CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (2024)

CMA Music Festival is back, bringing over 300 performers to downtown Nashville on multiple stages from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9.

For the 51st year, Nashville will transform the whole city into a concert with a festival that brought nearly 100,000 fans last year.

Stars like Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and hundreds more will take the stage this year.

There will be outdoor performances, lineups at Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater and a weekend of games and fun. Planned events for the weekend include meet-and-greets with artists at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center and activities lining Nashville's lower Broadway.

Curious about what you need to know ahead of the big weekend?

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We've got you covered. Here's out ultimate guide to 2024 CMA Fest.

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (2)

When and where is CMA Fest?

CMA Fest is located in downtown Nashville from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9.

CMA Fest road closures:See which downtown Nashville streets are closed

Who is performing at the 2024 CMA Fest?

Over 300 artists are slated to perform at CMA Fest this year.

Some of the artists playing CMA Fest are: Lainey Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett, Parker McCollum, Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Chrissy Metz, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, The War & Treaty, Dylan Scott, Carly Pearce, HARDY, Kelsea Ballerini, Mason Ramsey, Jordan Davis and Shaboozey.

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (3)

CMA Fest 2024:Which concerts are free during annual Nashville festival

How much does it cost to go to CMA Fest?

Depending on which CMA Fest experience you aim for, you can attend CMA Fest free, for under $25, or you can purchase stadium tickets for upwards of $325.

Different stages and performances are priced individually. Some stages are completely free to attend.

How much are the 2024 CMA Fest tickets?

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (4)

Fans have multiple options for ticket purchases for CMA Fest.

Can you go to CMA Fest without tickets?

Yes—there are quite a few free stages and performances at CMA Fest. Fans can attend the free daytime outdoor shows without a ticket.

For certain stages, like Ascend Ampitheater and Nissan Stadium, fans must have tickets.

What parts of CMA Fest 2024 are free?

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (5)

Daytime, outdoor stages will offer free performances.

Broadway and Fan Alley (open at 10 a.m. CST each day) are free and open to the public.

There will also be free games, activities, giveaways and more with CMA Fest's partners.

What are the different CMA Fest stages? Which ones are free?

There are over nine stages at CMA Fest 2024, all sprinkled around downtown Nashville.

Here's our list of each stage, where they're located, and the kind of performances they will feature:

  • Nissan Stadium Main and Platform Stages: The stadium, located at 1 Titans Way, will feature four nights of concerts on its main stage and platform stage—located on the field. Certain performances at this location will be filmed for a special that will air on ABC later in the summer.
  • Ascend Amphitheater: The amphitheater, located at 310 1st Ave South, will host three days of performances, Thursday through Saturday.
  • CMA Close Up Stage: This indoor stage is located inside Fan Fair X on Level 3 of Music City Center. (Fan Fair X is open 9:30 a.m. CT to 5 p.m. CT Thursday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m. CT to 4 p.m. CT on Sunday. Seating and programming is first come, first served.) This stage will feature Q&As, acoustic performances and interactive experiences.
  • CMA Spotlight Stage: This indoor stage is also located inside Fan Fair X. It will feature over 50 acts who will perform acoustic sets.
  • Chevy Riverfront Stage: This is the largest daytime stage at CMA Fest. It is located at Riverfront Park, sitting on the bank of the Cumberland River. This stage is free to the public.
  • Dr. Pepper Amp Stage: This free stage is at Ascend Park, located behind the amphitheater.
  • Chevy Vibes Stage: This free stage is located at Walk of Fame Park, offering daytime performances
  • Good Molecules Reverb Stage: This stage is located on the Southwest corner of 5th Avenue and Broadway at Bridgestone Plaza near the Broadway bars.
  • Hard Rock Stage: This stage is located at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville and will feature free daily performances from Thursday to Sunday. From Thursday to Saturday, there will also be nightly performances.

Do singers get paid at CMA Fest?

No, artists are not paid to play at CMA Fest. Each artist donates their time to perform at the festival.

