NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville hits all the right notes this summer with live music events, outdoor festivals, world-class attractions, sports action and the celebration of America250 on July 3rd and 4th. Here is a look at some of the biggest highlights happening across the Music City this summer.
America250 Celebration
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th will commemorate America250 with two full days, July 3-4, of multi-genre live music performances from top entertainment across multiple stages (three stages on July 3 and five stages on July 4) throughout Lower Broadway. This free downtown event is open to everyone and family-friendly, with activities throughout the day, including the Family Fun Zone. The event will conclude with one of the country’s largest July 4th fireworks shows, including drone light elements, synchronized to live music from the 14-time GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony. Artists to be announced soon.
Nashville visitors can continue celebrating the country’s anniversary in town by visiting sites and museums participating in Tennessee America250. Learn more about how these locations have played a significant role in Tennessee's history and culture here and see a list of current participating sites below.:
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
- Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery
- Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
- Fort Nashborough
- Historic Mansker’s Station
- Nashville City Cemetery
- Tennessee State Capitol
- Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA)
- Tennessee State Museum
- To the Heroes of 1776 Monument
- Travellers Rest
Beloved Festivals
The 17th year of Musicians Corner welcomes music lovers from around the world to the heart of Centennial Park in Nashville. The Spring Series of Musicians Corner spans five weeks (weekends from May 15 to June 13), offering free public access to live music of all genres, a Kidsville area with arts, crafts and kid activities, food vendors, local artisans and more.
CMA Fest is back in Music City for its 53rd year as thousands of country music fans from across the globe descend on Nashville June 4-7 to experience four days of music from hundreds of artists. The longest-running country music festival in the world takes over the city with free concerts at multiple stages throughout downtown, ticketed nightly shows at Nissan Stadium, meet-and-greets, autograph signings and more.
Just down the road from Nashville in Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival returns June 11-14. The four-day event will feature over 100 musical performances spanning all genres, with headliners including Skrillex, The Strokes, Teddy Swims, Kesha, Role Model, and Noah Kahan, celebrating musical diversity and community.
The Nashville Pride Festival returns to Nashville on June 27 as one of the oldest pride events in the Southeast (since 1988) and the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ people and allies in Tennessee. The celebration kicks off with the Pride Parade on Broadway, followed by the all-day festival at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The festival will feature live music from top-rated talent, along with family-friendly activities and over 250 businesses, local vendors, organizations, and food trucks.
Before heading downtown for Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th, join hot chicken lovers in East Nashville for the Music City Hot Chicken Festival. The free annual festival brings together Nashville’s best Hot Chicken establishments, cold beverages and live music for a celebration of the iconic Music City dish.
East Nashville’s Five Points hosts the Tomato Art Fest, a vibrant and entertaining celebration of tomatoes, on August 7-8. The free event kicks off with the Push, Pull & Wear Parade with decked-out floats and creative costumes, followed by a weekend full of art, music, and fun. Visitors will experience the eclectic essence and welcoming community through tomato art displays, live music performances, kids activities, wacky contests, and delicious food and creative finds from local artisans.
Summer closes with the annual AMERICANAFEST, on September 15-19. This festival, celebrating 26 years in 2026, gathers thousands of artists, fans, and industry professionals from all over the world in Nashville. The festival will feature over 150 live music performances by both established and emerging artists across Music City venues, as well as seminars, panels, and the Americana Honors & Awards at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
Headlining Acts
Global superstars are taking the stage in Music City in 2026, and this summer, fans can plan their trip to Nashville to see world-renowned artists bring their biggest tours to Nissan Stadium and GEODIS Park. And in Music City, you never know who might make a special appearance!
