CMA Fest 2024: Which concerts are free during annual Nashville festival

Audrey Gibbs and Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean
Updated ·6 min read

The longest running country music festival — CMA Fest — is coming back to downtown Nashville from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9, bringing tons of opportunities to catch free country music shows.

With over 300 performers flocking to Music City to perform on multiple stages, the huge festival brings nearly 100,000 fans to Nashville.

Depending on which CMA Fest experience you aim for, you can attend CMA Fest free, for under $25, or you can purchase stadium tickets from $15 to upwards of $325.

The festival includes free performances at daytime outdoor shows — which fans can attend without a ticket — and activities lining Nashville's lower Broadway and inside the honky-tonks.

Michael Spratt, from Davenport, IA, and Laurie Montgomery, from Nashville, dance at Roberts Western World after storm delays shut down the outdoor stages during the 50th annual CMA Fest in Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday, June 11, 2023
Michael Spratt, from Davenport, IA, and Laurie Montgomery, from Nashville, dance at Roberts Western World after storm delays shut down the outdoor stages during the 50th annual CMA Fest in Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday, June 11, 2023

There will also be concerts at Ascend Amphitheater and Nissan Stadium and meet-and-greets with artists at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center. For these events, fans will need to buy tickets to attend.

Want to attend CMA Fest for free? Want to catch some shows, but you're on a budget?

We've got all your answers here.

What parts of CMA Fest 2024 are free?

Daytime, outdoor stages will offer free performances.

Broadway and Fan Alley (open at 10 a.m. CDT each day) are free and open to the public.

There will also be free games, activities, giveaways and more with CMA Fest's partners.

Which stages at CMA Fest are free? Who is performing on the free stages?

Chevy Riverfront Stage

This is the largest daytime stage at CMA Fest. It is located at Riverfront Park, on the bank of the Cumberland River.

Richard Brewer of Loretto, Tenn., sports a "Hug Me" shirt and smiley face hat as he waits for Lainey Wilson to kick-off the action on the Riverfront Stage the first day of CMA Fest in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday morning, June 8, 2023. "I've got a big collection of big hats and this is my number one," Brewer said. "It brings a smile to people's faces."

Shows on the Chevy Riverfront Stage start at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday. The lineup includes Gavin DeGraw, The War and Treaty, Megan Moroney and more.

Dr. Pepper Amp Stage

This stage is at Ascend Park, located behind the amphitheater.

Shows begin at 11 a.m. each day, with headliners including Mickey Guyton, Home Free, Brittney Spencer and more.

Chevy Vibes Stage

This stage is located at Walk of Fame Park, offering daytime performances.

Shows begin at 11 a.m. each day, featuring performances from LANCO, Little Texas, Kylie Morgan and more.

Good Molecules Reverb Stage

This is located on the Southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at Bridgestone Plaza near the Broadway bars.

Shows begin at 10:15 a.m. each day, with shows from Dasha, Mason Ramsey, LECADE and more.

Hard Rock Stage

This is located at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville and will feature free daily performances from Thursday to Sunday and nightly performances from Thursday to Saturday.

Shows begin at 10:15 a.m. each day. This stage features sets from Tyler Booth, Sophia Scott, Flat River Band and more.

You can see of the free stages' full line-ups at cmafest.com/schedule.

What artists can I see for free at 2024 CMA Fest?

You can see shows from these artists and many more for free at 2024 CMA Fest:

Gavin DeGraw, Megan Moroney, The War and Treaty, Mickey Guyton, Home Free, Brittney Spencer, LANCO, Little Texas, Kylie Morgan, Dasha, Mason Ramsey, LECADE, Tyler Booth, Sophia Scott, Flat River Band, Priscilla Block, BRELAND, Restless Road, Niko Moon, Colbie Caillat, 49 Winchester, The Castellows, Blanco Brown, Kassi Ashton, Carter Faith, Willie Jones, Angie K, Shaboozey, RVSHVD, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Logan Crosby, Trey Lewis.

