There is something specific that happens when a country headliner hits the stage at Myrtle Beach just as the sun is going down over the Atlantic. The sky turns that particular shade of orange that only coastal South Carolina does at dusk, the crowd in front of the stage is sunburned and happy from a full day in the sea air, and for a moment the music and the ocean and the light are all doing the same thing simultaneously. Carolina Country Music Fest is the only major country festival in the United States where this happens — where the ocean is part of the production, not just the backdrop. I have been to CMA Fest, I have been to Stagecoach, and neither of them has the specific magic of watching Blake Shelton close a night while the Atlantic is 200 metres behind you.
Carolina Country Music Fest 2026 runs Thursday June 4 through Sunday June 7 at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — the largest four-day outdoor country music festival on the East Coast, with headliners Blake Shelton, Post Malone, Luke Bryan, and Riley Green across four nights on the oceanfront main stage. Here is the complete guide.
- What is Carolina Country Music Fest and what is its history?
- How many people attend CCMF?
- What should you expect at CCMF 2026?
- When and where is CCMF 2026?
- How do you get tickets to CCMF 2026?
- Who is playing at CCMF 2026?
- What should you wear to CCMF 2026?
- What should you pack for CCMF 2026?
- What is not allowed at CCMF 2026?
- How do you get to CCMF 2026?
- Where should you stay for CCMF 2026?
- What food and drink is available at CCMF?
- What are the best tips for CCMF 2026?
- Are there after parties at CCMF 2026?
- FAQ
What is Carolina Country Music Fest and what is its history?
Carolina Country Music Fest launched in 2015 as a beach-based country music festival produced by Southern Entertainment, a Myrtle Beach-based production company. The concept was straightforward: bring major country artists to an oceanfront stage in one of the most visited beach destinations on the East Coast, and let the combination of country music and Atlantic Ocean do the rest. The formula worked immediately. The festival sold out in its early years and has grown consistently into the dominant country music event in the southeastern United States.
2026 is the 11th edition of CCMF and the first time Post Malone has headlined a major country festival — his crossover into country music has been one of the more discussed developments in the genre over the last year, and his Myrtle Beach headline is a statement about where the boundaries of country currently sit. The festival occupies 18 acres of oceanfront property at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion, incorporating two VIP areas, concessions, merchandise, and a main stage that faces the Atlantic. It is the only major country festival in the United States where the ocean is literally part of the festival grounds.
The economic impact of CCMF on the Myrtle Beach area is significant — $50 million annually according to city officials, making it the largest single economic event in the city's calendar. The festival draws tens of thousands of attendees from across the country and is the primary driver of late spring hotel and restaurant business in the Grand Strand area.
How many people attend CCMF?
CCMF draws tens of thousands of attendees across the four-day festival. The 18-acre oceanfront venue at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion — spanning the Myrtle Beach boardwalk to Ocean Boulevard — has the capacity to host major headline shows at full festival scale. The festival's $50 million economic impact figure, cited by Myrtle Beach city officials, reflects the full commercial footprint of the event across hotels, restaurants, and retail across the Grand Strand area. It is the largest annual event in Myrtle Beach by economic impact and by out-of-town visitor numbers.
What should you expect at CCMF 2026?
Four consecutive evenings of headline country music on an oceanfront stage, with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop and the Myrtle Beach boardwalk running alongside the festival grounds. The main stage faces the ocean, which means watching the show with sea air and the sound of waves as the ambient backdrop to the music. Two VIP areas offer elevated views, premium bar access, and the Myrtle Beach sky above the main stage at sunset before each evening's headline sets.
The festival begins each day in the afternoon, with opening acts building through the day toward the evening headline. CCMF has a secondary stage in addition to the main oceanfront stage — more than 40 artists perform across the four days, giving the festival genuine programming depth alongside its major headline bookings. The cashless wristband system handles all on-site payments — load your wristband balance in advance through the festival app or at the registration tent to avoid queues at vendor points during the shows.
