CMA Fest: Your Ultimate Guide to Music, Events & Insider Tips

🎶 Get ready, country music fans—CMA Fest is back and bigger than ever! 🌟 Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned festival-goer, this iconic Nashville event is packed with unforgettable performances, surprise guest appearances, and nonstop entertainment. From legendary stars to rising talents, every corner of Music City is buzzing with excitement. 🎸✨ Grab your cowboy boots, soak in the electric atmosphere, and get ready for an epic celebration of all things country music! 🤠🎤

Xcalibr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This content is taken from the upcoming book Nashville Local’s Guide for Visitors and Newbies, which you can support on Kickstarter by clicking the link above. This article may contain affiliate links, which compensate me a bit for my time at no extra cost to you.

The Layout of the Land

CMA Fest takes place downtown from the Music City Center over the river to the Stadium. Below is a map showing the different parts of this event.

Adapted from the CMA Fest Map.

There are three paid venues in the festival:

Stadium concerts – these are the big name acts that play each night. Headliners are
- Thursday – Jason Aldean
- Friday – Keith Urban
- Saturday – Rascall Flatts
- Sunday – Luke Bryan
Ascend Ampitheater Concerts – also big names, but themed
- Whiskey Jam
- Jake Owen and Friends
- Wynonna Judd’s Girls Night Out

The Stadium concerts take place on two stages, the Main Stage and the Platform Stage. There is also Fan Fair X, which has two stages Closeup and Spotlight and also features meet & greet opportunities with country stars. This runs $28, but is free with the 4-night stadium pass. The 4 day passes run anywhere from $327.25 to $4142.05 for VIP seating (includes meals, open bar, close up performances. The Ascend shows are as low as $15 for lawn seats and up to $70 for the pit up near the stage.

The rest of the stages are free, including AMP Stage, Riverfront Stage, Reverb Stage, and the Vibes Stage.

Fan Fair X

Fan Fair originally launched as the name for CMA Fest when I moved to Nashville in 1997. The first event took place in 1972 at the Municipal Auditorium, now home to the Musicians Hall of Fame. In 2004, organizers renamed it CMA Fest due to declining attendance. Last year, more than 90,000 fans attended daily, and this year’s festival is projected to exceed that number.

At Fan Fair X at CMA Fest 2025, country music fans experience exclusive artist interactions, exhibits, and immersive displays. Held indoors at the Music City Center, this vibrant hub features meet-and-greets, panel discussions, and interactive showcases that highlight the legacy and culture of country music. Whether collecting autographs from legendary artists or discovering rising stars, Fan Fair X delivers an unforgettable behind-the-scenes experience.

Each day, top country stars take the stage for live acoustic performances, intimate Q&A sessions, and personal fan interactions. Industry insiders and songwriters lead engaging panels, offering fans a rare glimpse into the creative process behind their favorite hits.

Beyond the music, Fan Fair X is packed with activities, including exclusive merchandise booths, photo ops, and interactive experiences celebrating country music’s rich heritage. Fans can explore historical exhibits, browse rare memorabilia, and engage with brand activations designed to bring the spirit of CMA Fest to life. Step into the heart of the festival, absorb the energy, and make lasting memories with fellow country music enthusiasts!

Local’s Tip: If you want to see more intimate Q&A’s and concerts, be sure to get a Fan Fair ticket. The artists playing here will also have shows on the bigger stages around downtown, but the smaller, more intimate shows are worth looking at.

Planning

I’ve mapped out the full lineup for every stage, so you won’t miss a single act! 🎶

Keep in mind, Fan Fair X—home to the Spotlight and Closeup stages—costs $28 for entry. But here’s a pro tip: if you’ve got a 4-day stadium concert pass, you get in for free!

Safety & Logistics

Check out my safety page for more information on staying safe. As a general set of rules:

Only carry what you need. If you brought a wad of cash, only carry what you are spending that night and leave your expensive jewelry in the hotel safe.
Keep your belongings on you at all time. If you set a bag down, wrap the strap around your leg.
Wallets are best in the front pocket. They are harder to pickpocket here.
Keep your eyes and hands on your drinks. Drugging is not super prevalent due to the police and security in clubs, but it does happen. Consider drink covers.
Be prepared to go through security screenings to get into the CMA Fest area, which covers a large portion of downtown (see map).
- Purses: Clear purses for the stadium shows, but will also make it easier to get through security checkpoints.
- Alcohol and Containers: If you are in a hotel outside of the secure area, plan on pre-gaming outside, as you will not be allowed to carry drinks into the area. Technically, paper and plastic cups are not covered under the letter of the law, but metal and glass are.
- Backpacks: Backpacks may get additonal scrutiny and be refused. Many of the local bars do not allow backpacks or camera bags inside.
Wear comfortable shoes. If you must wear cowboy boots, take some time to break them in before you try a marathon walk around CMA Fest.

