Country music superstar Miranda Lambert will perform in Wildwood in 2026. (Courtesy of Miranda Lambert Facebook page)
Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell and Chase Matthew will kick off the opening day of the 2026 Barefoot Country Music Fest on the Wildwood beachfront.
The Northeast’s largest outdoor country music celebration is expected to attract tens of thousands of fans when it returns to Wildwood on June 18–21.
Headlining the festival’s opening day on Thursday, June 18, will be Miranda Lambert, one of country music’s most acclaimed and decorated artists. She will make her Barefoot Country Music Fest debut in 2026.
Lambert is a three-time Grammy winner, 14-time CMA award winner, and the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history.
She has released her 10th studio album, “Postcards from Texas,” featuring her latest single, “Run.”
“With 10 consecutive Top 10 albums, seven No. 1 records, 10 No. 1 singles, and more than 80 major awards, Lambert’s powerhouse vocals, fearless songwriting, and electric performances have made her one of the most respected and dynamic artists in country music,” according to a news release announcing Lambert’s appearance at the BCMF.
Returning to the BCMF stage is Cole Swindell, the multi-platinum singer-songwriter behind crowd-favorite anthems like “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” “Chillin’ It” and “You Should Be Here.”
With 13 No. 1 singles as an artist and 14 as a songwriter, Swindell has earned multiple ACM and iHeartRadio Music awards and continues to deliver the kind of high-energy, fan-driven shows that have made him one of the genre’s most in-demand live performers.
His newest album, “Spanish Moss,” features the chart-topping single “Forever to Me,” showcasing his ability to evolve while staying true to the sound fans love.
Also returning to Wildwood is Chase Matthew, one of country’s fastest-rising new artists. With more than 1 billion global streams and hits like “County Line” and “Love You Again,” Matthew’s blend of grit, heart, and authenticity has made him a standout among the next generation of country stars.
Named to MusicRow’s “Next Big Thing” and the Opry’s “NextStage” Class of 2024, Matthew has built a massive following through his explosive live shows and will bring that energy back to BCMF in 2026.
“Thursday Kick-Off is where the party starts, and this lineup is built for it,” said Bob Durkin of Southern Entertainment, the BCMF producer. “With Miranda’s BCMF debut and Cole and Chase joining the lineup, we are set to kick off this beach party like never before."
Tickets for BCMF 2026 are on sale at barefootcountrymusicfest.com. For the latest updates and exclusive #BCMFHints, fans are encouraged to follow Barefoot Country Music Fest on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
