Celebrating 53 Years!

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. The legendary CMA Fest has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 39 international countries. It is also the longest-running Country Music festival in the world! In 2022, CMA Fest featured more than 250 acts on 9 official stages – all to benefit music education. 

Thanks to the participation of artists and the broader Country Music community, a portion of proceeds from CMA Fest directly supports the CMA Foundation’s music education initiatives nationwide. Since 2006, these proceeds have helped fund programs that serve music teachers and students in grades K–12 across the United States. Together with our fans, partners and the Country Music community, CMA Fest continues to give back through the power of music education. To learn more, visit CMAfoundation.org.

Scroll through the photos below to see just a few of our favorite moments throughout the years.