Your go-to guide for 2026 summer fun in Nashville
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Fireworks over Lower Broadway in 2023. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Summer 2026 will be a busy one in Nashville, with a full lineup of festivals, concerts and new adventures awaiting us.
The big picture: CMA Fest will bring tens of thousands of fans to town this week. Then Bonnaroo will keep the party going after that. And then there's a free Fourth of July party for the ages.
- Bookmark this calendar to keep tabs on the highlights and build out your summer schedule.
🤠 June 4–7: CMA Fest. Country fans take over downtown for four days of music. Fans can visit a lot of the downtown stages for free, but the biggest artists play at ticketed stadium shows nightly.
- This year's headliners include the chart-topping newcomer Ella Langley as well as stalwart stars Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.
🍿 Thursdays in June: Movies in the Park. The free outdoor movie series returns to Elmington Park, with food trucks, games and family-friendly screenings before sundown.
- The series starts on Thursday with "A Cinderella Story."
🤘 June 11–14: Bonnaroo. After heavy rain stopped last year's festival midway through, Bonnaroo is coming back with something to prove.
- The festival is leaning into its eclectic approach, tapping rockers including The Strokes, the dance maestro Skrillex and folk star Noah Kahan as headliners.
⚽️ June 12, 19 and 25: World Cup watch parties. Nashville isn't hosting any of the games, but Nashville SC is building a party around U.S. matches.
- Free watch events are planned at Geodis Park and Centennial Park.
- The full schedule
🍌 June 18–20: Banana Ball. The "greatest show in sports," a wacky take on America's pastime, returns to Nashville as the Party Animals take on the Texas Tailgaters at First Horizon Park.
🏳️🌈 June 27: Nashville Pride. The LGBTQ+ Pride parade and festival return following a year of financial rebuilding. Organizers launched an urgent fundraiser to save the festival last year after a number of corporate and nonprofit sponsors pulled their support.
🇺🇸 July 3–4: Let Freedom Sing! Nashville's Fourth of July celebration expands to two days for America250, with five stages downtown. Organizers promise the largest fireworks (and drone) show in Nashville history.
🔥 July 4: The 20th annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival. Honor Nashville's most famous dish at East Park from 11am to 3pm.
🏎️ July 18–19: Music City Grand Prix. IndyCar returns to Nashville Superspeedway for race weekend, with the main event on Sunday, July 19.
🍅 Aug. 7–8: Tomato Art Fest. Paint Five Points red. Participants tend to go all out with costumes and themed accessories. There will also be music, contests and an ample supply of Bloody Marys.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to add more events.