At a glance: 38 Special’s upcoming shows
This guide summarizes 38 Special’s remaining 2026 shows and announced 2027 tour dates, including the rescheduled Rockin' in Paradise appearance. Use the schedule below to check the listed dates, cities, and venues.
- 2027 opener: 38 Special’s first listed 2027 show is January 16 in Immokalee, Florida.
- Festival return: The band is scheduled to play Rockin’ in Paradise in Miramar Beach, Florida, on October 8-9, 2027.
- Current album: The band is touring behind 2025’s Milestone, which features Jim Peterik and other guest contributors.
- Signature hits: 38 Special’s chart history includes “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” and “Rockin’ into the Night.”
Styx’s decision to invite back everyone from the canceled slate at Rockin’ in Paradise was good news for 38 Special. The band was among the acts scheduled to play earlier in the year when Hurricane Isaias disrupted the annual Florida-based music festival.
38 Special is now scheduled to play the rescheduled event in October 2027, along with more than half a dozen other newly confirmed stops. The schedule below lists the announced dates, cities, and venues, followed by a preview of 2027 music festivals and cruises. For additional information or tickets, visit 38 Special’s official website or styxparadise.com.
38 Special is touring behind 2025’s Milestone, which featured a reunion with longtime collaborator Jim Peterik, known for his work with Survivor. The album also includes contributions from Randy Bachman of Bachman-Turner Overdrive and the Guess Who, among others.
When Does 38 Special’s 2027 Tour Begin?
38 Special’s first listed 2027 tour date is January 16 in Immokalee, Florida, at Seminole Casino Hotel. The schedule also includes the band’s return to Rockin’ in Paradise that October.
38 Special’s 2027 tour begins on January 16 in Immokalee, Florida.
38 Special first entered the Top 40 with 1981’s “Hold On Loosely”; its parent album, Wild-Eyed Southern Boys, became the first of three consecutive platinum albums. The group earned nine Top 40 singles and four Top 10 hits, including 1982’s “Caught Up in You,” featuring original and current frontman Don Barnes.
Jim Peterik co-wrote “Caught Up in You,” “Hold On Loosely,” and 1980’s “Rockin’ into the Night,” which became 38 Special’s first charting single. The band’s many familiar hits can mean that some are performed as a medley in concert. “I guess it’s a good problem to have too many hit songs, right?” Barnes once memorably asked UCR.
38 Special also toured with Kansas last year. Before Milestone, the band’s most recent album had been 2004’s Drivetrain, the last to feature now-retired co-founder Donnie Van Zant. Donnie later joined his brother Johnny Van Zant to release 2016’s Red White and Blue: Live, featuring songs from their respective tenures in Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special.
38 Special also reached No. 6 on the Billboard singles chart with 1989’s “Second Chance,” sung by Max Carl. Other acts listed for Styx’s Rockin’ in Paradise appearance with 38 Special include Don Felder of the Eagles, Jefferson Starship, the Marshall Tucker Band, Tesla, and the Outlaws.
38 Special’s Remaining 2026 Shows
38 Special has three remaining 2026 entries in the schedule: Philadelphia and St. Louis in November, followed by two dates in Breaux Bridge.
The listed 2026 schedule includes three stops across four performance dates.
November 14 – Philadelphia, MS @ Center Stage at Pearl River Resorts
November 15 – St. Louis, MO @ River City Casino
November 20-21 – Breaux Bridge, LA @ Camp Margaritaville
38 Special’s 2027 Tour Dates
38 Special’s 2027 schedule runs from January through October and includes performances in Florida, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, and Iowa. The Miramar Beach dates are the band’s rescheduled Rockin’ in Paradise appearance.
The announced 2027 dates include a two-day Rockin’ in Paradise stop on October 8-9.
January 16 – Immokalee, FL @ Seminole Casino Hotel
February 5 – Biloxi, MS @ Beau Rivage Resort and Casino
February 26 – Lancaster, PA @ American Music Theatre
February 27 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Ocean Casino Resort
March 10 – Plant City, FL @ Florida Strawberry Festival
April 9 – Des Plaines, IL @ Des Plaines Theatre
April 10 – St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
July 30 – Britt, IA @ Hancock County Fairgrounds
October 8-9 – Miramar Beach, FL @ Rockin’ in Paradise
2027’s Biggest Music Festivals and Cruises
This gallery previews major 2027 music festivals and cruises and includes confirmed dates and lineups. Check the listed event details to compare what has been announced.
The gallery collects confirmed 2027 festival and cruise dates and lineups.
Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
Which 2027 tour date comes first?
38 Special’s first listed 2027 performance is in Immokalee, Florida, on January 16. The venue is Seminole Casino Hotel.
The earliest announced 2027 date is January 16 at Seminole Casino Hotel.
Where is 38 Special playing Rockin’ in Paradise?
38 Special is scheduled to play Rockin’ in Paradise in Miramar Beach, Florida, on October 8-9, 2027. The event was rescheduled after Hurricane Isaias disrupted the earlier festival.
38 Special’s Rockin’ in Paradise appearance is listed for October 8-9 in Miramar Beach.
Which 38 Special hits are mentioned?
The article names “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” “Rockin’ into the Night,” and “Second Chance.” The first three are associated with the band’s chart history, while “Second Chance” reached No. 6 on the Billboard singles chart.
These four songs represent the 38 Special hits highlighted in the article.
Who is appearing at Rockin’ in Paradise with 38 Special?
The listed guests include Styx, Don Felder of the Eagles, Jefferson Starship, the Marshall Tucker Band, Tesla, and the Outlaws.
The announced Rockin’ in Paradise lineup includes several additional bands and artists.
