Kelsea Ballerini Is Coming to Wildwood For the Barefoot Country Music Fest

Kelsea Ballerini Is Coming to Wildwood For the Barefoot Country Music Fest

The Barefoot Country Music Fest (BCMF) is already shaping up to be one of the biggest events of 2026.

Organizers have officially announced that multi-platinum country superstar Kelsea Ballerini will headline the beachfront festival when it returns to Wildwood from June 18 through 21, 2026.

Alongside Ballerini, BCMF has locked in two other major headliners: Post Malone and Eric Church, adding serious star power to the four-day beachside event.

A Record-Breaking Career

Kelsea Ballerini has consistently made history. With the release of her debut album The First Time, she became the only female country artist to hit No. 1 with the first three consecutive singles from a debut album.

This milestone earned her a GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist and launched a career filled with accolades and chart-topping success.

She has logged five back-to-back Top 10 entries on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, including the platinum-selling The First Time (2015), gold-selling Unapologetically (2017), kelsea (2020), ballerini (2020) and Subject to Change (2022).

With seven No. 1 singles and 32 certifications from the RIAA to date, her catalog features some of country music’s most recognizable hits including “Miss Me More”, “Peter Pan”, and “Half of My Hometown” featuring Kenny Chesney.

Awards, Accolades, and Influence

Among her many achievements, Ballerini has earned four GRAMMY nominations, two ACM Awards, two CMA Awards, the iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Artist, and multiple nominations from the AMA, CMT Awards, and People’s Choice Awards.

In 2019, she became the youngest member inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in nearly a century one of country music’s highest honors.

She has also expanded her creative reach, authoring a book of poetry (Feel Your Way Through, 2021), starring in the audiobook of Run, Rose, Run (2022) at Dolly Parton’s invitation, becoming the face of CoverGirl, and launching a cosmetic collaboration in 2023.

Recent Projects and New Music

Her fourth studio album, Subject to Change, delivered the gold-certified single “Heartfirst,” which earned another GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Solo Performance.

She followed it with Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, an intimate six-song project that earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album.

The release, accompanied by a short film written and directed by Ballerini, marked one of her most personal works to date, receiving widespread critical acclaim and leading to her Saturday Night Live debut and a TIME Magazine cover story.

Most recently, Ballerini announced her next studio album, Patterns, set for release on October 25 via Black River Entertainment.

The record features the tender single “Cowboys Cry Too,” a duet with GRAMMY nominee Noah Kahan that premiered during the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition to her new music, she serves as the face of CoverGirl and Pantene, and will appear as a Coach on Season 27 of NBC’s The Voice in Spring 2025.

Other Headliners: Post Malone & Eric Church

Post Malone is making his debut at BCMF and will take the Wildwood beach stage in 2026. Known for his genre-blending style and massive global audience, he recently transitioned more fully into country music with his album F-1 Trillion, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.

Festival co-producer Bob Durkin called Malone “one of the biggest superstars in the world” and emphasized that his new country-inclined work makes his Wildwood appearance especially notable.

Fans can expect a set that mixes his mainstream hits with his newer country-influenced tracks, set right on the sand and paired with the signature energy of BCMF.

Eric Church, also announced as a 2026 headliner, brings his country rock credentials and deep catalog of hits to the Wildwood stage.

With multiple ACM and CMA Awards, a reputation for high-energy performances, and a vast list of certified songs, Church adds serious veteran weight to the lineup.

His last few releases show an artist unafraid to experiment and push boundaries, making his headliner slot a major draw for longtime country fans.

Tickets for BCMF 2026 are on sale now at bcmf.com. A Black Friday Sale begins Monday, November 10, allowing fans to lock in their SVIP packages for just $199 down, with no payments until February.

For the latest updates, lineup announcements, and exclusive #BCMFHints, follow Barefoot Country Music Fest on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.