Eric Paslay and Love and Theft to headline Nashville Dance Fest in September

Nashville Dance Fest returns to Music City Sept. 4-6 with live concerts, more than 70 dance workshops and the Honky Tonk World Championships. The Labor Day weekend event aims to draw thousands of dancers and country music fans from around the world.

Why it matters: - Nashville Dance Fest is positioning Music City as a destination for country dance, not just country music. - The event blends live concerts, competitions and instruction for all skill levels, which broadens its appeal beyond experienced dancers. - Organizers say the festival has quickly grown into one of North America's premier country dance events.

What happened: - Nashville Dance Fest returns Sept. 4-6 at the Nashville Palace and neighboring Scoreboard Bar & Grill. - Eric Paslay and Love and Theft will headline the 2026 concert lineup. - The festival opens with an official Launch Party on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Category 10 in downtown Nashville at 7 p.m. - The event is expected to draw thousands of country dance enthusiasts from the United States and abroad over Labor Day weekend.

The details: - The festival transforms more than 90,000 square feet into an event space with eight dance floors, an outdoor concert stage, competitions, workshops, vendors and social dancing. - The Honky Tonk World Championships will feature elite dancers competing for world championship titles. - Open and Pro-Am competitions will run throughout the weekend and offer cash prizes, trophies and scholarship opportunities. - More than 70 dance workshops will be led by more than 40 championship-caliber instructors. - Instruction will cover line dancing, country swing, two-step and partner dancing. - The 2026 concert lineup includes Eric Paslay, Browning Snider and Angie K on Friday. - Saturday’s lineup includes Love and Theft, Josiah Siska and Kylie Frye. - Sunday’s lineup includes Kaleb Sanders and Moss. - Festival amenities include a vendor village, food trucks, craft cocktails, lounge areas and social dancing throughout the weekend. - No partner or previous dance experience is required. - Tickets, VIP packages, competition registration and the full weekend schedule are available now at the festival website. - Sponsorship packages remain available, and interested businesses can contact Taylor@nashvilledancefest.com.

Between the lines: - The festival is now in its fourth year, after starting in 2024. - Organizers say attendees come from across the U.S. plus Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. - The event’s growth reflects a wider appetite for community-driven country lifestyle events that mix entertainment with participation. - Taylor Winston and Adia Nuño co-founded Nashville Dance Fest, and the pair bring more than 25 years of experience producing dance conventions, competitions and country music events. - The Nashville Palace has added cachet for the event after Esquire recognized it as one of the top bars in America.

What's next: - Nashville Dance Fest will release its complete weekend schedule through its ticketing and event channels. - Organizers will continue selling tickets, VIP packages and competition registrations ahead of the Sept. 4-6 festival. - Remaining sponsorship opportunities will likely fill as the event approaches.

The bottom line: - Nashville Dance Fest is using headline country acts, major competitions and beginner-friendly instruction to turn Labor Day weekend into a global country dance destination.