Myrtle Beach in early June is genuinely warm: daytime temperatures run 26 to 32 degrees Celsius (79 to 90 Fahrenheit) with the Atlantic humidity adding to the heat. The ocean breeze moderates the temperature at the festival grounds compared to further inland, and the late afternoon into evening hours — when the headline acts perform — are consistently pleasant at 22 to 27 degrees Celsius (72 to 81 Fahrenheit). Sunscreen and a hat for the afternoon show hours are non-negotiable.
When and where is CCMF 2026?
Carolina Country Music Fest 2026 runs Thursday June 4 through Sunday June 7 at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place, located on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk between 8th and 9th Avenues North and between Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The festival grounds span 18 acres of oceanfront property. Shows begin Thursday evening and run through the Sunday headline performance.
How do you get tickets to CCMF 2026?
Tickets for CCMF 2026 are available through the official Carolina Country Music Fest website at carolinacountrymusicfest.com and through authorised ticketing partners. Four-night GA passes and single-night tickets are both available. Super VIP packages — which include premium viewing, backstage access, and exclusive hospitality — have limited remaining availability. The cashless wristband system is used for all on-site payments; wristbands are mailed in May to the address on file, with will-call pickup available for tickets purchased closer to the event. Register your wristband in advance through the festival app to avoid long lines at the festival entrance.
Who is playing at CCMF 2026?
The four headline nights each feature a major country or crossover artist closing the main stage. Blake Shelton — 13 number one singles, multiple CMA and ACM Awards, and a career that spans two decades of radio country — headlines one night. Luke Bryan brings his consistent arena-filling energy to the oceanfront stage. Riley Green, one of contemporary country's most authentic new voices and a headliner at multiple 2026 festivals, headlines Saturday. Post Malone closes the weekend — his country pivot is the most discussed booking in CCMF's history and the clearest signal of where the genre's edges are moving in 2026.
The supporting lineup includes Justin Moore, Lauren Alaina, Cole Swindell, Tucker Wetmore, Flatland Cavalry, Dasha, Tracy Lawrence, Chris Janson, LOCASH, Drake White, Rodney Atkins, Chris Lane, and Ashley Cooke, among more than 40 artists across the four days. The full daily lineup splits are available at carolinacountrymusicfest.com.
What should you wear to CCMF 2026?
CCMF sits at the intersection of country festival fashion and East Coast beach culture, which gives it a slightly more casual register than a landlocked country festival like Stagecoach or Rock the South. The visual language is still cowgirl and western — rhinestone bodysuits, fringe, cowboy hats, boots or wedge sandals — but the beach proximity gives permission for lighter fabrics, shorter hemlines, and the relaxed energy of a week at the shore layered on top of country festival dressing.
The cowboy hat is the single most important item for CCMF. It provides sun protection across the afternoon show hours at 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) at the exposed oceanfront stage, and it anchors the western aesthetic whether you are in a full rhinestone cowgirl bodysuit or a simpler denim-and-fringe combination. A rhinestone or sparkling cowboy hat in pink, gold, or white is the most photographed item at CCMF every year. For the evening headline shows, as the ocean breeze picks up and the temperature drops to 22 to 25 degrees Celsius (72 to 77 Fahrenheit), a rhinestone bodysuit or cowgirl costume with boots is the ideal combination. Browse the festival clothing collection for cowgirl and western-inspired pieces suited to the Myrtle Beach heat.
Shop the look — CCMF 2026
Austin Pink Cowgirl Bodysuit
€324.95
Dallas Pink Cowgirl Costume
€389.95
Golden Rhinestones and Sparkling Cowboy Hat
€32.95
White Rhinestone Cowgirl Hat
€62.95
What should you pack for CCMF 2026?
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ — oceanfront South Carolina in June, direct sun all afternoon
- Rhinestone or wide-brim cowboy hat — sun protection and style simultaneously
- Refillable water bottle — stay hydrated across the afternoon show hours
- Portable phone charger — essential across four evenings
- Comfortable broken-in boots or wedge sandals — the boardwalk involves real walking
- Light layer for the ocean breeze at the later evening sets
- Beach bag or crossbody — compact enough for the festival grounds
- Cash for Myrtle Beach boardwalk vendors outside the festival cashless system
- Valid photo ID — required for alcohol purchase and wristband collection
- Festival wristband pre-registered through the CCMF app before you arrive
- Sunglasses rated for UV protection
- Aloe or after-sun for recovery across four consecutive beach-adjacent days
What is not allowed at CCMF 2026?
