What is CMA Fest? Festival history, 2027 dates and how to buy tickets

Every June, Nashville becomes the center of the country music world for four days. CMA Fest fills the city with nightly stadium concerts, artist appearances and the kind of fan energy that only happens when an entire genre's community shows up in the same place at the same time.

If you have never been, the scale can be hard to picture until you are standing in it. If you have been before, you already know why people start planning the next one before they leave town. 

Before the first 2027 passes go on sale, here is what to know about CMA Fest’s history, this year’s dates and the ticket options available during the initial release.

What is CMA Fest?

CMA Fest is a four-day country music festival held each June in downtown Nashville. The event is presented by the Country Music Association and combines nightly stadium concerts with daytime performances and fan experiences spread across the city.

The nightly stadium shows are the centerpiece. Tens of thousands of fans fill the stadium each night for a lineup that typically mixes headliners, established favorites and rising acts across multiple stages. During a typical CMA Fest weekend, the festival expands into downtown Nashville with outdoor stages, Fan Fair X, artist appearances and other fan-focused programming.

A portion of CMA Fest proceeds supports the CMA Foundation, which funds music education programs for students. That connection between the festival and the foundation has been part of CMA Fest's identity for years, and it gives the event a purpose beyond the music itself.

The history of CMA Fest

CMA Fest started as Fan Fair in 1972. The idea behind it was simple and, at the time, unusual: give country music fans a chance to meet the artists they loved in person. The first Fan Fair drew thousands of fans to Nashville for autograph sessions, performances and a level of artist-fan access that most genres never offered.

That close relationship between artists and fans became the event's identity. Over the following decades, Fan Fair grew from a convention-style gathering into something much bigger. The format expanded to include outdoor stages, larger venues and eventually stadium-sized headliner shows. The event was rebranded as the CMA Music Festival and later shortened to CMA Fest, but the core idea stayed the same: country music's biggest weekend belongs to the fans.

More than five decades later, CMA Fest is recognized as the longest-running country music festival in the world. Past lineups have featured artists ranging from longtime country stars to newer breakout acts, reflecting how the festival has always tried to represent the full spectrum of the genre in one weekend.

When and where is CMA Fest 2027?

CMA Fest 2027 is scheduled for June 10 through 13, 2027 in Nashville. Nightly stadium shows will take place at the new Nissan Stadium, and daytime stages and fan experiences are expected across downtown Nashville.

The complete 2027 lineup has not been announced yet. Artist announcements and additional festival details are expected closer to the event.

When do CMA Fest 2027 tickets go on sale?

The initial ticket release features four-night stadium passes. Here are the key dates for the onsale window.

SeatGeek presale

The SeatGeek presale begins Thursday, August 13, 2026 . Access is expected to require the applicable presale code. SeatGeek is the Official Ticketing Partner of CMA Fest, so the presale gives fans a chance to shop four-night passes before the general public window opens.

General onsale

Four-night CMA Fest passes go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 10 a.m. CT.

Other CMA Fest presales

Several other presale windows are scheduled before the SeatGeek presale and general onsale begin.

Most of the earlier windows are renewal-focused and intended for returning passholders. For fans buying CMA Fest passes for the first time, the SeatGeek presale on August 13 and the general onsale on August 14 are the dates to plan around.

What CMA Fest 2027 tickets will be available in August?

Four-night passes will be available. Single-night stadium tickets, Fan Fair X tickets, Riverside Retreat, VIP packages, hospitality options and other festival add-ons may be released at a later date, depending on demand availability, when the full lineup is announced.

If you are planning to attend all four nights and want to lock in your stadium seats early, the four-night pass is the ticket to shop during this first window.

Fans can also lock in the lowest price when they buy early, as prices are expected to rise closer to the event.

What does a CMA Fest 4-night pass include?

The four-night pass covers all four nights of stadium concerts at Nissan Stadium, including performances on the Main Stage and Platform Stage. It also includes admission to all four days of Fan Fair X, giving fans access to daytime performances, artist appearances, meet-and-greets, merchandise and more.

That makes the four-night pass the most complete ticket available during the initial August onsale. Fans can secure the full run of nighttime stadium shows along with four days of Fan Fair X before the complete lineup is announced.

Single-night stadium tickets and other products will be available later, so the four-night pass is best suited for fans already committed to the complete CMA Fest weekend rather than one specific artist or night.

Is a CMA Fest 4-night pass worth it?

The four-night pass is the right starting point for fans who want the full stadium concert experience and plan to spend the entire weekend in Nashville. Buying during the SeatGeek presale or initial onsale window also gives you advantages that go beyond the ticket itself.

Buying during the initial release may give you more available sections to compare before inventory changes and single-night buyers enter the market. If you are buying for a group, shopping early may give you more options for finding adjacent seats. And locking in your stadium pass early lets you start planning the rest of the Nashville trip, including hotels, flights and dining, before CMA Fest weekend pricing gets tighter across the city.

The four-night pass is also a natural fit for fans who do not want to wait for the lineup before committing. CMA Fest lineups have historically delivered a broad mix of headliners, fan favorites and newer acts, so the pass is less of a gamble on one night's bill and more of a commitment to the full festival experience.

How to buy CMA Fest 2027 tickets on SeatGeek

SeatGeek is the Official Ticketing Partner of CMA Fest, so the SeatGeek presale on August 13 and the general onsale on August 14 are two crucial windows for fans buying four-night passes for the first time.

1. Open the SeatGeek app or visit SeatGeek’s website.

2. Search for "CMA Fest.”

3. Enter the applicable presale code if you are shopping during the SeatGeek presale on August 13.

4. Select your preferred ticket option, highlighted by the four-night pass.

5. Compare available sections, ticket quantities and prices using the interactive seat map.

6. Review the ticket details and All-In Pricing before checkout. 

7. Complete the purchase and follow the delivery instructions in your SeatGeek account.

CMA Fest has been bringing country music fans to Nashville every summer since 1972. The stadium shows, the artist moments and the city itself all feel different during festival week. If you already know you want to be there for the full run, the four-night pass is the move and the SeatGeek presale on August 13 is the perfect chance to make it.