It’s hard to believe we’re already gearing up for CMA Fest.
It feels like 2026 just started yesterday, but here we are at the end of March and just a little over two months away from the biggest country music festival in the country.
CMA Fest returns to Nashville this year on June 4-7, 2026, and if you’ve never been to Music City for the annual event it’s hard to describe just how massive it really is. Not only are there the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium featuring some of the biggest names in country music, but there are also a ton of free stages around downtown Nashville, meet and greets, and pop up performances from artists throughout the week.
All told, hundreds of artists will perform in Nashville during CMA Fest, and a vast majority of the shows will be free to fans – if you know where to be.
A couple weeks ago, CMA Fest unveiled the lineup for their nightly shows at Nissan Stadium, which will be the final year in the old stadium before the Tennessee Titans open their new, $2 billion covered stadium right next door in 2027.
This year’s main stage at Nissan Stadium will feature performances from Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Deana Carter, Ella Langley, Gretchen Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, The Red Clay Strays, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Shaboozey, Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top.
And along with the headliners, The Band Perry and Stephen Wilson Jr. will also be performing on the platform stage inside the stadium during the evening shows.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, many people come to CMA Fest every year and never set foot in Nissan Stadium, choosing instead to only hit up the free shows downtown throughout the day. And today, the festival announced the lineup for six additional stages, including one free stage that’s brand new for 2026.
The Chevy Riverfront Stage, which is the most popular of the free stages and always fills up to capacity, will feature a stacked lineup including Ashley Cooke, Braxton Keith, Carter Faith, Charles Wesley Godwin, Chase Matthew, Chayce Beckham, Cooper Alan, Dasha, Drew Baldridge, Dylan Marlowe, ERNEST, Ian Munsick, Josh Ross, Kaitlin Butts, Kameron Marlowe, Lauren Alaina, Mackenzie Carpenter, Maddox Batson, Marcus King, Max McNown, Midland, Molly Tuttle, Nate Smith, Priscilla Block, RaeLynn, Redferrin, Russell Dickerson, Shane Smith & The Saints, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tigirlily Gold, Tucker Wetmore, Ty Myers, Tyler Braden, Vincent Mason and Waylon Wyatt.
The Dr Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park, located just outside Ascend Amphitheater, will feature performances from Angie K, Billy Dean, Blanco Brown, Canaan Smith, Cody Hibbard, Craig Campbell, Dave Fenley, Drake Milligan, Emily Ann Roberts, Erin Kinsey, Greylan James, The Jack Wharff Band, John Morgan, Kaylee Bell, Kaylee Rose, Kolby Cooper, Late Night Thoughts, Leanna Crawford, Melissa Etheridge, Noeline Hofmann, Pam Tillis, Pecos & the Rooftops, Shaylen, Travis Bolt, Travis Denning, Ty Herndon, Tyler Farr, Uncle Kracker, The War And Treaty and Willow Avalon.
The Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park, located just across from the Country Music Hall of Fame and right beside Bridgestone Arena, includes a lineup of Adrien Nunez, Alana Springsteen, Ashland Craft, Austin Snell, Bellah Mae, Caylee Hammack, Chase McDaniel, Colt Ford, Dax, Drake White, Frankie Ballard, Graham Barham, Hannah McFarland, Jade Eagleson, Karley Scott Collins, Kelsey Hart, Lanie Gardner, Lauren Watkins, Mack Geiger, Madeline Merlo, Mae Estes, Maggie Antone, Mark Wills, Melanie Dyer, Neal McCoy, Owen Riegling, Shane Profitt, Sister Hazel, Tayler Holder, Walker Montgomery and Willie Jones.
The Good Molecules Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza will feature Abbey Cone, Alex Lambert, Alexandra Kay, Atlus, Ava Hall, Belle Frantz, Blake Proehl, Brad Cox, Bryan Andrews, Cassidy Daniels, Cody Lohden, Eli Winders, Elizabeth Nichols, Gareth, Jacob Hackworth, Jamie MacDonald, Jason Scott & The High Heat, Jenna Davis, John Foster, Julia Cole, Just Jayne, Kevin Powers, The Kruse Brothers, MaRynn Taylor, McCoy Moore, Myles Morgan, Preston Cooper, Scoot Teasley, Sophia Scott, Stella Lefty, Timmy McKeever, Trey Lewis, Tyce Delk, Tyler Nance, Wesko and Will Moseley.
And new for 2026, the the Wrangler Remix Stage inside Fan Alley will feature performances from Alli Walker, Aniston Pate, Ashley Kutcher, Benny G, BODHI, Bottomland, Brooke Lee, Carson Wallace, CECE, Chancey Williams, Chandler Walters, Clayton Mullen, Cole Goodwin, Dalton Davis, Emily Nenni, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, Hayden Blount, Hayden Coffman, Highway Home, Hogslop String Band, Jake Banfield, Jay Webb, Kat Luna, Lil Man J, Lily Meola, Matt Cooper, Payton Smith, ROME from Sublime with Rome, SKEEZ, Sons of Habit, Sterling Elza, Trey Pendley, Tyla Rodrigues and The Wilder Blue.
That’s a ton of music.
Of course planning your schedule and trying to see everybody you want to catch can be a daunting task, but with so much to choose from, it’s easy for fans of any kind of country music to find artist both new and old to fit their tastes…if you can handle the crowd and the heat.