- May 6 | Bruno Mars’s “The Romantic Tour” with Anderson Paal as DJ Pee.Wee and Leon Thomas (Nissan Stadium)
- May 23 | Chris Stapleton’s “All American Road Show” with Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone (Nissan Stadium)
- June 19 | Forrest Frank's "The Jesus Generation Tour" with Tori Kelly, Cory Asbury, and The Figs (GEODIS Park)
- June 20 | Ed Sheeran’s “LOOP Tour” with Myles Smith, Amble, and Aaron Rowe (Nissan Stadium)
- June 27 | Alan Jackson: Last Call – The Finale with Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, and many more (Nissan Stadium)
- June 30 | Post Malone’s “The BIG ASS Stadium Tour 2” with Carter Faith (Nissan Stadium)
- August 13 | My Chemical Romance’s “The Black Parade 2026” tour with Pierce The Veil (Nissan Stadium)
- August 15 | Foo Fighters’s “Take Cover Tour 2026” with Queens of the Stone Age (Nissan Stadium)
Museums and Attractions
Home to the most music museums in the world, there’s no better place to explore music history than Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosts Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker, focusing on turning points in the music legend’s life and career (through September 30) and Country’s Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100, a tribute to one of music’s most iconic stages and the longest-running radio show in the world (through March 2027). Visitors can also check out the latest installment of the American Currents: State of the Music exhibit, highlighting the artists, musicians and songwriters who made significant impacts on country music in 2025.
Nashville’s music museums also include the historic Ryman Auditorium, the National Museum of African American Music, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Historic RCA Studio B, Grand Ole Opry and the brand-new Museum of Christian & Gospel Music.
Joining the museum scene in summer 2026 is Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum, which will span the entire third floor of Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel, opening in June. The museum is the most comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Parton and will immerse visitors in Dolly’s inspiring journey to her legendary career across music, entertainment, philanthropy, as well as personal values of family and faith.
In 2026, the Frist Art Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary with highly anticipated traveling exhibitions. Children under 18 receive free admission to the museum and will enjoy Martin ArtQuest, an inclusive and interactive art-making space inspired by the museum’s showing exhibitions.
Family-Friendly Fun
Bringing the family to Music City for summer vacation? There is no shortage of activities for the kids in Nashville. For the animal lover, visit the Nashville Zoo and check out the Leopard Forest and pet a Kangaroo, or take a journey to Tennessee's largest petting farm, Lucky Ladd Farms. On the adventure side, soar through the treetops on the ziplines at The Adventure Park at Nashville and explore the universe through interactive exhibits at the Adventure Science Center. Visitors can soak up the sun and make a splash at SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland, featuring 4 acres of indoor and outdoor waterslides, rides, and other amenities, or head out to Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort for water park attractions, exciting zip lines and ropes courses, and jet-ski and pontoon boat rentals.
Sporting Events
Racing action heats up in Nashville this summer with exciting events taking place at Nashville Superspeedway. The Cracker Barrel 400 NASCAR Cup Series returns for a jam-packed, family-friendly weekend May 29-31. Fans can purchase weekend packages to experience the races, exclusive events, and more NASCAR excitement in Music City. INDYCAR’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix takes place on July 19, featuring exhilarating races, first-class fan experiences, and live music from top talent.
The Music City Rodeo returns to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the second year of world-class Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) championship rodeo and nightly performances from country music’s biggest stars. The family-friendly event will feature top rodeo talent competing in bull riding, team roping, barrel racing and more, culminating nightly with live music performances from headliners Miranda Lambert (May 28), Charley Crockett (May 29) and Jon Pardi (May 30).
Cheer on Nashville’s locally loved sports teams and head out to GEODIS Park for MLS Nashville Soccer Club, or visit First Horizon Park for the MiLB Nashville Sounds. Both family-friendly atmospheres, Nashville SC games offer in-game live performances and entertainment, and Nashville Sounds have a laid-back atmosphere at The Band Box, an outfield bar and restaurant with outdoor games and activities. The Nashville Sounds also host Sunday Family Fun Days, where kids can take part in pregame autographs and postgame Kids Run the Bases.
The baseball fun continues at First Horizon Park with Cosmic Baseball with the Tri-City Chili Peppers (May 22-23), where families will enjoy neon lights and glow-in-the-dark baseball games. The “World Famous Baseball Circus” returns to Music City June 18-20 as Banana Ball takes over for three nights of baseball with an entertaining twist, featuring dancing, special performances, stunts, and so much more.
To stay up to date on all the latest news and information regarding Nashville, be sure to follow @VisitMusicCity on social media platforms, or head over to https://www.visitmusiccity.com.
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The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Visit Music City
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Visit Music City is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVC’s website at visitmusiccity.com and follow us on social media @VisitMusicCity.
