After days ofrumors about the future of Bonnaroo, the festival officially announced it would take a year off via a social media post.
"Bonnaroo will be taking a much-needed year off in 2027. This wasn’t an easy decision, and not one we take lightly, but in our hearts, we know this break will only make Bonnaroo better," the announcement said.
After multiple weather-related cancellations, festival organizers spent millions on infrastructure improvements to The Farm in Manchester, Tennessee, where 'Roo takes place to enhance festival grounds.
Enhancements made included, "improved drainage, 4.5 miles of new roadways, and 135 acres of new grass, all of which strengthened The Farm’s resiliency to Mother Nature."
Despite all the changes made, the announcement
said The Farm needed a year to recuperate before the festival plans to return in 2028.
Without Bonnaroo, here are other music festivals to check out over the next year.
1. 3 Sisters Bluegrass
This two-day free bluegrass festival is scheduled for Oct. 2-3, 2026, at Ross's Landing in Chattanooga. The festival was named for the three daughters of Fletcher Bright, who founded the festival. Bright was a legendary bluegrass fiddler.
The 2026 festival is being headlined by The New Dismembered Tennesseans on Friday, Oct. 2 then Randy Steele & High Cold Wind on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The festival began in 2007 and takes place rain or shine.
2. AmericanaFest
Put on by the Americana Music Association, AmericanaFest will take place Sept. 15-19 in Nashville.
A festival wristband costs $150. AmericanaFest also offers silver and gold wristbands at higher rates. Gold wristbands for 2026 are already sold out.
Artists scheduled to play the upcoming AmericanaFest include Abraham Alexander, Tenille Townes, Wynonna Judd and Brandy Clark.
3. Big Ears
The next Big Ears festival is planned for April 1-4, 2027, in Knoxville. Big Ears was founded by Bonnaroo co-founder Ashley Capps.
Unlike most festivals which are outside or in open-air venues, Big Ears takes place entirely indoors. It utilizes 20 Knoxville venues like The Mill & Mine, the Bijou Theatre and the Knoxville Civic Auditorium.
A 2027 artist lineup has not been announced. Artists who performed at Big Ears 2026 included Bloodshot Bill, Gwenifer Raymond and Chris Thile.
4. Bristol Rhythm & Roots
Scheduled for Sept. 11-16, 2026, in the "Birthplace of Country Music," Bristol Rhythm & Roots is celebrating 25 years during its upcoming festival. General admission tickets start at $25 and VIP packages can be upwards of $400.
Bristol, which falls on the Tennessee-Virginia state line, became known as the "Birthplace of Country Music" because of its 1927 Bristol Sessions, where country music legends such as Jimmie Rogers and the Carter Family first recorded their music.
Headliners over the three-day festival are St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Sierra Ferrell and Old Crow Medicine Show.
5. CaveFest
A two-day festival scheduled for Oct. 10-11, CaveFest takes place in The Caverns in Pelham, a subterranean music venue. The festival, which has taken place annually since 2021, will have above and below ground music as well as camping planned for the weekend.
In addition to music, tours and cave yoga will take place during CaveFest.
Artists set to play the 2026 CaveFest include Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, plus Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project.
General admission tickets, which include free car camping begin at $99.
6. CMA Music Fest
This four-day music festival takes over Nashville every year. The 2027 CMA Music Fest is scheduled for June 10-13.
It feels like CMA Fest 2026 just happened, but the festival's website already has a countdown going to the next one. Fans eager to get their hands on a four-day stadium pass can buy them for a starting price of $250. Trip packages that offer hotels and transportation are also an option.
A lineup for 2027 hasn't been announced, but artists who have played in the past include country music greats such as Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Ella Langley and Deana Carter.
7. RiverBeat Music Festival
RiverBeat Music Festival draws major national acts to Tom Lee Park each spring, featuring performances across multiple stages at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis.
In 2026, the lineup included Ice Cube, Marshmello, Lord Huron, Wu-Tang Clan, St. Vincent, De La Soul and the Dave Matthews Band.
Usually taking place at the beginning of May, 2027 dates have yet to be announced.
8. Freely Fest
This one-day festival will return to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Aug. 28, 2027. Little information about the 2027 Freely Fest has been announced. The website simply says, "Stay tuned."
Freely Fest celebrates "the power of music and the freedoms protected by the First Amendment," according to its website.
The 2026 Freely Fest was sold out, and the lineup included The Killers, T-Pain, Dominic Fike and Janelle Monáe.
9. Mempho Fest
This three-day festival will take place Oct. 9-11, 2026, in the Radians Amphitheatre at the Memphis Botanic Garden.
Pretty Lights, Widespread Panic, Gary Clark Jr. and Ziggy Marley are some of the artists scheduled for the upcoming Mempho Fest.
Three-day general admission tickets are $329. VIP packages and student discounts are also offered.
"Mempho Fest features some of music's biggest names playing in the most legendary music city on earth," the festival website says.
10. Muddy Roots
This roots and punk festival will take place over the course of three days on Sept. 4-6, 2026, in Cookeville. Organizers host Muddy Roots all over the world including Argentina, Brazil and the United Kingdom.
The Tennessee Muddy Roots festival began in 2014 and takes place on Cookeville's Junebug Boogie Ranch, and tickets and tickets for 2026 begin at $270.
Circle Jerks, Monolord and Municipal Waste are some of the artists included in this year's lineup.
11. Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
Pilgrimage, which normally happens in Franklin, canceled its 2026 festival, but announced it would return in 2027.
The festival has not yet announced dates or artists for 2027, but its website still alludes to a future show.
12. Sound Haven
Focusing on bass and techno, Sound Haven is is scheduled for July 29 through Aug. 1, 2027, in Tracy City.
General admission tickets begin at $239, VIP tickets begin at $449, and Alien VIP tickets begin at $1,400. Fans who purchase tickets can look forward to seeing artists like Distinct Motive, Boogie T, G Jones and Artifakts.
Sound Haven boasts that it is not subject to sound ordinances or curfews and has four stages with various productions over the four-day festival.
13. The Mountain USA Festival
If you're still disappointed by Bonnaroo's planned hiatus, The Mountain USA Festival is happening this weekend, Aug. 21-23, 2026, in Gatlinburg at the convention center.
The Mountain USA is "Tennessee's largest rock festival," and will bring artists like Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels of Poison and Lynch Mob to the Great Smoky Mountains for three days of music.
Three-day passes are sold out, but two-day passes are still available and start at $349 a person.
14. To the Future Festival
This festival encompasses what its name says, as it rings in the New Year and takes place Dec. 30-31, 2026, in Nashville. The festival was founded by BLNK CNVS, an event and promotion company based in Florida.
Griz, Tape B and Troyboi are some of the artists fans can look forward to seeing as they move on from 2026 and look toward 2027.
Two-day passes begin at $279 and VIP viewing begins at $369.
Afton Pratt covers trending news for The Knoxville News Sentinel and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Without Bonnaroo in 2027, these 14 Tennessee festivals fill the void
