Farm Aid 2026 to Air Live on CNN With Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and More

While dating back to the 1980s, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp sought to support farmers around the United States. With the farmers helping feed America, the singers joined forces to create the Farm Aid festival. Over the decades, the festival has not only welcomed some of the biggest names in music but also raised over $85 million for the Good Food Movement. With the legacy of the festival ongoing, it appeared that CNN will be broadcasting the 2026 Farm Aid for the second year. 

Airing live on Saturday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m., CNN anchors John Berman and Laura Coates will host the special coverage, guiding viewers through the performances and highlighting Farm Aid’s continued mission to support family farmers. 

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Taking place at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Berman and Coates won’t be the only faces from CNN. The network’s chief climate correspondent, Bill Weir, will offer a different perspective from the festival with on-the-ground reporting. 

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2026 Farm Aid Festival Lineup Announced

As for the lineup for the 2026 Farm Aid festival, the schedule included Nelson, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, and Nathaniel Rateliff. 

Those who want to take part can watch the concert on CNN or in the CNN app. Given the millions Farm Aid has raised since its beginning, the festival has proven what can happen when music and a worthy cause come together. The 2026 event will look to add another chapter to that legacy. 

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Although marking the second year CNN has covered the event, in 2025, Farm Aid reached over 3.8 million people. Just from the network alone, it helped raise more than $615,000. Adding more fuel to their mission, the organizers were thrilled to keep growing their relationship with CNN. 

Kicking off on Saturday, September 26, Farm Aid will include four hours of special performances, guest appearances, and stories highlighting the farmers at the heart of the organization. After reaching millions of viewers in 2025, both Farm Aid and CNN will look to make an even bigger impact in 2026. 

(Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)