Willie Nelson’s 4th Of July Picnic Returns To Austin, Texas: “I’m 92 Years Old & I’ll Be There So You Have No Excuse”

Willie Nelson is bringing his iconic 4th of July Picnic back to the state of Texas.

It’s a summer staple for the living country music legend, and the annual concert has taken place in some form or another since 1973 after Willie Nelson was inspired to host the yearly event. It only took one year off in 2020, and I’m sure you can figure out why that was the case. But it got started back up in 2021 and has been going strong ever since.

In 2024, the 4th of July Picnic was briefly moved to Camden, New Jersey. Generally, the celebratory concert has typically always taken place somewhere in the “Lone Star State,” with occasional relocations throughout the years (it was even in South Bend, Indiana one year). Now, it’s heading back to Austin, Texas and will find a home at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater inside the Circuit of the Americas on July 4, 2025.

The 4th of July Picnic is a beloved event, and in regards to the concert’s success, its longevity speaks for itself. In its early years, the concert was plagued with safety and security issues, but that never stopped those in attendance from having a good time. Nor did it stop those who were performing from letting loose – maybe a little too loose. It’s well documented that Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings – especially when they were together – liked to partake in a number of different “performance enhancers.”

And that’s the thing about the 4th of July Picnic… it always draws out some of the biggest acts to perform alongside Willie Nelson. As I just mentioned, there are always country music greats in the lineup. Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard have all played the summer time concert at one point. And artists from other genres, like Jimmy Buffett and even the Grateful Dead have also hitched onto the 4th of July event.

This year, fans can expect to see Willie Nelson headline (he’s done so for the past 11 years) with Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Asleep at the Wheel and Tami Neilson also performing. It’s a stellar lineup, and as the Red-Headed Stranger said himself, fans really can’t say they’re “too busy” to make it to the show:

“I’m 92 years old and I’ll be there so you have no excuse. I look forward to bringing back my annual 4th of July Picnic to the city I love and sharing this special event with all my Austin fans.”

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic and Fireworks is returning to Germania Insurance Amphitheater on July 4! Line-up includes Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Asleep At The Wheel and Tami Nelson. Tickets on sale Friday, March 7 at 10AM at… pic.twitter.com/MtlaE4BQ65

— Germania Insurance Amphitheater (@GermaniaAmp) March 3, 2025

And that’s not the only show that the 92-year-old will be playing in 2025.

Earlier this year, Nelson announced a tour that would be celebrating 10 years of the Outlaw Music Festival by going out on the road with a very talented group of artists with him, including Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Turnpike Troubadours, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The Red Clay Strays, Charles Wesley Godwin, Willow Avalon, Waylon Payne and many more.

The full lineup is listed below, along with the openers that will be at each stop.