Miranda Lambert and More Are Coming to Wildwood For Barefoot Country Music Fest 2026
The countdown to summer in the Wildwoods has officially begun.
The Barefoot Country Music Fest, the Northeast’s largest outdoor country music celebration, has announced its 2026 Thursday Kick Off lineup, and the beach is set for one of its biggest opening nights yet.
When BCMF returns to Wildwood Beach from June 18 to 21, the four day festival will begin with a star packed launch featuring Post Malone, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, and now Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell, Chase Matthew, and more performers yet to be revealed.
Barefoot Country Music Fest 2022 Early Bird Tickets
Miranda Lambert Brings Her First BCMF Appearance to Wildwood Beach
Headlining the Thursday Kick Off is country powerhouse Miranda Lambert, who will be making her BCMF debut.
Lambert stands among the most awarded artists in modern country music. She is a three time GRAMMY winner, a 14 time CMA Award winner, and holds the record as the most decorated artist in Academy of Country Music history.
Lambert continues to push boundaries with her tenth studio album, Postcards from Texas, driven by her newest single “Run.”
Across her career she has released 10 consecutive Top 10 albums, seven number one records, 10 number one singles, and collected more than 80 major industry awards. Fans can expect the signature combination that has made her a legend. Powerful vocals, raw storytelling, and a live show that blends emotion and electricity from start to finish.
Cole Swindell Returns to the Wildwood Stage
Festival favorite Cole Swindell will return to BCMF following several standout performances in the past. Swindell has earned a reputation as one of country music’s most reliable hitmakers with chart toppers including “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” “Chillin’ It,” “Middle of a Memory,” and the emotional fan favorite “You Should Be Here.”
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Swindell’s success extends beyond his own recordings. He has claimed 13 number one singles as an artist and 14 as a songwriter along with multiple ACM and iHeartRadio Music Awards.
His newest album, Spanish Moss, includes the chart topping single “Forever to Me,” proving that he continues to evolve while staying firmly connected to the sound that made him a fan favorite on festival stages across the country.
Chase Matthew Brings Explosive Energy Back to BCMF
Also joining the Thursday lineup is rising country star Chase Matthew. His combination of grit, heart, and modern storytelling has helped him build a massive following in just a few short years. Matthew has collected more than one billion global streams and broken out with songs like “County Line,” “Love You Again,” and “We Had It Good.”
Named to MusicRow’s Next Big Thing list and chosen for the Grand Ole Opry’s NextStage Class of 2024, Matthew has quickly become one of the most watched young artists in the genre. His return to Wildwood Beach will bring a high energy performance that matches the excitement of opening night.
“Thursday Kick Off is where the party starts, and this lineup is built for it,” said Bob Durkin of Southern Entertainment. “With Miranda’s BCMF debut and Cole and Chase joining the lineup, we are set to kick off this beach party like never before.”
Behind the Scenes at Barefoot Country Music Fest 2025 – Exclusive Access!
A Festival Known Across the Country
In just five years, Barefoot Country Music Fest has become one of the nation’s premier summer festivals. It has been recognized by USA Today, Billboard, and Rolling Stone and has hosted multiple sold out years on the iconic Wildwood beachfront.
Tens of thousands of fans travel from across the United States and beyond each June for four days of concerts, ocean views, and Wildwood Boardwalk energy.
It has honestly become a highlight of the summer, well the kick off to the summer.
The Wildwood Video Archive took you behind the scenes of the Barefoot Country Music Fest this past summer. You can check out that tour video at the bottom of this article.
Tickets and Black Friday Deals
Tickets for BCMF 2026 are now on sale at barefootcountrymusicfest.com. The festival’s Black Friday Sale is underway. Fans can secure an SVIP package for 199 dollars down with no payments until February. The sale ends November 28 at midnight.
For updates and exclusive hints, fans can follow Barefoot Country Music Fest on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok using the hashtag BCMFHints.