Overview Billboard Country Live is three days of Billboard country programming at Category 10, Luke Combs' bar and live music venue just off Broadway in Nashville, timed to open CMA Fest week: an awards reception for the genre's power players on the rooftop, then two nights of free concerts where The Red Clay Strays and Tucker Wetmore headlined in 2026 and Dan + Shay walked on unannounced. The reception honors the executives and artists on Billboard's Country Power Players list. The first concert night carries the headliners, and the second, Country Live: On the Rise, is built around the genre's breakout acts. On site Category 10 stacks the event over several floors. The main floor hangs LEDs and light fixtures over the room, with LED screens around it and an atrium for activations. The third floor runs fan viewing at the 5 Leaf Clover bar, the second floor has its own fan viewing, and the fourth-floor rooftop lounge holds 350 to 400 people for a custom event around a rising artist. On the second floor at The Still, Billboard builds a content studio where Billboard News shoots artist interviews and performances through the week. Power Players is a two-hour cocktail reception with an award presentation. Audience Two crowds use the building. The Power Players reception is for the industry: the executives on Billboard's list and the artists who come to present and accept. The concerts are free and open to the public, and in 2026 the venue hit capacity more than once. They land as CMA Fest fills Nashville with fans from all 50 states and more than 45 countries. Talent and Influencers At Power Players in 2026 Miranda Lambert took the Icon Award from Tom Douglas, Riley Green the Hitmaker Award from Clint Black, Tucker Wetmore the Rising Star Award from HARDY and The Red Clay Strays the Groundbreaker Award from Matt Rife. The 2026 concert bills added Carly Pearce, Chase Rice, Corey Kent, Hunter Hayes, The Band Perry, Ty Myers, Alana Springsteen, Ashley Cooke, Priscilla Block and Kaitlin Butts. Past honorees include BigXThaPlug and Ella Langley, and Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Daigle, Shaboozey and Carin Leon have all appeared. Track record Billboard counted 35 artists at the 2025 edition, with more than 457 million press impressions, 7.5 million video views and 618 social posts. Past concert bills include Reyna Roberts, Alexandra Kay, Drew Baldridge, Max McNown and Mitchell Tenpenny, and On the Rise has featured Annie Bosko, Harper Grace, Franklin Jonas and Graham Barham. Brand presence The presenting partner takes over the main floor: its colors and logo on the LED screens and light fixtures, and an activation in the atrium across all three days. Below that, a brand can take a single floor, from the 5 Leaf Clover viewing room for screenings, game tournaments or meet-and-greets to the second-floor restroom lounge with mirror decals and screens, or take over the content lounge with sponsored Billboard News interviews. Billboard also produces custom sit-down videos with its artists and runs partner pages in its Country Power Players print issue. Under Armour partnered on the 2026 event.