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Hold the Dates!

We are thrilled to announce that Big Ears Festival will return to Knoxville, Tennessee.

April 1–4, 2027

We are already hard at work, and we cannot wait to share what we have in store.

Stay tuned!

A Look Back at 2026

Words can only go so far. There are moments from this past festival that we are still processing — the ones that stopped us in our tracks, that moved us to our core, that we keep replaying in our minds long after the music stopped. Every time we watch this video, we get chills all over again.

A Letter from our Founder

Six weeks later, and we’re still basking in the glow of our Big Ears weekend. The experiences you have shared, along with the feedback and suggestions, have been moving and inspiring — reminding us daily of why we do what we do.

It has become a cliché to say that we are living in challenging and troubling times. Last year, as we were planning the 2026 festival, we grappled and thought hard about the meaning and significance of art and culture in the current political, social, and cultural climate. What role can and should we play? How do we respond to the growing uncertainty and unpredictability surrounding us?

Our decision was to reach for the stars - to create and produce the most adventurous, boldest, most exciting edition of Big Ears that we possibly could. We hope that our commitment to those ideals was evident in your experience of the festival this year.

In so many ways, it was a more difficult year than ever before. The loss of funding on a national level and the surprises and unpredictability elsewhere created real challenges for everyone, and we were not immune. Travel, the visa situation for international artists, and the increasingly complex logistics and costs of virtually everything put new pressures on our organization. We are fortunate to have an extraordinary team capable of managing the unpredictable and unforeseen circumstances that arose.

As always, we are deeply grateful to our donors who stepped in to make it possible for us to present a festival with the remarkable breadth that Big Ears offers. Your generosity has never been more important, more impactful, or more meaningful than it is today. Your support allows us to reach beyond the obvious for the truly extraordinary.

As we end our current fiscal year and lay the foundation for Big Ears 2027, we humbly ask that you consider making a gift today. Your support makes it possible for us to take the bold, creative risks and to engage with the visionary artists that form the heart and soul of our rare and special Big Ears community.

Thanks for joining us in this adventure. We look forward to seeing you April 1 – 4, 2027, at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN.

— Ashley Capps —

Big Ears named Best Event of the Year

We are deeply honored to announce that Big Ears Festival has been recognized as the Best Event of the Year by the Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association. This recognition means the world to us — and we know that it belongs to every single person who makes this festival what it is.

To our patrons, who travel from around the corner and around the world to be here. To the artists, whose courage and creativity take our breath away every year. To our incredible staff, who pour their hearts into every detail. And to the local businesses and venues that open their doors and make downtown Knoxville come alive — this award is yours as much as it is ours.

Thank you, Knoxville. We are proud to call this city home.