The CCMF cashless wristband system handles all on-site payments — outside food and beverages are not permitted into the festival grounds. Alcohol is available on site for guests 21 and over with valid ID. Professional cameras require media credentials. Drones are prohibited. Weapons of any kind are not permitted. Check the full prohibited items list at carolinacountrymusicfest.com before packing, as the policy is updated annually. The festival uses a wristband-based entry and payment system that requires pre-registration — do this through the CCMF app before arriving to avoid the will-call queue.
How do you get to CCMF 2026?
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) serves the Grand Strand area with direct flights from a growing number of US cities — check current routes as the airport's network has expanded significantly over the last two years. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is approximately 3 hours by car and is the more reliable option for flights from major US hubs. The festival itself is in central Myrtle Beach, directly on the boardwalk — most accommodation in the city is within a 10 to 30-minute drive of the venue.
The CCMF shuttle runs from parking at 2400 North Oak Street in downtown Myrtle Beach, just minutes from the festival grounds. Shuttle service operates Thursday from 5 PM to midnight, and Friday through Sunday from noon to midnight. The shuttle is the recommended approach if you are driving — parking directly at the festival grounds is extremely limited and the shuttle removes the need to navigate post-show traffic. Rideshare from the central Myrtle Beach hotel strip to the festival takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on traffic.
Where should you stay for CCMF 2026?
Myrtle Beach's hotel infrastructure is built around its beach resort identity, and there is no shortage of accommodation options within close proximity to the festival grounds. The best areas to stay based on CCMF logistics:
Central Myrtle Beach (Boardwalk area) — the most convenient option for the festival. Hotels on or near the oceanfront between 1st and 14th Avenues North are within walking distance of the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion venue. The Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes, the Sheraton Broadway Plantation, and numerous independent beachfront hotels are in this corridor. Book months in advance — rooms within walking distance of the festival sell out fastest.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk strip (Ocean Boulevard) — hotels directly on Ocean Boulevard overlook the festival grounds or are within a 5-minute walk. These sell out before any other accommodation category and command peak-season pricing premium. The proximity is worth the cost if the festival is your primary reason for visiting.
North Myrtle Beach — approximately 10 miles north of the festival venue, with a more relaxed character and marginally lower hotel rates than central Myrtle Beach. A 15 to 20-minute rideshare from the festival grounds. A good option if central Myrtle Beach accommodation is sold out. Check NME's CCMF coverage for lineup updates, and Brooklyn Vegan's CCMF reporting for festival news and set time announcements.
What food and drink is available at CCMF 2026?
The CCMF festival grounds include food concessions operating across all four days, with the typical combination of Southern comfort food, seafood (appropriate given the location), and broader festival fare. The cashless wristband system handles all food and drink transactions on site. A cashless wristband load station is available at the festival entrance for those who did not pre-load in advance.
Myrtle Beach itself has an excellent seafood restaurant scene — the waterfront location means fresh Atlantic seafood at every price point, from the iconic Calabash-style seafood buffets that are the Grand Strand dining tradition to upscale oceanfront seafood restaurants. Pier 14 Restaurant on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, directly adjacent to the festival venue, is worth a reservation for a pre-show meal with ocean views. The boardwalk's casual dining options — pizza by the slice, hot dogs, funnel cakes — are the practical choice for a quick meal between sets.
What are the best tips for CCMF 2026?
Arrive at the festival grounds at least 90 minutes before the headliner you most want to see. The oceanfront main stage has a natural gathering curve — the best crowd positions directly in front of the stage fill progressively from mid-afternoon, and arriving for the penultimate act rather than the headliner gives you the access to position that the headliner crowd will not allow. The ocean views from the front of the GA area, with the stage in the foreground and the Atlantic behind it, are worth protecting a position for.
