CMA Fest Booking Trends: Insights & Strategies for Hosts and Guests in 2025
Every June, Nashville is transformed as CMA Fest brings nearly 95,000 fans per day to the city for four unforgettable days of live country music . This massive influx many traveling with groups of 3–4 creates an event-demand surge not just in attendance but in accommodations. Here’s what’s trending in 2025 and how hosts and guests can make the most of it.
Attendance & Booking Patterns
In 2025, CMA Fest continued growing, with 95,000 daily attendees from all 50 US states and beyond . The average group stays about five nights, with some parties staying longer when combining visits to local attractions like the Grand Ole Opry or Nashville honky-tonks.
Room nights downtown also rose by around 5% compared to previous years, reinforcing how festival attendees want to stay close by.
Ticket Packages & Travel Planning
Festival organizers offer bundled lodging and ticket options, such as a 4-night hotel stay with stadium passes and Fan Fair X access. These packages appeal to fans who want a streamlined experience with concert access, accommodations, and curated perks included in one purchase.
Group travelers often seat their strategy around this booking rentals suitable for groups of 4–6 and securing lodging as early as December to avoid missing out. Reddit conversations reflect this urgency: “I waited too long and ended up booking an Airbnb on the beach for the wrong weekend. Never again.”
Economic Impact & Rental Pricing
CMA Fest 2024 generated $77.3 million in direct visitor spending, a 3.5% increase from 2023. Downtown room occupancy peaked at around 93.5%, especially on Friday nights. Considering those numbers, hosts who priced their properties appropriately earned significantly more during CMA Fest than outside peak periods.
Booking Trends Guests Should Know
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Guests are booking much earlier as early as November or December for the following June.
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Group stays of 4–5 nights are common, aligning with nightly event schedules and travel plans.
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Rentals near Nissan Stadium, Riverfront Park, The Gulch, or Downtown Broadway fill fastest.
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Festival attendees prefer homes that offer amenities like private outdoor spaces, kitchen access, and flexible check-in/check-out options.
CMA Fest Airbnb Rental
Search volume for CMA Fest Airbnb rental is highest in Q4–Q1, as guests plan months ahead. Hosts listing properties with early availability, festival access, and group-friendly amenities are seeing faster bookings and higher nightly rates.
Host Strategies for Maximum ROI
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Open listings early Q4 or early Q1 has become standard.
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Optimize pricing dynamically rate increases of 30–50% are common during festival weekends.
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Showcase proximity to festival venues maps, shuttle access, or walking time help listings convert faster.
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Feature thoughtful extras such as coolers, chargers, or local transport info to stand out.
Partner with Barcle Group to Shine During CMA Fest
CMA Fest offers a prime opportunity for short-term rental income. But managing early bookings, pricing, guest inquiries, and turnovers across festival weekends can be intense. Barcle Group provides local expertise and professional management in Nashville to help hosts thrive.
From scheduling strategically to leveraging short-term rental services in Nashville, Barcle Group optimizes listings for festival success. With full-service vacation rental management, they ensure you’re ready for CMA Fest and beyond .