Big Ears Festival in Knoxville: dates, passes and parking

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates, passes and rules come from the Big Ears Festival website, its passes page and its FAQ.

Big Ears returns to downtown Knoxville Thursday, April 1, through Sunday, April 4, 2027. The festival packs more than 250 concerts, films, talks and installations into more than 20 venues, from the Tennessee Theatre and the Bijou to the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and the Mill & Mine. Passes for 2027 are on sale now, and the 2027 daily lineup is out.

Know before you go

• Dates: Thursday, April 1, to Sunday, April 4, 2027
• Where: more than 20 venues in downtown Knoxville, all within walking distance
• Passes: wristbands only, bought in advance at bigearsfestival.org/passes; none sold at the box office
• Box office: Hyatt Place Hotel, 530 S. Gay St.
• Ages: all ages; a pass is required for everyone 2 and older
• Questions: info@bigearsfestival.org

When it happens

Big Ears says festival activities generally start Thursday evening around 5 p.m. From Friday to Sunday, music starts around noon, with talks and panels in the mornings. Concerts run to around 1 a.m. or later, and the last Sunday shows finish by 11 p.m. The hour-by-hour schedule comes out roughly a month before the festival, and the festival app carries the map, the schedule and pop-up show alerts.

Single-day prices as listed on the passes page on Oct. 17, 2026, fees included. The festival says single-day passes are limited.

Passes and prices

Big Ears sells wristbands, not tickets. The passes page listed these four-day prices on Oct. 17, 2026, service fees included:

• 4-Day General Admission: $550 (Wave 2). Early Bird at $450 and Wave 1 at $500 are sold out. The festival says every wave gives the same access; only the price rises.
• 4-Day Premier: $875. A dedicated line or priority entry, notice of unannounced “secret shows” and early access to the separately ticketed concerts.
• 4-Day VIP Sonic Explorer: $1,475. First entry, a reserved section in seated venues held until 10 minutes before showtime, a kickoff party, a VIP happy hour and a merchandise package.
• 4-Day Film Only: $50 for every screening at the Regal Riviera.

A pass gets you into every publicly announced event, subject to each venue’s capacity. Venues hold 100 to 2,500 people, and entry is first come, first served.

Separately ticketed concerts. Norah Jones, Nathaniel Rateliff, The Roots, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are on the 2027 list of reserved-seat shows that are not included in any pass. The festival says they go on sale this fall, with a presale for pass holders first.

Wristbands are mailed in late February and early March 2027. International buyers and anyone who buys after the mailing cutoff pick up at the box office. A lost or over-tightened wristband costs $10 to replace. All sales are final; the festival’s official resale route is the Ticketmaster Verified Ticket Exchange. Big Ears warns it may not honor passes bought anywhere other than its own site, Front Gate Tickets or Ticketmaster.

Getting there and parking

The festival FAQ says parking in city-managed downtown garages and surface lots is free after 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Every venue is within walking distance of the next, bike parking is at or near all venues, and the festival runs a dedicated shuttle with stops at or near each venue. McGhee Tyson Airport is about 20 minutes away.

Downtown hotels go fast. Big Ears says rooms in Cedar Bluff, Papermill and along Merchants Drive are 10 to 15 minutes away by car, and its hotel portal with Visit Knoxville opened when the lineup was announced.

What you can bring

From the FAQ:

• Allowed: a small purse or backpack, water bottles and a camera without a removable lens. Everyone is subject to a bag search.
• Not allowed: alcohol, drugs, weapons, glow sticks and other projectiles, tripods, and audio or video recording gear. No flash photography.
• Paying: venue bars take cash and cards; the merchandise store takes cards only.
• Accessibility: venues are ADA accessible, though details vary by venue. Ask info@bigearsfestival.org.

Volunteer

Big Ears trades festival passes for volunteer shifts and says 2027 volunteer openings are coming soon. Email volunteers@bigearsfestival.org with questions.

More to do downtown: things to do in Knoxville and our live music and nightlife guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Big Ears 2027?

Big Ears 2027 runs Thursday, April 1, through Sunday, April 4, 2027, in downtown Knoxville. Thursday starts around 5 p.m.; Friday to Sunday music starts around noon.

How much is a Big Ears pass?

On Oct. 17, 2026, the festival listed the 4-Day General Admission pass at $550 (Wave 2; Early Bird and Wave 1 sold out), Premier at $875 and VIP Sonic Explorer at $1,475, fees included. Single-day passes run $135 to $275.

Can I buy a ticket to one Big Ears show?

No. Big Ears says it does not sell tickets to individual shows during the festival weekend. A handful of reserved-seat concerts are ticketed separately and are not included in any pass.

Is Big Ears for all ages?

Yes. Big Ears is an all-ages event, and a pass is required for everyone 2 and older.

Where do you park for Big Ears?

Big Ears says parking in city-managed downtown garages and surface lots is free after 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Every venue is within walking distance, and the festival runs its own shuttle.