CNN To Air Farm Aid 2026 Live With Willie Nelson, Neil Young & More

Farm Aid 2026 will air live from Virginia Beach on CNN on Saturday, September 26 from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET. The broadcast will also stream on CNN.com/Watch and the CNN app.

Performances from Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young (& The Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (& Tim Reynolds), Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff will be featured in the broadcast. 2026 marks the second consecutive year CNN has partnered with Farm Aid to broadcast the benefit for family farmers nationwide.

John Berman and Laura Coates will co-anchor the special from the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater. Bill Weir, CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent, has been tapped to provide on-the-ground reporting.

CNN’s 2025 Farm Aid broadcast, which marked the festival’s 40th anniversary, reached 3.88 million viewers globally. More than $615,000 was donated to Farm Aid by CNN audiences.

“Family farmers grow our food and strengthen our communities. And when farmers struggle like they are now, communities feel it too,” said Farm Aid Founder Willie Nelson. “The challenges farmers face threaten their livelihoods and put all of us at risk. We’re bringing Farm Aid to Virginia to stand with the farmers and fishers who feed Hampton Roads and beyond — and to grow a food system that works for everyone.”

Farm Aid was founded in 1985 by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp. The 2026 festival continues the organization’s work supporting family farmers.

Farm Aid 2026: Music Festival Live airs September 26 at 7 p.m. ET on CNN, with streaming available to eligible CNN subscribers/pay-TV subscribers.

The full Farm Aid 2026 lineup also includes Turnpike Troubadours, Lukas Nelson, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Jesse Welles, Sierra Ferrell, Mon Rovîa, I’m With Her, Amythyst Kiah, Lily Meola and Chris Pierce, who are set to perform during the afternoon portion of the benefit. Lawn tickets are still available.