Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show 2026: Schedule, Lineup & Tickets

The Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend runs October 1-4, 2026, with five Opry shows, a Rhett Akins tailgate party, and performances from Vince Gill, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Brandon Lake, and more.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: August 9, 2026

Last Updated: September 3, 2026

The Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show celebration returns October 1-4, 2026, with four days of performances and special events at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

Vince Gill, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Rhett Akins, Marcus King, Brandon Lake, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rhonda Vincent, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Anderson, and more are currently scheduled to appear during the weekend. Additional performers are still expected to be announced.

Saturday, October 3, will be the busiest day of the celebration, with a special afternoon Opry Birthday Tailgate Party featuring Rhett Akins followed by two Grand Ole Opry Birthday Shows that evening.

Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend 2026 at a Glance

Dates: October 1-4, 2026

Location: Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee

Birthday Shows: Five shows are scheduled across four days

Opry Birthday Tailgate Party: Saturday, October 3 at 2 p.m.

Announced Performers: Vince Gill, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Rhett Akins, Marcus King, Brandon Lake, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rhonda Vincent, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Anderson, Cole Chaney, Kyova, and more

Tickets: Tickets are available through the Grand Ole Opry, with the Birthday Tailgate Party ticketed separately.

Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show 2026 Schedule and Lineup

The 2026 Opry Birthday Weekend includes shows Thursday through Sunday, with two performances scheduled for Saturday night. Lineups can change as additional artists are announced.

Thursday, October 1 — Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show

Time: 8 p.m.

Performers:

• Steven Curtis Chapman

• Rhonda Vincent

• More artists to be announced

The four-day celebration begins Thursday night with Opry members Steven Curtis Chapman and Rhonda Vincent among the first announced performers.

Friday, October 2 — Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show

Time: 7 p.m.

Performers currently listed for Birthday Weekend:

• Vince Gill

• The Oak Ridge Boys

• Ricky Skaggs

• Suzy Bogguss

• More artists to be announced

The Friday night Birthday Show brings together several longtime Opry members as the celebration continues.

Saturday, October 3 — Opry Birthday Tailgate Party

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry House

Rhett Akins will be featured during a special afternoon Opry Birthday Tailgate Party before Saturday night’s shows.

The backstage celebration will include performances of Akins’ No. 1 hits and country classics, along with birthday cake. The event comes just days before Akins officially becomes a Grand Ole Opry member on October 13.

Akins was invited to join the Opry earlier this year by Jon Pardi. His October 13 induction will include appearances by Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, and Jamey Johnson.

Saturday, October 3 — Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show

Time: 7 p.m.

Performers:

• Vince Gill

• Rhett Akins

• Marcus King

• The Oak Ridge Boys

• Bill Anderson

• More artists to be announced

Saturday night begins with a 7 p.m. Birthday Show featuring a lineup that spans several generations of country music.

Saturday, October 3 — Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show

Time: 9:30 p.m.

Performers currently listed for Birthday Weekend:

• Vince Gill

• Rhett Akins

• Marcus King

• The Oak Ridge Boys

• Bill Anderson

• More artists to be announced

A second Birthday Show is scheduled for 9:30 p.m., giving fans two opportunities to attend an Opry performance Saturday night.

Sunday, October 4 — Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show

Time: 7 p.m.

Performers currently listed include:

• Brandon Lake

• Cole Chaney

• Kyova

• Ricky Skaggs

• More artists to be announced

Cole Chaney is also scheduled to make his Grand Ole Opry debut during the October 4 performance.

Rhett Akins Featured at the Opry Birthday Tailgate Party

One of the biggest special events of Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend happens Saturday afternoon.

The Opry Birthday Tailgate Party begins at 2 p.m. October 3 in Studio A. The event will feature soon-to-be Opry member Rhett Akins performing No. 1 hits and country classics and sharing the afternoon celebration with fans. Birthday cake is also included as part of the event.

Akins will return later that night for both the 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Birthday Shows.

His appearance comes ahead of another major Opry milestone: Akins will officially be inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on October 13, 2026.

How to Get Tickets for Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend

Tickets for the October 1-4 Grand Ole Opry Birthday Shows are on sale through the official Grand Ole Opry website.

The Opry Birthday Tailgate Party is a separate ticketed event, so fans who plan to attend both the afternoon party and one of Saturday night’s shows should purchase tickets for each event.

Ticket packages and upgraded experiences are also available for select Birthday Weekend performances.

Where Is the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show?

The 2026 Grand Ole Opry Birthday Shows will take place at the Grand Ole Opry House, 600 Opry Mills Drive in Nashville, Tennessee.

The celebration runs for four days, allowing fans to choose a single performance or plan a longer Nashville trip around several Opry events.

Can You Take a Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour?

Fans visiting Nashville for Opry Birthday Weekend can also add a Grand Ole Opry backstage tour to their plans.

The tours give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the Opry House and can be paired with one of the Birthday Shows as part of a longer visit.

Tour availability and tickets can be found through the Grand Ole Opry.

Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show 2026 FAQ

When is the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show in 2026?

Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend runs October 1-4, 2026. Birthday Shows are scheduled each day, including two performances on Saturday, October 3.

Who is performing at the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Show in 2026?

Announced performers include Vince Gill, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Rhett Akins, Marcus King, Brandon Lake, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rhonda Vincent, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Anderson, Cole Chaney, Kyova, and more. Lineups vary by show, and additional artists are expected to be announced.

How many Grand Ole Opry Birthday Shows are there in 2026?

Five Grand Ole Opry Birthday Shows are scheduled from October 1-4. There is one show Thursday, one Friday, two Saturday, and one Sunday.

Is there an Opry Birthday Tailgate Party in 2026?

Yes. The Opry Birthday Tailgate Party is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 at 2 p.m. and will feature Rhett Akins.

Where is Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend held?

The Birthday Shows take place at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, located at 600 Opry Mills Drive.

Additional artists may be added to the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Weekend lineup before October, so check back for updates as new performers and event details are announced.