Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project, Rising Appalachia, and Keller & The Keels Lead 2026 Lineup
The fifth annual CaveFest is set to return to The Caverns on October 10–11, bringing a weekend of Americana, bluegrass and roots music to one of Tennessee’s most distinctive venues.
The weekend will include a John Prine 80th birthday tribute featuring The Tree of Forgiveness Band and special guests. Another set will mark the 100th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions, early recordings often cited in the development of country music.
Additional programming is planned both above and below ground, including late-night shows, workshops and informal jam sessions. Some performances will be recorded for future broadcast as part of The Caverns Sessions on PBS.
Full CaveFest 2026 Line-Up
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project, Rising Appalachia, Keller & The Keels, John Prine 80th Birthday Celebration featuring The Tree of Forgiveness Band with special guests, Bristol Sessions 100th Anniversary Celebration (feat. Carlene Carter, Elizabeth Cook, Dom Flemons, Jim Lauderdale, Ashley Monroe), Lindsay Lou, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, Fruition, Scott Miller & The Commonwealth, Airshow (2 Late Nights), Uncle B’s Damned Ole Opry, Slay & Stinson, HuDost, Modern Biology: Music from Plants & Mushrooms, Three Tall Pines, The Flea Market Hustlers, Slap Dragon
A range of activities is also scheduled, including a Shakedown Street of festival vendors, guided tours of Big Room Cave, The Cavern's Kids Village, and cave yoga.
Two-day passes include camping, and admission is free for children 12 and under.
A kickoff event is scheduled for Friday, October 9, with a separate ticket required.
