1][3] According to AllHipHop, the lineup defies PETA’s campaigns against hip-hop artists following protests during Soulja Boy and Bow Wow’s July 2025 SeaWorld San Diego performances.[2]
The Orlando leg kicks off January 31 with **Flo Rida** at the Seven Seas Food Festival, followed by **Bow Wow** on February 7 and **Soulja Boy** with Baby Bash on March 27, as detailed in SeaWorld Orlando’s announcement via Amusement Today.[1] Additional hip-hop acts include Ying Yang Twins and Paul Wall on February 27, and the lineup extends with artists like E-40, Too Short, and Warren G at various parks.[2][3] In San Diego, **Bow Wow** is scheduled for June 20 alongside Dem Franchize Boyz during the Summer Spectacular Concert Series at Bayside Amphitheater, with **Soulja Boy** and Paul Wall set for July 25, confirmed by SeaWorld’s official site and local reports.[3][4][5] PR Newswire’s press release lists **Soulja Boy**, **Bow Wow**, Ying Yang Twins, and others as key performers in the national series, emphasizing a “broad mix of pop, hip-hop, rap” across the three locations.[3]
PETA’s opposition stems from prior activism, including signs at 2025 San Diego shows reading “Soulja Boy: YOUUUUUUUU Should Boycott SeaWorld” and “Bow Wow: Don’t Support SeaWorld’s Cruelty,” highlighting alleged animal abuse at the parks, per AllHipHop.[2] While PETA has not detailed 2026 protest plans, its history targeting hip-hop performers suggests continued pressure.[2] SeaWorld’s move marks one of its most rap-heavy seasons, with acts like Connor Price, Omar Courtz, and I Love The 90s Tour (Tone Loc, Rob Base, Young MC) adding to the diversity.[1][3]
This announcement underscores SeaWorld’s strategy to boost attendance through high-profile entertainment amid animal rights scrutiny, blending nostalgia-driven hip-hop with broader appeal to draw multigenerational crowds. The series positions early 2000s icons like **Soulja Boy**, **Bow Wow**, and **Flo Rida** central to the parks’ 2026 revival, potentially amplifying both fan excitement and activist responses.[2][3]
