CMA Fest Nashville Guide
Plan your CMA Fest trip with guides to tickets, lineups, stages, Fan Fair X, packing, transportation, safety tips, and Nashville events during country music’s biggest week.
Start Here: CMA Fest Planning Guides
Start with the essentials: festival details, bag rules, packing tips, transportation, safety and Fan Fair X.
First time heading to CMA Fest? These practical safety tips will help you plan for crowds, phone service, ID, hydration, meetups, and leaving Nissan Stadium.
Getting around CMA Fest takes planning, from Uber and Lyft pickup spots to shuttles, parking, walking routes, and leaving Nissan Stadium after the show.
Planning your CMA Fest trip? This practical packing guide covers the essentials I bring for hot days, rainy nights, crowded stages, phone charging, snacks, autographs, and more.
Heading to CMA Fest? Here’s what to know about the clear bag policy, approved bag sizes, prohibited bags, luggage rules and what to carry downtown.
The 2026 CMA Fest TV special will air June 25 on ABC, with Riley Green and Lara Spencer hosting the three-hour primetime event filmed in Nashville.
CMA Fest Lineup, Schedule and Stages
Find the latest details on CMA Fest performers, stage schedules, daytime concerts, Nissan Stadium shows and free events happening throughout the week in Nashville.
See the CMA Fest 2026 free stages, downtown locations, artist highlights and tips for planning your daytime festival schedule.
See the CMA Fest 2026 Riverfront Stage lineup, location, Riverside Retreat details and tips for planning your day in downtown Nashville.
See the CMA Fest 2026 Nissan Stadium lineup, nightly schedule, entry tips, bag policy and planning advice for the festival’s biggest concerts.
Plan your perfect CMA Fest on Thursday, June 5, 2026. Find performances, events, and more.
Get ready for CMA Fest 2026 with everything you need to know about tickets, dates, stages, and making the most of your country music-filled weekend in Nashville.
Fan Experiences, Meet and Greets, and Events
Find the extra CMA Fest events that happen beyond the main stage shows.
The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating CMA Fest 2026 with Opry House and Ryman Auditorium shows, free plaza concerts, backstage tours, and special events across Nashville.
Country For A Cause returns to Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on June 3 with T.G. Sheppard, Kelly Lang, Neal McCoy, Mark Wills and more benefitting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Spotify House returns to CMA Fest 2026 with three days of free performances at Ole Red Nashville
Melody Place will host its first-ever Sunset Lounge showcase during CMA Fest week with Sara Evans, Katharine McPhee, Jackie Evancho, Pia Toscano, and Braden Hull at Four Seasons Hotel Nashville.
Dustin Lynch is bringing his fan-favorite Pool Situation back to Nashville during CMA Fest week with music, surprise guests, and rooftop party moments
The 12th Annual Event features country music legends coming together for a great cause.
See the lineup for this fan-favorite event.
View the 2026 Sunday Mornin’ Country Concert lineup.
A complete guide to CMA Fest fan club parties, including how to get access, what to expect, and a chronological list of events as they’re announced. Updated regularly to help fans plan their CMA Fest week.
Get ready for some friendly competition and country music fun! Craig Campbell’s Celebrity Cornhole Challenge returns in 2026.
What Is CMA Fest?
CMA Fest is the world’s largest country music festival, held every summer in downtown Nashville. The multi-day event features hundreds of artists performing across major stages, riverfront venues, and pop-up spots throughout Music City.
Every June, fans from around the world descend on Nashville for daytime discovery shows, nighttime stadium concerts, fan experiences, and surprise appearances - making CMA Fest one of the most exciting weeks of the year for country music lovers.
Stages & Venues
CMA Fest takes place across multiple iconic Nashville locations, each offering a different experience - from massive nighttime concerts to intimate daytime sets.
Nissan Stadium – Nightly headliner shows
Riverfront, Broadway, and fan-focused daytime stages
Read: CMA Fest Stages & Venue Guide
Lineups & Schedules
Artist lineups and daily schedules roll out in phases leading up to CMA Fest. I track:
Official lineup announcements
Daily stage schedules
Last-minute updates and changes
Read: CMA Fest Lineup & Schedule Guide
Meet the Artists & Fan Experiences
One of the biggest reasons fans attend CMA Fest is the chance to meet country artists up close. From official fan fair signings to surprise pop-ups, there are multiple ways to interact with artists throughout the week.
Read: How to Meet Country Singers at CMA Fest
(Fan signings, pop-ups, meet-and-greets & insider tips)
CMA Fest by Year
Looking for coverage from a specific year? I archive my CMA Fest guides so fans can revisit past lineups and plan ahead.
Planning CMA Fest?
Bookmark this page and check back often - it’s your one-stop CMA Fest hub for tickets, stages, schedules, travel tips, and everything you need to know before heading to Nashville.
Get ready for CMA Fest 2026 with everything you need to know about tickets, dates, stages, and making the most of your country music-filled weekend in Nashville.