If you thought the first lineup announcement for CMA Fest 2026 was stacked, hold onto your cowboy hats—because Music City just added a ton more stars to the roster!
With the massive four-day party taking over Downtown Nashville from June 4–7, the Country Music Association and presenting sponsor SoFi have revealed even more artists joining the schedule, plus a life-changing opportunity for emerging musicians hosted alongside country royalty Kelsea Ballerini.
Inside Nissan Stadium, the excitement is building even higher with ten rising stars set to take the spotlight on the Platform Stage. Fans attending the nightly stadium shows will get to catch milestone performances from Emily Ann Roberts, The Jack Wharff Band, Kaitlin Butts, Kat Luna, Laci Kaye Booth, Maggie Antone, Scoot Teasley, Vincent Mason, Willow Avalon, and Zach John King.
To kick off each night before the headliners take over, country favorites Clay Walker, Jo Dee Messina, Rhett Akins, and Sara Evans will officially open the nightly shows at Nissan Stadium. Caylee Hammack will start the festival’s stadium energy on Thursday night with a special performance of the national anthem.
Downtown Nashville’s free outdoor stages are also expanding with acts you definitely won’t want to miss across the weekend. CeCe is set to open festivities Thursday morning with the national anthem at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, which will also host a special Sunday morning “Cowboy Church” gathering led by Brandon Lake.
Beyond the nonstop music, SoFi, CMA, and superstar Kelsea Ballerini have teamed up for a massive artist initiative: the Amplify Your Ambitions Contest. Designed to help up-and-coming talent break through financial barriers, the contest is offering a $200,000 grand prize (plus two $50,000 runner-up prizes) to help fund an emerging artist’s career goals.
Three finalists will get the chance to perform at an intimate live showcase in Nashville on June 4, where the grand prize winner will be chosen by a panel of judges, including Kelsea Ballerini herself, and a public vote! As always, a portion of every CMA Fest ticket sold supports music education programs nationwide through the CMA Foundation.
Whether you want the full four-day stadium package or a quick daytime trip downtown, there are ticket options available right now at CMAfest.com/tickets:
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Four-Night Stadium Passes & Single-Night Tickets: Catch the nightly superstar concerts inside Nissan Stadium.
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Riverside Retreat: VIP upgrades for the Chevy Riverfront, Dr Pepper Amp, and Chevy Vibes stages featuring shaded lounge areas, air-conditioned restrooms, and mobile charging stations.
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Fan Fair X: The ultimate indoor artist experience inside Music City Center, featuring exclusive meet-and-greets, merch, and interactive activities.
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Free Outdoor Stages: Access to hundreds of live daytime performances across multiple stages throughout Downtown Nashville — completely free to the public!
For more coverage from CMA Fest 2026, click here.
