CMA Fest, an annual event that dates back to its 1972 origins as Fan Fair, has been cancelled for the second straight year due to concerns over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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The 2021 edition of CMA Fest was scheduled for June 10-13. The event is slated to return next year on June 9-12, 2022.
"After thoughtful deliberation, we are saddened to share that CMA Fest will not take place in 2021," read a press release. "We know our fans near and far have hoped that the festival could safely return this summer, and while we are encouraged to see COVID-19 vaccines becoming more widely available, we still face several challenges that prevent us from bringing our fans around the world the CMA Fest experience they have come to expect. But rest assured, we have already started planning what will be the most EPIC celebration of Country Music next summer."
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The self-described longest running country music festival in the world draws massive crowds each year to Nissan Stadium and other spots near downtown Nashville.
Per the Nashville Business Journal (and as reported by Billboard), the 2019 CMA Fest brought $65 million in visitor spending to Music City. Attendees came from all 50 states and 37 different countries.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the long-running summertime event had never been cancelled.
"If you purchased four-day passes for CMA Fest 2020 and chose the rollover option, we will continue to honor your passes for CMA Fest 2022," the press release adds. "Those who purchased passes through Ticketmaster or the CMA Fest Box Office will receive an email in the next 24-48 hours with further information about retaining your passes or requesting a full refund. Answers to frequently asked questions are also available on CMAfest.com."
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