American Currents: State of the Music 2026 at the Country Music Hall of Fame

The annual exhibit highlights artists, achievements, and significant developments that shaped country and roots-based music in 2025.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: February 19, 2026

Last Updated: September 6, 2026

The 2026 edition of American Currents: State of the Music is now open at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. The annual exhibit opened March 18, 2026, and runs through January 2027 in the museum’s ACM Gallery. It highlights artists, musicians, songwriters, performances, and major developments that shaped country and roots-based music in 2025.

American Currents 2026 Dates and Quick Facts

• Opening date: March 18, 2026

• Closing date: January 2027

• Location: ACM Gallery at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

• City: Nashville, Tennessee

• Admission: Included with museum admission

• Focus: Artists, achievements, musical developments, and notable events from 2025

What Is the American Currents: State of the Music Exhibit?

American Currents: State of the Music is an annual Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit that looks back at the artists, music, and events that figured prominently in country music during the previous year.

“It’s central to our mission at the museum to report on country music — not just its storied past but also what’s happening right now,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The exhibit also looks at chart-topping country albums and singles, major tours, awards-show moments, collaborations, and other developments from the year.

Artists Featured in American Currents 2026

The Country Music Hall of Fame gives visitors the opportunity to see personal objects and artifacts connected to artists, musicians, songwriters, festivals, and other figures who helped shape country and roots-based music in 2025.

Artists and subjects represented include:

• Biscuits & Banjos festival

• Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland

• Tyler Childers

• Charley Crockett

• Sierra Ferrell

• Vince Gill

• Ashley Gorley

• Charlie Handsome

• Sierra Hull

• I’m With Her

• Alison Krauss and Union Station

• Ella Langley

• MJ Lenderman

• Megan Moroney

• Ringo Starr

• Billy Strings

• Zach Top

• Morgan Wallen

• Waxahatchee

• Wednesday

• Jesse Welles

• Lainey Wilson

• Stephen Wilson Jr.

The museum says the exhibit uses instruments, stage wear, personal items, and other objects to tell the stories of the artists and music represented.

Unbroken Circle Spotlight

The Unbroken Circle section highlights musical connections between contemporary artists and performers who influenced them or share their musical perspective.

Artist pairings include:

• Ken Pomeroy and John Denver

• Carter Faith and Tammy Wynette

• Muscadine Bloodline and Turnpike Troubadours

Video Spotlight

American Currents also includes a video spotlight featuring clips from notable collaborations, performances, and events.

Highlights include:

• Julien Baker and TORRES

• BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman

• Alison Brown and Steve Martin

• Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll

• Kaitlin Butts

• Luke Combs

• Farm Aid

• Grand Ole Opry

• Riley Green

• Cody Johnson

When Did the 2025 American Currents Exhibit Open?

The 2025 edition of American Currents: State of the Music opened March 5, 2025, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and ran through January 2026. That installment highlighted artists, achievements, and major developments from country music in 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions About American Currents

What is the American Currents exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame?

American Currents: State of the Music is an annual exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville that looks at important artists, musical developments, achievements, and events from the previous year.

When did the American Currents 2026 exhibit open?

American Currents 2026 opened March 18, 2026, and runs through January 2027 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

How long is American Currents 2026 open?

The 2026 installment of American Currents remains open through January 2027.

Which artists are featured in American Currents 2026?

The exhibit recognizes artists including Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Vince Gill, Sierra Hull, I’m With Her, Charley Crockett, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Billy Strings, Zach Top, Lainey Wilson, and Stephen Wilson Jr., along with additional artists, collaborations, and events.

Is the American Currents exhibit included with museum admission?

Yes. American Currents: State of the Music is included with museum admission.

Where is American Currents located?

The exhibit is located in the ACM Gallery at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

What types of artifacts are displayed in American Currents?

American Currents includes personal objects connected to the featured artists, including instruments, stage wear, and other items that help tell the story of country music during the year represented.

Does American Currents include interactive elements?

Yes. The exhibit incorporates multimedia and interactive features highlighting performances, collaborations, awards-show moments, and other significant events in country music.

Source: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

---