CMA Fest Nashville 2027

CMA Fest is the Country Music Association’s annual fan festival in Nashville, running four days each June. What started in 1972 as Fan Fair — a chance for country music fans to meet their favourite artists — has grown into a major ticketed festival with nightly stadium concerts, free outdoor stages, and a city-wide atmosphere that makes Nashville feel like it is celebrating its own identity.

The concerts

The centrepiece of CMA Fest is the nightly concert series at Nissan Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Titans NFL team on the Cumberland River. These shows feature 8-10 acts each night, mixing established headliners with rising artists. A single 4-day pass covers all four nights at the stadium. Tickets in recent years have ranged from approximately $175 to $350+ depending on seat tier and package; check cmafest.com for the 2027 on-sale dates.

Free stages and daytime programming

One of CMA Fest’s distinguishing features is its free outdoor programming. The Ascend Amphitheater and stages along the Broadway district host free performances throughout the four days, meaning casual visitors without stadium passes can still catch live music. Daytime programming at the Music City Center convention hall includes autograph sessions, Q&As with artists, and fan club events — many of these require a festival wristband to enter.

The Broadway honky-tonks (Tootsies, Legends Corner, Robert’s Western World) remain open and busy throughout the festival; live music there is always free.

Practical tips

Nashville in early June is warm and humid — expect afternoon highs around 28-32°C. Outdoor stages run through the hottest part of the day, so sunscreen and water are essential. The stadium opens in the early evening for nightly concerts; doors times and set schedules are published close to the event.

Book accommodation well in advance. Nashville fills quickly for CMA Fest, and hotels in the downtown core book out within days of tickets going on sale. The Music City Center and Nissan Stadium are both within walking distance of lower Broadway.

Read our guide to Nashville for hotel options and a broader introduction to the city beyond the honky-tonks.