If winter starts feeling long around February, here’s your reminder that April exists.
Country Thunder Arizona is officially gearing up for 2026, and the lineup reveal makes a pretty convincing case for trading New England layers for desert sun. The festival returns to Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence, Arizona, April 9–12, with a bill that mixes current heavy-hitters, legacy names, and artists very much having a moment.
At the top: Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Zach Top, and Gavin Adcock headline the weekend. It’s a lineup that manages to feel balanced instead of chaotic. A little throwback, a little right-now, and plenty in between.
Beyond the headliners, the festival fills out nicely with names like Scotty McCreery, Dasha, Jackson Dean, Lanie Gardner, Ian Munsick, and Lonestar, plus a deep bench of rising artists scattered across multiple stages. It’s the kind of schedule where you circle a few must-sees and then end up discovering someone new because you wandered over with a drink in hand.
Country Thunder Arizona has been doing this a long time. This marks its 30th year, and the setup leans hard into the full festival experience: carnival rides, late-night dance parties, songwriter showcases, local artist spotlights, and enough food and vendor tents to keep you distracted between sets.
For Boston-based fans, the appeal is obvious. Early April in Arizona means sunshine, open skies, and boots that aren’t soaked from melting snow. Flights are manageable, the timing is perfect for a spring reset, and the lineup makes it feel like an actual destination trip instead of just a show.
Tickets are already on sale, including a payment plan option that makes planning ahead a little easier. If you’ve been looking for a reason to escape New England winter energy and land somewhere that feels loud, warm, and very country, this might be it.
