CMA Fest 2026 was fantastic! This year, we discovered new artists, saw CMA Fest debuts, and caught favorites from years past. Each day, artists performed on five free-to-enter stages from 11:00 am until around 6 pm. A four-day pass to the nightly shows at Nissan Stadium also included entry to Fan Fair X inside the Music City Center. Otherwise, you could have purchased single-day passes or a four-day pass to Fan Fair. Fan Fair X features artist meet-and-greets, interviews on the close-up stage, and acoustic performances on the Spotlight Stage, plus booths from various vendors. The best part is the air conditioning. Each day delivered amazing performances, but let’s recap the opening day.
The Beginning
CMA Fest kicked off at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 4th. We started the day at the Spotlight Stage, where Sadie Bass was first up and did not disappoint. This was my second time seeing Sadie live, but it won’t be the last. Be sure to check out her single, “Do Both.” After a short walk to Music City Park, I arrived as Moriah was on stage, complete with a mariachi band. She got the audience involved and even gave away her hat. The Mexican-American artist was captivating, and her vocals were great. This was my first time seeing Moriah, and I walked away tremendously impressed. Check out her music and catch her live if you get the chance.
Australian artist Austin Mackay was next on the Spotlight Stage. He was supposed to make his CMA Fest debut in 2025, but he was not allowed into the country after landing in Los Angeles. I caught his set this year since he had played one of our songwriter shows on a previous trip to Music City. Mackay is a nice guy and a tremendous talent. He plans to relocate to Nashville soon. Check out his latest release, “Same Place, Same Time.” Don’t miss “Find the Light”; it is one of my favorites from his catalog.
CMA Fest: A Talent-Filled Thursday Afternoon
Day one ended with an incredible afternoon of music. There were too many good options to see them all, so we had to make hard choices based on performance times and locations. Thankfully, we caught Kaylee Bell on the Dr. Pepper Amp stage. Bell has been one of my favorites for a few years now. If you missed it, check out the article on Kaylee Bell we did last year. Kelsi Mayne was next on the Spotlight stage, so I made a mad dash the five blocks to see Mayne and enjoy the air conditioning. Kelsi Mayne has been dropping a lot of great music this year; be sure to read the article coming soon on the Canadian country artist. Karley Scott Collins impressed fans at the Chevy Vibes stage with some of her new music.
Walker Montgomery was also on the Chevy stage, saving the Honky Tonks. The son of 90s country legend John Michael Montgomery brings a sense of nostalgia through his own brand of 90s country. Montgomery is a refreshing change from the bro-country that previously dominated country. As I left Walk of Fame Park, I noticed the large crowd Alexandra Kay had amassed in Bridgestone Plaza. So, I went to see Canadian Artist Parker Graye. Graye shone brightly on the Spotlight Stage, performing her song, “One Way.”
It seems seeing Julia Cole perform is a yearly tradition now, after seeing her at an unofficial CMA fest event in 2019. Julia continues to gain traction every year. Cole surprised the Bridgestone Plaza audience by inviting Alexandra Kay back to the stage to perform their 2022 song, “Best Worst Ex.” Next up was the 4:15 time slot, which was filled with a choice between Brooke Lee, Shaylen, and Bre Kennedy. Brooke Lee was the choice, and she was fantastic. Lee caught my attention in January with her song, “Burn to Black.” She followed that release with her “Desert Darling” EP. Seeing her live was well worth it.
The final performance of the day was by outlaw country artist Bryan Andrews. Andrews has taken a lot of criticism for his music and his outspokenness toward the Trump administration. But one thing is certain: whether you agree with him or not, he has the courage of his convictions. His songs, “The Older I Get” and “Yeehaw,” are well over a million streams on Spotify.
My Thoughts
CMA Fest is one of my favorite weekends of the year, because as a music fan, I get to immerse myself in so many amazing performances. The first day of this year’s festival was a heck of a way to kick off the weekend. My favorite performances of the day were Kelsi Mayne, Kaylee Bell, Karley Scott Collins, and Walker Montgomery. Make no mistake, though, every performer I saw thoroughly impressed me. I look forward to the next opportunity to see all these performers again. Be sure to check out their music on your favorite streaming platform and see them live when they come to a city near you.
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