CMA Fest Day One: Fans Flock To Downtown For CMA Fest 2026 Kick Off

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Russell Dickerson performs at the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

CMA Fest 2026 officially kicked off yesterday (June 4), showcasing rising and in-demand talent all around downtown.

CeCe kicked things off yesterday with the national anthem performance at Chevy Riverfront Stage, before Russell Dickerson, Ty Myers, Ashley Cooke, Cooper Alan, ERNEST, Stephen Wilson Jr., Redferrin, Vincent Mason and Shane Smith & The Saints all took the stage for their own sets.

Over at the Chevy Vibes Stage, fans were treated to performances from MORIAH, Chase McDaniel, Karley Scott Collins, Kelsey Hart, Walker Montgomery, Graham Barham, Brooke Lee and Colt Ford. The Dr. Pepper Amp Stage was taken over by The Jack Wharff Band, Kaylee Bell, Cody Hibbard, Pecos and the Rooftops, Willow Avalon, Drake Milligan, Shaylen and Travis Bolt.

Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi of Old Dominion perform onstage at Spotify House at CMA Fest 2026 – Day 1 at Ole Red on June 04, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images for Spotify

The Kruse Brothers, Tyce Delk, Just Jayne, Brad Cox, Jason Scott & The High Heat, Alexandra Kay, Julia Cole, Stella Lefty and Bryan Andrews all lit up the Good Molecules Reverb Stage infront of Bridgestone Arena, while Sterling Ezra, The Wilder Blue, Ashley Kutcher, Sons of Habit, BODHI, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, LANCO, Hayden Coffman and ROME all sang on the new Wrangler Remix Stage.

Inside Fan Fair X, Russell Dickerson was featured as the Artist of the Day on the CMA Close Up Stage, with additional appearances from The Red Clay Strays, Melissa Etheridge, Gretchen Wilson, John Morgan, Blake Pendergrass and Parker Welling. The Spotlight Stage featured performances from 2’Live Bre, Austin Mackay, Bre Kennedy, Gary Frost, Kelsi Mayne, Kingswood, Parker Graye, Sadie Bass and Sammy Arriaga.

In other places around the area, Ole Red brought back the famous Spotify House, with performances from Jon Pardi, Laci Kaye Booth, Zach John King, Emily Ann Roberts, Corey Kent, Jason Aldean, Koe Wetzel, Kameron Marlowe, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Old Dominion, Jelly Roll and Two Friends. Just above the main stage was the Fresh Finds Rooftop, where fans discovered rising artists Austin Michael, Belle Frantz, Schmitty, Lily Meola, Max Alan and Tyce Delk.

Carter Faith performs onstage during SiriusXM The Highway’s Music Row Happy Hour: CMA Fest Edition at Chief’s on Broadway on June 04, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Over at Chief’s SiriusXM’s The Highway hosted its Music Row Happy Hour: CMA Fest Edition. Appearances included Jelly Roll, Russell Dickerson, Jon Pardi, Ashley Cooke, The Band Perry, Carter Faith, Stella Lefty, Koe Wetzel, Gretchen Wilson, Brandon Wisham, Zach John King, Cooper Alan, Julia Cole, Emily Ann Roberts and John Morgan.

Category 10 hosted the Billboard‘s Country Live event, with performances from Carly Pearce, Chase Rice, Corey Kent, Drew Baldridge, Hunter Hayes, Lanie Gardner, The Band Perry, The Grimm, Ty Myers and The Red Clay Strays. Taking over Ryman Auditorium’s plaza stage was BMI’s annual BMI Block Party. Performers included Kat Luna, Robyn Ottolini, Tyce Delk and Trippp.

Kelsea Ballerini and SoFi held the finale of its Amplify Your Ambitions Contest at Analog at Hutton Hotel. Finalists Karen Hardy, Shantania and The Kentucky Gentleman took the stage to perform live in front of a judging panel that included Ballerini, SoFi Chief of Financial Empowerment Vivian Tu and Shane McAnally. Hardy emerged as the winner, and Ballerini did a surprise performance to wrap the event.

Gretchen Wilson and Melissa Etheridge performs at the CMA Close Up Stage in Fan Fair X on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Chase McDaniel performs at the Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville.

Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Courtesy of SoFi

The Jack Wharff Band performs at the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville.

Alexandra Kay performs at the Good Molecules Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Willow Avalon at the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Brandon Coleman and Andrew Bishop of The Red Clay Strays perform at Billboard Country Live held at Category 10 on June 04, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Courtesy of Billboard

Madison Hahnen
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