Big Ears 2026

Big Ears is an annual festival that takes place in Knoxville, TN, that is specialized in what one may call "edge" music: a lot of genre hybrids, music with an expansive vision, jazz, classical and experimental music. This is a festival that boasts a high concentration of bands and artists that produce non-mainstream, low on the commercial scale music. It is a festival that makes musical exploration its primary goal. While commercial success may not be the primary goal of the artists in the diverse lineups, there is an audience for them, and because Big Ears is one of very few major festivals that feature such boundary pushing music, it draws very well and from an international clientele. It takes place across a number of theaters, auditoria, clubs and other large spaces, all within fairly comfortable walking distance in and around Knoxville's historic downtown. It's a real gem of a festival.