The CMA Music Festival is a four-day, star-studded musical event that takes place in Nashville every year in June. Around downtown Nashville, multiple stages feature both country music legends and the genre's up-and-coming stars.
Who's playing CMA Fest 2018? When is it happening, and how can you watch even if you're not going? Here's a rundown of all the details.
When and Where Is the 2018 CMA Music Festival?
CMA Fest 2018 will take place in Nashville on June 7-10. In addition to the festival's big, nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium, the CMA Music Festival features performances on the Riverfront Stage, the Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park and the Forever Country Stage. The event also includes Fan Fair X at the Music City Center; artist Q&As, autograph signings and more are part of this portion of CMA Fest.
Additionally, throughout the week of the 2018 CMA Music Festival, numerous artists will host fan club and charity-focused events. Check out the FAQ section of the CMA Fest website and The Boot's full CMA Fest coverage for more information on events.
Who’s Performing at the 2018 CMA Music Festival?
The Country Music Association made its initial CMA Fest 2018 lineup announcement on March 21 in a tweet. Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton, Lee Ann Womack are among the headliners that will be performing during nightly shows at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Over on the Riverfront Stage, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson, Lanco, Maddie & Tae and others are set to perform, while Abby Anderson, the James Barker Band, Ashley McBryde, Steve Moakler are slated for shows on the Breakout Stage. Terri Clark, Lonestar, Lorrie Morgan and more are booked for the Forever Country Stage, which will spotlight artists from the 1980s, '90s and 2000s.
Also during CMA Fest 2018, the Broadway Stage at the Hard Rock Cafe will host Logan Brill, Faren Rachels, Noah Guthrie, Tegan Marie and more up-and-comers. The Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage, meanwhile, will feature performances from Craig Wayne Boyd, Sarah Darling, Lewis Brice, Parker McCay and Tara Thompson, among others.
Additionally, Ascend Amphitheater will host free shows on the nights of June 7, 8 and 9: Chase Rice will headline the June 7 performance, with Lindsay Ell, Craig Campbell, Granger Smith, Runaway June and more artists. Lee Brice will appear on June 8, sharing the stage with Maddie & Tae, Tyler Farr, Drake White and Clare Dunn. On June 9, Cole Swindell will headline, supported by Tegan Marie, Cale Dodds, Morgan Evans and Michael Ray. Each concert starts at 7PM.
Who else is playing the 2018 CMA Music Festival? Stay up to date on the scheduling page of the CMA Fest website.
How Can I Attend the 2018 CMA Music Festival?
The outdoor daytime stages at the 2018 CMA Music Festival are free and open to the public, but Fan Fair X and the Nissan Stadium shows do require tickets; the Ascend Amphitheater shows are also free, but a $60 "Nash Pass" will allow you early entrance (read: will help you get closer to the stage). Tickets for CMA Fest 2018 are available now via the festival's website, at various price points.
Fan club and charity-focused events during CMA Fest have their own ticketing requirements. As those events are announced, The Boot will share details, including ticket information.
How Can I Watch What's Happening at the 2018 CMA Music Festival?
During CMA Fest 2018, The Boot will share photos, videos and all of the biggest news from the fest. For those who want to see even more from the event, later in the summer, ABC will air a TV special featuring footage from the fest's Nissan Stadium performances.
From The Boot