Register your wristband through the CCMF app before you travel. The will-call process at the festival entrance on Thursday evening — when the first large wave of attendees arrives — creates queues that can run 30 to 45 minutes at peak times. Pre-registered wristbands clear the entry process significantly faster. The app also carries the daily set time schedule as it is confirmed in the weeks before the event.
Build your daily schedule around the shuttle. The 2400 North Oak Street parking lot is well-organised and the shuttle is frequent, but the post-headline wait for transport back can run 20 to 30 minutes at the end of the final set. Having a plan for post-show departure — shuttle, rideshare, or walking back to a central Myrtle Beach hotel — prevents the frustrated post-headliner crowd confusion that affects first-time attendees at every large festival.
Are there after parties at CCMF 2026?
The Myrtle Beach boardwalk and the Broadway at the Beach entertainment complex serve as the primary after-party environment for CCMF attendees. Multiple bars and live music venues within walking distance of the festival grounds programme country music nightly across the four festival days, creating a continuous entertainment corridor from the festival gates to the late-night bar scene without requiring transport.
Official CCMF after parties and fan events are announced through the festival's social channels and app in the weeks before the event. In previous years these have included artist meet-and-greet events, acoustic sets in smaller venues, and branded bar events on Broadway at the Beach. Watch the official CCMF channels for the confirmed 2026 after-party programme as the June dates approach.
FAQ: Carolina Country Music Fest 2026
Where is CCMF 2026?
Carolina Country Music Fest 2026 takes place at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The 18-acre oceanfront venue is located between 8th and 9th Avenues North, between Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard. It is the only major country music festival in the United States held on an oceanfront venue with the Atlantic as the backdrop to the main stage.
Who is headlining CCMF 2026?
Carolina Country Music Fest 2026 is headlined by Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Post Malone, and Riley Green across four nights. Supporting the headline acts are more than 40 artists including Justin Moore, Lauren Alaina, Cole Swindell, Tucker Wetmore, Flatland Cavalry, Dasha, Tracy Lawrence, Chris Janson, and many more.
Is there camping at CCMF 2026?
No. Carolina Country Music Fest does not offer on-site camping. All accommodation is in Myrtle Beach hotels, vacation rentals, and resort properties throughout the Grand Strand area. The festival's location in the heart of Myrtle Beach's hotel corridor means that most accommodation options are within a 5 to 20-minute distance of the venue.
How does the CCMF cashless system work?
CCMF uses a cashless wristband system for all on-site food, drink, and merchandise purchases. Wristbands are mailed to the address on file starting in May. You pre-load your wristband with funds through the CCMF app before the event, or at load stations at the festival entrance. Registering your wristband through the app before travelling saves time at entry and enables faster transactions at every vendor.
What should I wear to CCMF 2026?
Go full beach cowgirl. A rhinestone cowgirl bodysuit or costume with a sparkling cowboy hat is the CCMF signature look — it works from the afternoon heat on the oceanfront through the evening headline shows, and photographs beautifully against the Atlantic backdrop. The beach proximity gives permission for lighter fabrics and shorter cuts during the day; for the evening shows as the ocean breeze picks up and the temperature drops to 22 to 25 degrees Celsius (72 to 77 Fahrenheit), boots and a full rhinestone look are ideal.
Is CCMF beginner-friendly?
Very much so. CCMF's combination of major headliners, a genuinely beautiful ocean setting, and the relaxed Myrtle Beach resort atmosphere makes it one of the most accessible major country festivals for first-timers. The main practical challenges are the South Carolina June heat (prepare seriously with sunscreen and a hat), navigating the CCMF cashless wristband system (pre-register before you arrive), and securing hotel accommodation in central Myrtle Beach (book as early as possible, these fill months in advance).
How far is CCMF from Myrtle Beach Airport?
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is approximately 4 miles from the festival venue — a 10 to 15-minute drive. Rideshare from the airport to the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion or to central Myrtle Beach hotels is the most practical option. The airport does not have direct public transit connections to the festival grounds or the central hotel strip.
