Nissan Stadium construction update, and how concerts like CMA Fest will work

To mark the occasion of CMA Fest 2026, the Tennessee Titans hosted a tour of the new Nissan Stadium construction site, showing the progress being made on the future home of the Titans while emphasizing some of the features the new stadium will be able to boast when hosting concerts.

>Not much has changed from a timeline perspective. The expectation is that the structure will be enclosed October 2026 and completed February 2027. Progress continues on the roof; the first level of cables are in place and more cables are being raised by the day. Objects shaped like long candlesticks are dangling mid-air about 30 feet below their eventual position in the roof, and they'll slowly be pulled across along with ETFE cables to make up the structure.

>Once the roof is completed, construction will be able to begin on internal structures and fixtures such as seats that require weather-locking to be installed.

>Football fans accustomed to reading about the perks of the new Nissan Stadium will be familiar with several of the selling points for concerts. Seats will be about 30% closer to the action. The outdoor terraces are expected to be open on performance days, giving spectators the options for fresh air congregation and great views of the city.

>There's a stage built into the lower bowl where performances can take place during Titans games, but there also will be 13 rows of retractable seats in front of that stage to create roughly 40 feet of extra space for staging during concerts.

>Then there are the concert-specific perks: Fans with on-field tickets will be able to enter directly at field level instead of having to walk through the concourse. There'll be contactless payment systems at bars and the concession areas on field level to expedite purchase speed and limit lines.

>Performers will benefit from a back-of-house staging area that's more than twice as large as the one at the existing Nissan Stadium, and there'll be additional green rooms. There'll be more points of entry for buses and trucks to load and unload before concerts, allowing for more elaborate structures to be brought in and quicker entry/exit for performers and their crews.

>The Titans have confirmed that the first event at the new stadium will be a concert of some kind, likely in spring 2027. It's being built to be the home of the Titans, but it'll also be home base for CMA Fest and other showcase events.

>Performers who'll play on the main stage at the existing Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest 2026 include Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Keith Urban and Luke Bryan.

>Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at  nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.

>This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nissan Stadium update on building progress, event setup plan for concerts, CMA Fest