The proceeds from the festival go to CMA's non-profit arm, the CMA Foundation, which helps to enrich music education programs across the country.

Is CMA Fest kid friendly?

Yes, CMA Fest is kid friendly.

Babies and children under two years of age can attend CMA Fest without a pass or ticket.

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (6)

Is CMA Fest 2024 cashless?

CMA Fest venues and vendors are cashless.

Fans should plan to pack credit or debit cards or set up Apple Pay or Google Pay on their phones.

What is the CMA Fest schedule? What is the lineup?

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (7)

Here is our break-down of the main stage schedules at Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater.

Thursday, June 6 - Nissan Stadium Main Stage:

  • 7:45 pm, Reyna Roberts
  • 8:00 pm, Craig Morgan
  • 8:30 pm, Jordan Davis
  • 9:10 pm, Ashley McBryde
  • 9:55 pm, Shaboozey
  • 10:00 pm, Thomas Rhett
  • 10:50 pm, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Friday, June 7 - Nissan Stadium Main Stage:

  • 8:00 pm, Gretchen Wilson
  • 8:30 pm, Parker McCollum
  • 9:10 pm, Jon Pardi
  • 9:50 pm, Kelsea Ballerini
  • 10:40 pm, Cody Johnson
  • 11:25 pm, Luke Bryan

Saturday, June 8 - Nissan Stadium Main Stage:

  • 8:00 pm, Terri Clark
  • 8:30 pm, The War And Treaty
  • 9:10 pm, Old Dominion
  • 9:50 pm, Lainey Wilson
  • 10:30 pm, Brittney Spencer
  • 10:35 pm, Keith Urban
  • 11:20 pm, Jelly Roll

Sunday, June 9 - Nissan Stadium Main Stage:

  • 8:00 pm, Josh Turner
  • 8:30 pm, Megan Moroney
  • 9:10 pm, Brothers Osborne
  • 9:50 pm, Carly Pearce
  • 10:20 pm, Jackson Dean
  • 10:30 pm, Bailey Zimmerman
  • 11:15 pm, HARDY

Thursday, June 6 - Ascend Amphitheater:

  • 7:00 pm, Pitney Meyer
  • 7:13 pm, Harper Grace
  • 7:26 pm, Tim Dugger
  • 7:40 pm, Hannah Ellis
  • 7:50 pm, Kelsey Hart
  • 8:15 pm, Sawyer Brown
  • 8:50 pm, Rodney Atkins
  • 9:35 pm, Dylan Scott
  • 10:15 pm, Lee Brice

Friday, June 7 - Ascend Amphitheater:

  • 7:00 pm, Danae Hays (Host)
  • 7:15 pm, Shaylen
  • 7:40 pm, Lily Rose
  • 8:20 pm, Restless Road
  • 9:00 pm, NEEDTOBREATHE
  • 9:55 pm, Brett Young
  • Charles Kelley
  • Colbie Caillat
  • Gavin DeGraw

Saturday June 8 - Ascend Amphitheater:

  • 7:45 pm, Tracy Lawrence
  • 7:50 pm, Charles Esten
  • 8:00 pm, RaeLynn
  • 8:25 pm, Priscilla Block
  • 8:50 pm, Maddie & Tae
  • 9:20 pm, Chris Young
  • 9:50 pm, Riley Green

To see the full schedule, head to cmafest.com.

Fans can also use the CMA Fest app to see full schedules and build their own list of events to attend.

Is there are 2024 CMA Fest map?

Yes! See the 2024 CMA Fest map below.

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (8)

Do you need clear bags for CMA Fest?

Yes, clear bags are required at CMA Fest venues and stages.

What can I not bring to CMA Fest?

Some prohibited items for CMA Fest are: inflatables, cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, chairs, coolers, drones, firearms, weapons, flags, outside food and drinks and umbrellas.

For more information, head to cmafest.com.

Audrey Gibbs is a music reporter at The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com.