Local’s Tip: If you forgot something, Amazon has an operations center in Nashville, so you can get a lot of common items the same day or overnight. For a hotel, just your name and room number on the second address line. For Airbnb, it is often best to use a locker. There is one located in Premier Parking garage just north of Assembly Hall – 144 5th Ave N.

Accommodation

Everything will be at a premium during CMA Fest. You can find cheaper accommodation near the stadium, generally, or the few economy hotles in midtown near music row. You can get further out of downtown for savings, but rideshare will surge during this week. Airbnb is often a more economical options for rooms, especially if you are splitting the costs. Do note that there are fewer really large units near downtown.

Local’s Tip: Look for units in SoBro, as it is highly walkable to Lower Broad and the pedestrian bridge due to the flat nature of the walk. You will thank me later at night when your feet ache.

Parking

Nashville Downtown has a map for the parking lots downtown. It is also wise to consult apps like SpotHero, as you can often find discounted parking.

Local’s Tip: Walking a bit further to where you park gets you further out of the congestion when the evening ends.The parking lot on 3rd just south of the pedestrian bridge hires off duty police to guide traffic and will be slightly less hectic for this reason. It will still take you 1/2 hour or more to get out of downtown after a stadium concert.

Food & Drink

There is a food truck row on 5th Avenue South, alongside the Music City Center. Additionally, food trucks will be located in Fan Alley on 1st Avenue South. There are vendors inside both Nissan Stadium and Ascend Ampitheater. Assembly Hall is a great choice for a meal, as there are more than 30 vendors … but note it will be busier than normal this week.

Local’s Tip: If you know where you want to eat, get a reservation, if possible. NOTE: Many restarurants do not reserve at all during CMA Fest and others won’t for large parties.

Other Things to Do

Popups

CMA Fest 2025 is bringing exciting pop-up events all over downtown Nashville, adding even more energy to the festival! 🎶🔥

🎤 Must-See Pop-Ups at CMA Fest 2025

Big Machine Pop-Up – Hosted at Bell Bottoms Up, this event features free acoustic performances, meet-and-greets, and brand activations from artists like Midland, Brett Young, RaeLynn, and Conner Smith.
Spotify House at Ole Red – A multi-day pop-up featuring live performances from country stars like Carly Pearce, Riley Green, and Nate Smith.
SiriusXM’s Neon Steeple at Chief’s – A special CMA Fest pop-up inside Eric Church’s honky-tonk, featuring performances and interviews with artists like Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, and Shaboozey.
Fan Alley on 1st Avenue – A brand-new activation featuring food trucks, a tequila bar, and booths from brands like Celsius, Busch Light, and Wild Turkey.
Megan Moroney’s ‘The Emo Cowgirl’ at L27 Rooftop Lounge – Starting June 6, L27 at The Westin Nashville transforms into The Emo Cowgirl, an immersive rooftop pop-up experience curated by Megan Moroney. Fans can enjoy signature cocktails, themed décor, exclusive merch, and a menu inspired by Moroney’s favorite comfort foods.

These pop-ups add extra excitement to CMA Fest, offering exclusive performances, artist interactions, and fun experiences beyond the main festival stages. Let me know if you need more details! 🎸🔥

Outside of the Fest

If you are not attending the concerts at night, there is still plenty going on in the local Honky Tonks. Each night of CMA Fest will be crazy and sometimes an up and coming artist will book a slot at a local bar and play and meet & greet. If you have addition time, check out my article The Short Trip Nashville Itinerary: How to Explore Music City in a Day or a Weekend for more ideas.

Here are a few other ideas:

Book the Country Music Hall of Fame, Hatch Print, and Studio B Tours. Recommended to hit Studio B at their earliest tour, then Hatch Print, then take your own time at the museum.
Take a tour at the Ryman – the Self-Guided Tour is the most flexible, but the guided tour also gets you back stage and the VIP tour also gets you a print and lanyard.
Visit the free Tennessee State Museum and Farmer’s Market.