CMA Fest began in 1972 as Fan Fair and has been held in Nashville every June since then. It became CMA Music Festival in 2004 and was renamed CMA Fest in 2018.

Quick Scoop

The festival is a four-day country-music event in downtown Nashville, and the current official site says the 2026 edition is June 4–7, 2026.

Timeline

  • 1972: First Fan Fair in Nashville.
  • 2004: Renamed CMA Music Festival.
  • 2018: Renamed CMA Fest.
  • 2020–2021: Not held because of the pandemic.

In short

If you meant the event’s origin, it was 1972. If you meant the most recent festival dates, the 2026 CMA Fest ran June 4–7, 2026.