CMA Fest 2024: Nashville guide — from free concert stages to how much does it cost and more (2024)

FAQs

Which CMA Fest stages are free? ›

FREE ACTIVITIES

All daytime, outdoor stages, plus Broadway and Fan Alley (which open at 9AM daily), are free and open to the public! Plus, participate in games, activities, giveaways and more on site from CMA Fest's official partners.

Is the CMA Fest in Nashville free? ›

Some of them require paid tickets, namely the nightly shows at Nissan Stadium, where stars like Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Old Dominion, and Jelly Roll all perform this year. But the bulk of live music at CMA Fest — and often the best — is entirely free.

How much are the CMA Fest 2024 packages? ›

Features four-night hotel lodging (June 6, 7, 8, 9, 2024), complimentary breakfast, and lower level seating in Section 134, 135, 112, 113. 4-Night Hotel/Ticket Package Prices: $1579.00 USD per person, based on two people in a room. $1279.00 USD per person, based on three people in a room.

Do artists get paid to perform at CMA Fest? ›

Artists famously play CMA Fest for free, introducing themselves to potential new fans, cementing their relationships with existing followers and generating revenue for the CMA Foundation, which donates proceeds to music education programs.

Can you go to CMA Fest without tickets? ›

Can you go to CMA Fest without tickets? Yes—there are quite a few free stages and performances at CMA Fest. Fans can attend the free daytime outdoor shows without a ticket. For certain stages, like Ascend Ampitheater and Nissan Stadium, fans must have tickets.

Is Ascend Amphitheater free for CMA Fest? ›

Which other stages at CMA Fest are not free? Nissan Stadium Main and Platform Stages, Ascend Amphitheater, CMA Close Up Stage join Fan Fair X and CMA Spotlight Stage at Fan Fair X are all ticketed stages.

Where is the free concert in Nashville? ›

Live On The Green is a free outdoor concert series, presented by Lightning 100, at Public Square Park in downtown Music City. The stage is always set up on the steps of the Plaza and the crowd gathers in the grassy area of Public Square Park to watch performances from local, regional, and national artists.

Is the CMA Fest worth going to? ›

There's so much to see and do during CMA Fest in Nashville, and you'll love every minute of it. While you're in town to check out some of the newest faces in country music, we highly recommend taking a look at some of the great local attractions and fun things to do in Music City.

How much does it cost to go to the fan fair in Nashville? ›

Different stages across town are priced individually. The four-night stadium pass goes for $325 and up. A single-night stadium pass is around $110 and up. The Ascend Amphitheater tickets start at $15 and the Fan Fair X tickets begin at just $25.

Where will the CMA be in 2024? ›

Nissan Stadium

CMA Fest is the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience in downtown Nashville, Tennessee June 6-9, 2024! Buy FOUR-NIGHT STADIUM PASSES for access to nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium featuring the biggest stars in Country Music.

What did CMA Fest used to be called? ›

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville's Municipal Auditorium.

Do musicians get paid for rehearsals? ›

Musicians are paid a fixed rate for each service. Some orchestras pay musicians the same rate for rehearsals and performances while others pay a higher rate for performances.

How much money does CMA Fest make? ›

CMA Fest was held June 9-12 and generated $65.2 million in estimated direct visitor spending, bouncing back with modest growth from the last time it was held in 2019, when direct visitor spending was $64.9 million.

How many stages are there at the CMA Fest? ›

STAGES & BROADWAY

Whatever your style, we've got you covered with SEVEN daytime stages and TWO nighttime stages. Plus, you must walk down Broadway to take in the famous neon lights and see all the CMA Fest activities hosted on the street!

How much does it cost to go to the CMA Awards? ›

Tickets to see the CMA Awards can range between $600 and $7,500 based on seat locations and package options. The most expensive tickets to the CMA Awards run around $4264.20, but we do provide cheap CMA Awards tickets for just $366.17 a ticket. On average, you can expect to pay $1103.89 to attend this year's event.

Can anyone go to the CMAs? ›

While tickets to the CMA Music Fest held in June are sold to the general public, most attendees at the award show in November are invited guests who are part of the association or have other industry connections.

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