You can see Dolly Parton or Lainey Wilson at CMA Fest for $10. Here's how.

Fan Fair day passes are one of CMA Fest's best deals.

Inside Music City Center are CMA Fest's Close Up Stage and Spotlight Stage at Fan Fair X exhibitions.

Located inside Music City Center on Level 3, everything from indoor stages with acoustic performances and interviews, games, shopping, comfortable seating and more are there.

Fan Fair X is open 9:30 a.m. CDT to p.m. CDT on Thursday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m. CDT to 4 p.m. CDT on Sunday.

Dolly Parton, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson and more will be present at 2024's CMA Fest's Fan Fair X at Music City Center
Dolly Parton, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson and more will be present at 2024's CMA Fest's Fan Fair X at Music City Center

Yes, we know. Getting into Fan Fair X and the Close Up Stage for Dolly Parton's Thursday morning interview with Entertainment Tonight's Rachel Smith is impossible. Tickets are sold out.

However, CMA Award winners Cody Johnson and Thomas Rhett are making guest appearances for interviews on the Close Up Stage on Friday and Saturday. And yes, your reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson, will be present on Sunday.

There are also 100 artists available daily for meet-and-greets, plus Amazon's Country Heat podcast is doing live interviews with stars, while numerous country lifestyle vendors and influencers will be present, too.

Three first-come first-served solo day passes for Fan Fair X — air-conditioned, inside of Music City Center — pairs well with a walk down Broadway all day long taking in honkytonks and free shows aplenty.

And yes, there are highlights including Universal Music Group's shows at 5th and Broadway's Skydeck alongside Ole Red's Spotify House installation. Everything is first-come, but some times are better than others.

Use the CMA's free CMA Fest phone app to better understand how to navigate your day.

Which other stages at CMA Fest are not free?

Luke Combs performs during CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Combs performs during CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nissan Stadium Main and Platform Stages, Ascend Amphitheater, CMA Close Up Stage join Fan Fair X and CMA Spotlight Stage at Fan Fair X are all ticketed stages.

Which events at CMA Fest are free?

  • For the fifth year, Spotify is activating Blake Shelton's Ole Red bar and honky-tonk as its "Spotify House" installation. 60 artists — including Grammy winner Ashley McBryde and 30-time country chart-topper Luke Bryan, viral favorites Tanner Adell, Dasha and Shaboozey, plus numerous Spotify Hot Country playlist favorites — will be in attendance.

  • Universal Music Group is bringing most of its entire roster to 5th and Broadway's Skydeck venue during CMA Fest. Tyler Hubbard? He'll be there. The War and Treaty? Their ovation-worthy duets are accounted for. Contemporary Christian-to-country crossover favorite Anne Wilson is in attendance, too. Sam Williams? He's there as well. It's a stacked lineup, for sure.

  • Festival Kickoff Rooftop Party at Acme Feed & Seed will take place on Wednesday, June 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. More details HERE.

  • Camp Sony at Acme Feed & Seed will take place June 6-9, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More details HERE.

  • The Tyler Rich Fan Party is on Friday, June 7, at Barstool Nashville with a performance beginning at 4:15 p.m. More details HERE.

  • CMA Rising Stars Meet & Greet is on Thursday, June 6, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Finch American Grill. Gowa Gibbs, Larysa Jaye and Dillon Carmichael will be hosting the events. More details HERE.

  • 19 Takeover is happening on Thursday, June 6, at 4 p.m. at 6th & Peabody. At the event, 19 Recordings will be taking over 6th & Peabody with performances from "American Idol" contestants past and present, including: Colin Stough, Grace Leer, HunterGirl, Jack Blocker, Triston Harper, Emmy Russell, Haven Madison, Iam Tongi, Mia Matthews, Will Moseley, Ajii, Jayna Elise, Jordan Anthony, Kaibrienne, and MacKenzie Sol.

For more information, head to cmafest.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Fest 2024: Free concert and events headlines in Nashville