Farm Aid 2026: CNN broadcasts lineup plus streaming and radio options

Farm Aid 2026 is set to be broadcast tonight from Virginia Beach, with CNN handling the television coverage from 7–11 pm Eastern and 4–8 pm Pacific. This marks the festival’s second year partnering with CNN on the telecast, aligning network exposure with an event that supports American family farms.

Per the official lineup, a mix of veteran and contemporary acts is planned, including Willie Nelson & Family, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Turnpike Troubadours, Lukas Nelson, Ty Myers, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Jesse Welles, Sierra Ferrel, Mon Rovía, I’m With Her, Amythyst Kiah, Lily Meola and Chris Pierce. The roster emphasizes a blend of roots, country, folk, and indie sets across the evening.

For viewers who want to tune in beyond CNN, Farm Aid 2026 will be streaming live via the Farm Aid site and the festival’s official YouTube channel. Global fans can also access a live stream through nugs, with the nugs mobile app or nugs.net and the official nugs YouTube channel, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. All Access subscribers can watch on big screens through Roku and Apple TV, expanding viewing options for home and on-the-go audiences alike.

Radio listeners aren’t left out: SiriusXM will provide comprehensive coverage starting at noon Eastern, with Willie’s Roadhouse (channel 61) and Dave Matthews Band Radio (channel 30) delivering the full festival via satellite and the SiriusXM app. The company notes this marks the 17th year of its involvement with Farm Aid, including backstage interviews with artists and family farmers.

CNN anchors John Berman and Laura Coates will co-anchor the evening’s coverage, with Bill Weir contributing climate reporting from the ground. In addition to the on-air broadcast, backstage conversations and festival updates are planned to accompany the live performances and the organization’s ongoing work to strengthen family farming year-round.

Readers should expect a festival experience designed to blend performance with programmatic storytelling about family agriculture, the event’s core mission. The Virginia Beach setting and a diverse lineup situate Farm Aid 2026 as a modern, multimedia broadcast event aimed at broadening awareness while delivering a live concert experience for fans around the world.

Source: Deadline

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