CNN has partnered with Farm Aid for a second year to broadcast the Farm Aid 2026: Music Festival Live, bringing the annual charity concert to television and streaming audiences on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 7 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET. The network serves as the exclusive broadcast partner for the event, which originates from the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Streaming and Broadcast Options for Farm Aid 2026
Viewers can watch the festival live on CNN or stream the broadcast online through CNN.com and the CNN app for subscribers and pay-TV users. Cable-cutters looking for alternative access can also view the event via live TV streaming platforms such as DirecTV—which offers a 5-day free trial—and Sling TV. According to the CNN Press Room, coverage will also be accessible via CNN connected TV apps.
Performer Lineup and Broadcast Team
The four-hour television special features performances by Farm Aid board member artists. The lineup includes Willie Nelson and Family, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, and Nathaniel Rateliff. CNN anchors John Berman and Laura Coates are slated to co-anchor the special coverage from Virginia Beach, while CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir will deliver on-the-ground reporting focused on family farmers and the festival’s mission.
Impact and History of the Organization
Founded in 1985 by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp, Farm Aid aims to raise funds to support programs that help farmers thrive, promote food from family farms, and challenge industrial agriculture. Since its inception, the organization has raised more than $85 million. Last year’s broadcast of the festival’s 40th anniversary reached 3.88 million people globally and generated more than $615,000 in contributions from CNN audiences.