As 2025 winds down, Nashville is once again getting ready to throw one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the country - and this year’s lineup is bringing the heat.
The 17th annual Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash returns to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on December 31, marking the ninth straight year the event has taken over the downtown landmark. With a mix of country stars, gospel legends, and a one-of-a-kind midnight celebration, this is more than just a concert - it’s a full-on Music City spectacle.
Headliners Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, and Bailey Zimmerman will take center stage, giving fans a night loaded with country powerhouses. Wilson, who’s riding high off a massive year, brings her signature blend of grit and soul. Aldean’s arena-tested anthems are built for this kind of crowd, and Zimmerman’s rising-star energy adds a fresh edge to the lineup.
But it’s not just about country. CeCe Winans, one of gospel music’s most celebrated voices, joins the bill alongside the GRAMMY-winning Fisk Jubilee Singers, bringing a rich dose of Nashville’s deep-rooted musical heritage into the mix. That blend of genres - from honky tonk to hallelujah - is what makes this event so uniquely Nashville.
The gates open at 5:30 p.m., with live music starting at 7 p.m. If you’re not making the trip downtown, you can still catch the action - the Big Bash will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with a brief break at 9 p.m.
And of course, it wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve in Nashville without the now-iconic Music Note Drop. At the stroke of midnight, a 13,000-pixel LED red music note will descend from a 138-foot tower, followed by a 90-second fireworks show that lights up the sky over Capitol Hill, climbing more than 500 feet high. It’s a visual exclamation point on a night that’s already packed with star power and celebration.
Last year’s event drew a crowd of over 200,000, pumping a record $41 million in direct visitor spending into the city. That’s not just a party - that’s an economic engine, and it shows just how big this celebration has become on the national stage.
For those heading downtown, there are a few logistics to keep in mind. Rideshare pickup and drop-off will be located at Tenth Circle North near Charlotte Avenue, and ADA-accessible viewing areas will be available off Sixth Avenue and on Jackson Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenue.
Organizers are encouraging visitors to leave large bags at home, but if you need to stash your gear, locker rentals will be available at Rep. John Lewis Way at Harrison Street and near the Tennessee State Museum off Rosa Parks Boulevard. And yes, the clear bag policy will be in full effect, so plan accordingly.
Whether you’re tuning in from the couch or braving the crowds in person, Nashville’s Big Bash is once again shaping up to be one of the can’t-miss events of the holiday season - a high-energy, star-studded sendoff to 2025, and a proper welcome to 2026, Music City style.