Nashville is to country music what New Orleans is to jazz, or what Seattle is to grunge. So it’s the natural home of the Country Music Association, which brings hundreds of the genre’s top artists to the city every year, taking over stadiums, parks and honky tonk bars for CMA Fest, the longest running country music festival in the country. There are bigger festivals, but few can match the CMA’s sheer quantity of talent.
Think about it: how many genres of music have their own association? The love of country music runs so deep in Nashville that much of CMA Fest consists of free shows scattered across the city. The Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park, the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park, and all other outdoor, daytime stages offer free admission. You can catch up-and-comers Reid Haughton and Kelsey Waldon at the free Hard Rock Stage outside the Hard Rock Cafe. If you want to see your favorite chart-toppers, though, you’ll need to migrate indoors, where the likes of Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, and Jason Aldean have played in recent years. This year’s heavy hitters include Colbie Caillat, Keith Urban and Jelly Roll.
Food and beverage vendors are available throughout the festival, of course, but this is Nashville we’re talking about. There’s fried chicken on every corner, there’s a meat smoker on every patio. Country music isn’t a hobby here, it’s a lifestyle.
The Specs
- Over 100,000 people attended in 2023.
- CMA fest tickets: Single-night tickets can range between $10 and $400, depending on the night, seats, and venue. The highest-tier, four-night VIP tickets cost $1,671 though ticket options include day passes, stadium passes and more.
- The CMA Fest Package is sold out as of May 9. (That included a four-night stay, a CMA Fest four-night Stadium Pass, access to Fan Fair X, and a Festival Fun Pack.)
- Check out our list of things to do in Nashville while you’re there.
FAQs
Which airport is closest to the music festival grounds?
Tennessee’s Nashville International Airport (BNA) is six miles from Nissan Stadium.
What is the bag policy?
One clutch bag 4.5” by 6.5” or smaller and one clear bag 12” by 12” by 6” or smaller are allowed.
Is CMA fest 2024 ADA accessible?
All stages have ADA accessible entrances. Look for the ADA logo on the “Find Tickets” page.
What is Fan Fair X?
It’s indoor programming at Music City Center where fans can catch acoustic sets, panels, vendors and games. Fan Fair X takes place Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10 (10:00 AM-5:00 PM) and Sunday, June 11 (10:00 AM-4:00 PM).
Can I see free shows?
In downtown Nashville during the fest, there are typically many stages in public. Some of the sites have included Riverfront Stage at Riverfront Park, Walk of Fame Park, the Bridgestone Arena Plaza and more. The Riverfront Stage is located on a barge on the Cumberland River (Broadway-facing banks).
What’s the purpose of the festival?
The fest benefits music education. Artists perform for free at CMA Fest to help fund the CMA Foundation’s mission of supporting music education programs
Which artists are on the CMA music festival lineup?
The 2024 lineup includes Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, Hardy, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, The War And Treaty, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, 49 Winchester, Cooper Alan, Ingrid Andress, Avery Anna, Chayce Beckham, George Birge, Priscilla Block, Breland, Colbie Caillat, Dillon Carmichael, Jackson Dean, Gavin DeGraw, Adam Doleac, Eli Young Band, Larry Fleet, Wyatt Flores, Dylan Gossett, Brian Kelley, Corey Kent, Kidd G, Ella Langley, Lauren Alaina, Locash, Kameron Marlowe, Bryan Martin, Chase Matthew, Drake Milligan, Niko Moon, Megan Moroney, Restless Road, Lily Rose, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Austin Snell, Alana Springsteen, Matt Stell, Anne Wilson, Warren Zeiders, Abby Anderson, Tenille Arts, Drew Baldridge, Craig Campbell, Mackenzie Carpenter, Abbey Cone, Dalton Dover, Emerson Drive, Hannah Ellis, Tyler Farr, Josh Gracin, Andy Griggs, Mickey Guyton, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Home Free, Greylan James, Alexandra Kay, Brett Kissel, Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Catie Offerman, Ricochet, Shenandoah, Brittney Spencer, The United States Navy Band Country Current, Thompson Square, Uncle Kracker, Alli Walker, Lauren Watkins, Charlie Worsham, Coffey Anderson, Keith Anderson, Kassi Ashton, Kaylee Bell, Tyler Braden, Blanco Brown, T. Graham Brown, Hayden Coffman, Kolby Cooper, Spencer Crandall, Jade Eagleson, Carter Faith, HunterGirl, Lanco, Little Texas, Chase McDaniel, Chrissy Metz, Kylie Morgan, William Michael Morgan, Jamie O’Neal, Drew Parker, Puddin (K. Michelle), RaeLynn, Frank Ray, Dylan Schneider, The Castellows, Tigirlily Gold, Zach Top, Lathan Warlick, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley, Tanner Adell, Angie K, Graham Barham, Casey Barnes, Laci Kaye Booth, Karley Scott Collins, Canaan Cox, Dasha, David J, Brooke Eden, Kylie Frey, Ben Fuller, Harper Grace, Kelsey Hart, Tayler Holder, Just Jayne, Britnee Kellogg, Bryce Leatherwood, Lecade, Madeline Merlo, Walker Montgomery, John Morgan, Neon Union, Griffen Palmer, Peytan Porter, Mason Ramsey, Redferrin, Owen Riegling, Emily Ann Roberts, Rvshvd, Shaboozey, Shaylen, Dallas Smith, Payton Smith, Timothy Wayne, Austin Williams, Sam Williams, Jake Worthington, Chase Wright and Zac & George.
Playlist
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