Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival Will Pause in 2026 for Exciting New Plans in 2027
Trending on Billboard
Organizers of the annual Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in Franklin, Tennessee, have announced a hiatus for the 2026 event, with plans to return in 2027 with an improved festival experience. The announcement, shared via Instagram on March 25, promises “something bigger, something better, something brighter” for attendees.
In the accompanying video, the festival organizers reflected on the “11 years of memories, of magic, of music” and highlighted that “something new is blooming.” The post teased “new sights, new sounds, new surprises!” and emphasized that this decision aims to enhance the overall festival experience.
Details regarding the cancellation of the 2026 festival or the specific plans for the 2027 event remain undisclosed.
Founded in 2015 by Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin, along with Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has featured an impressive lineup over the years. Headliners have included artists such as Cage The Elephant, Willie Nelson, and Wilco, all performing at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm. The festival’s 2016 edition showcased performances from Beck, Jason Isbell, and Daryl Hall & John Oates. Known for its diverse blend of country, rock, folk, and Americana, the event has also hosted notable artists like Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Foo Fighters, and The Lumineers.
In 2015, Griffin spoke with Billboard about the festival’s inspiration, citing the New Orleans Jazz Fest as a significant influence. “Jazz Fest has huge tents on the main stages that look unlike any other festival. It has a very bucolic, rural look to it and we’re taking that idea,” he remarked. “All the partners in Pilgrimage grew up in New Orleans going to Jazz Fest, and having gone to a lot of festivals around the country and world, I realized that model of a multi-genre day festival with a big emphasis on food and drinks and art really wasn’t done the way Jazz Fest does it. It hadn’t been done many places outside New Orleans. So that was really the emphasis behind Pilgrimage.”
Last year’s festival featured performances from Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Turnpike Troubadours, Better Than Ezra, American Aquarium, and Sam Barber.
