CMA Fest is a four-day country music festival held annually in early June across multiple venues in Nashville, Tennessee. Organized by the Country Music Association (CMA) since 1972, it was originally called Fan Fair and is the longest-running country music festival in the world. The festival is best suited for country, country pop, country rock, and Americana artists who want exposure to the largest country music audience in the world. The 2026 edition ran June 4 to 7.
The 2025 CMA Fest (June 5 to 8) featured nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium with performances from Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Riley Green, and many more. The CMA filmed the annual television special for ABC and Hulu. Here is Shaboozey and Jelly Roll performing their collaboration "Amen" at Nissan Stadium:
How CMA Fest Works
CMA Fest is unique among major festivals because it uses multiple venues across downtown Nashville rather than a single festival site. The primary stages include:
- Nissan Stadium: The main nightly concerts, featuring headliners and the biggest names in country music. Capacity is approximately 70,000 per night.
- Riverfront Park: Free daytime stage on the Cumberland River, featuring mid-tier and emerging acts.
- Bridgestone Arena: Used for special events and select performances.
- Music City Center: The X (Fan Fair X) indoor venue, where fans meet artists, get autographs, and see acoustic performances.
The festival also programs stages at various honky-tonks and bars on Broadway (Lower Broadway), Nashville's famous entertainment district. These daytime and late-night shows give independent artists additional performance opportunities outside the main festival footprint.
Total attendance across all venues exceeds 90,000 unique visitors per day, with many fans traveling from outside Tennessee. The CMA estimates that CMA Fest generates over $60 million in direct economic impact for Nashville each year.
Tickets go on sale through the CMA. Four-day passes for Nissan Stadium nightly concerts ranged from approximately $300 to $1,200 for 2026, depending on seat location and package. Riverfront Park stages are free with a CMA Fest wristband. Fan Fair X requires a separate pass, priced at approximately $25 per day or $80 for four days.
2026 Edition
The 2026 CMA Fest ran June 4 to 7 across downtown Nashville. Nissan Stadium hosted nightly concerts Thursday through Sunday, with headliners drawn from the top of the country charts. Past CMA Fest Nissan Stadium performers include Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll.
The Riverfront Park stage ran daytime sets from Thursday through Sunday, featuring dozens of artists across country, country pop, and Americana. Fan Fair X at Music City Center hosted artist meet-and-greets, acoustic performances, and industry panels throughout the four days.
The festival also included the CMA Close Up Stage, which features interviews and acoustic performances from emerging artists signed to CMA partner labels. This stage has been a launching point for artists who later moved up to Riverfront Park and eventually Nissan Stadium.
Notable Past Headliners
CMA Fest has featured the biggest names in country music at Nissan Stadium since the festival moved downtown in 2001. Here is a look at headliners from recent editions:
| Year | Notable Nissan Stadium Performers |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Shaboozey, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Bailey Zimmerman, Deana Carter, Gretchen Wilson |
| 2025 | Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Riley Green |
| 2023 | Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Jon Pardi, Little Big Town, Old Dominion |
| 2022 | Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett, Lady A, Cole Swindell |
The 2023 edition was the 50th anniversary of CMA Fest. Over 90,000 daily attendees filled Nashville, with fans from all 50 states and a record 51 countries. More than 300 acts performed across all stages. The 2022 edition was the first CMA Fest after a two-year COVID hiatus (2020 and 2021 were cancelled), and it sold out with fans from 39 countries.
Ella Langley's 2025 Nissan Stadium performance of "weren't for the wind" was one of the most streamed clips from the CMA Fest television special:
Riley Green's performance of his viral single "Worst Way" was another standout from the 2025 broadcast:
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
CMA Fest is the single most important week for country music industry networking. Every major country label, booking agency, publishing company, and management firm is in Nashville during CMA Fest. The festival functions as much as an industry conference as a fan event.
For independent artists, the daytime stages at Riverfront Park and the Broadway honky-tonk stages are the most accessible entry points. These stages do not require a Nissan Stadium booking. Many independent artists perform 2 to 4 sets across different venues during the four days, maximizing exposure to both fans and industry professionals.
A strong CMA Fest performance can lead to booking agent meetings, publishing deal conversations, and label auditions. The festival also generates significant social media content, with fans posting clips across platforms. Country music fans are highly engaged on TikTok and Instagram, and a viral moment during CMA Fest can accelerate an independent artist's career.
The CMA also uses CMA Fest to film its annual television special, "CMA Fest," which airs on ABC in late summer. Performances from Nissan Stadium are filmed for the broadcast, giving artists national television exposure. Even daytime stage performances can generate press coverage from country media outlets like Country Aircheck, Sounds Like Nashville, and The Boot.
Booking runs through the CMA programming team and partner promoters. For Nissan Stadium slots, a major booking agent and label support are typically required. For Riverfront Park and Broadway stages, independent artists can apply through the CMA's official submission process or work with local Nashville promoters who program the honky-tonk stages.
Use our streaming royalty calculator to estimate post-festival streaming impact. Use our tour revenue calculator to plan routing around the festival, since Nashville is a major touring hub with easy access to the Southeast and Midwest.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
CMA Fest is overwhelming. With dozens of stages and 90,000+ daily attendees across multiple venues, it is easy to get lost in the noise. A single daytime set at Riverfront Park will not move the needle unless you actively promote it before, during, and after the festival.
Nashville hotel rates during CMA Fest are among the highest of the year. Rooms that normally cost $150 per night can exceed $400. If you are performing at a daytime stage without a major booking, your performance fee may not cover travel and lodging costs. Budget carefully.
The festival's multi-venue format means there is no single captive audience. Fans move between stages, Broadway bars, and Fan Fair X throughout the day. Unlike a single-site festival where attendees are locked in for the duration, CMA Fest attendees curate their own experience. This means your set competes with every other stage, every bar on Broadway, and every fan event happening simultaneously.
The Nissan Stadium lineup is dominated by major-label artists. Independent artists will not be booked on the main stage without significant label and radio support. Set your expectations accordingly and focus on the daytime stages and Broadway venues where independent artists have a realistic path to a slot.
Related Resources
- Music Festival Strategy: Get Booked and Make It Count
- How to Book Your First Tour: Step-by-Step Guide
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income
- Tour Revenue Calculator
- Streaming Royalty Calculator
- Official CMA Fest Website
Similar Festivals
- Stagecoach Festival - The largest country music festival in the US, held in Indio, California
- Austin City Limits - Major music festival in Austin, Texas, featuring country alongside rock and indie
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - Historic festival in New Orleans featuring country, jazz, blues, and roots music
- Bonnaroo - Major four-day festival in Manchester, Tennessee, with country acts alongside other genres
