Now that the days of Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival each June are long gone, maybe you’re missing that vibe — the riverside concerts, food vendors, folding chairs, warm summer nights and live music echoing across the Tennessee River. While Riverbend remains on indefinite hiatus, Tennessee still has no shortage of outdoor music experiences ready to fill that summer festival void.
Aside from plenty of smaller events and entertainment closer to home, such as the Town of Jasper “Big Boom Celebration” on July 4th with live entertainment, Dunlap’s 4th of July Celebration, and other smaller events — maybe you’re wanting something a bit…more?
Fortunately for the music lovers and concert-goers, 2026 is shaping up to be packed with outdoor music festivals ranging from massive country showcases and bluegrass gatherings to rock festivals tucked into the Smoky Mountains and riverside concert series across the state.
For country music fans, you’re just days away from CMA Fest in Nashville, which remains one of the state’s biggest draws bringing major artists and fans from around the world downtown each summer. CMA Fest 2026 returns to downtown Nashville June 4-7, bringing four days of country music performances, fan events and concerts across multiple stages throughout Music City. This year’s lineup features major names including Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Carly Pearce, Shaboozey, Riley Green, Ella Langley and Zach Top, along with hundreds of additional artists performing on free daytime stages and nightly stadium shows…