The Country Music Association’s CMA Fest is the longest running country music festival in the world. Since 1972, everyone from Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood to Garth Brooks and Dierks Bentley — it’s a long list, basically every star — has performed at the CMA Fest. It draws 80,000 fans annually and this year’s, which is the 50th anniversary, will feature intimate performances and stadium-sized spectacles across six day stages and two night stages. Food trucks, drinking on Broadway, artist meet-and-greets and free public access to four of the stages are all part of the fest, too.
If you decide to splurge on the four-night stadium pass, you will gain access to Fan Fair X. That’s where you can attend CMA’s artist talks. This year, the guests are Dierks Bentley (Thursday, June 8), Reba McEntire (Friday), Brothers Osborne (Saturday), and Wynonna Judd (Sunday). They’ll all take the CMA Close Up Stage and discuss their careers from the air conditioned haven of the Music City Center. More than 50 artists are scheduled to play the Spotlight Stage inside Fan Fair X from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Thursday through Saturday, and 10:00 AM-4:00 PM on Sunday.
The Specs
- An upwards of 80,000 people attend.
- Tickets range from $249 to $1,434. Four-day parking passes are available for $129.35. One day tickets and free admission to select stages is available.
- Festivals of this stature can be overwhelming for first timers, but the CMA Connect App will keep you in the know about where everything is located with readily available festival maps, schedules, line ups and even opportunities for in app exclusives.
- Check out some of the best things to do in Nashville and learn what it’s like to bar hop in Nashville.
FAQs
Can I leave and re-enter the fest?
Re-entry is allowed everywhere but the Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater.
Is camping allowed?
No camping.
Can I use cash?
This is a cashless event.
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