November in Nashville is a love language. The air finally cools, the trees go golden, and the city settles into its most soulful season. The 60th CMA Awards light up Bridgestone Arena, the holiday lights switch on across town, and Thanksgiving week brings everything from a Belle Meade road race to Black Friday hockey. If you are looking for the best things to do in Nashville in November 2026, this is the month the calendar starts to sparkle.
It is also the month Nashville quietly turns the page from fall to the holidays. Gaylord Opryland, the Nashville Zoo, and Cheekwood all open their seasonal light displays, a fresh wave of restaurants and cocktail bars is ready for a reservation, and the Titans play one of their final home games at Nissan Stadium.
Here is everything worth adding to your calendar.
Don’t Miss This Month
NOV 18
The 60th CMA Awards
Country music’s biggest night returns to Bridgestone Arena.
FROM NOV 20
Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS
More than a million lights on a one-mile garden path.
November at a Glance
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1 | Nashville SC home finale | GEODIS Park |
| Nov 2 | Steve Lacy | Municipal Auditorium |
| Nov 3 | Predators vs. Hurricanes | Bridgestone Arena |
| Nov 4 & 5 | Dwight Yoakam | Ryman Auditorium |
| Nov 5 | Jonas Brothers | Bridgestone Arena |
| Nov 6 | Dave Matthews Band | Bridgestone Arena |
| Nov 6 | A Country Christmas opens | Gaylord Opryland |
| Nov 7 | Turnip Green Festival | Nashville Farmers’ Market |
| Nov 8 | Frist Arts Fest | Frist Art Museum |
| Nov 13 | Glow Wild opens | Nashville Zoo |
| Nov 13 to 15 | Christmas Village | The Fairgrounds |
| Nov 14 | Vanderbilt vs. Alabama | FirstBank Stadium |
| Nov 15 | Titans vs. Jaguars | Nissan Stadium |
| Nov 18 | 60th CMA Awards | Bridgestone Arena |
| Nov 20 | Holiday LIGHTS opens | Cheekwood |
| Nov 21 | Punch Brothers | Ryman Auditorium |
| Nov 23 & 24 | Olivia Rodrigo | Bridgestone Arena |
| Nov 26 | Boulevard Bolt and Turkey Trot | Belle Meade Blvd and Nissan Stadium |
| Nov 27 | Predators vs. Mammoth (noon) | Bridgestone Arena |
| Nov 27 | Nashville’s Nutcracker opens | TPAC |
| Nov 27 to 29 | Brett Eldredge | Ryman Auditorium |
| Nov 28 | Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee | FirstBank Stadium |
Live Music and Concerts
NOV 2
Steve Lacy: Oh Yeah? Tour
Nashville Municipal Auditorium · Tickets on sale
Steve Lacy brings his genre-blending mix of R&B, funk, and indie rock to Municipal Auditorium for a night that will feel intimate even at arena scale.
NOV 4 & 5
Dwight Yoakam
Ryman Auditorium · Tickets on sale
Two nights of honky-tonk swagger at the Mother Church. Few venues suit Dwight Yoakam’s Bakersfield sound quite like the Ryman, with Sunny Black opening.
NOV 5
Jonas Brothers
Bridgestone Arena · Tickets on sale
Nick, Joe, and Kevin bring a hit-filled arena show to downtown Nashville, an easy pick for a fun weeknight out.
NOV 6
Dave Matthews Band
Bridgestone Arena · Tickets on sale
Dave Matthews Band brings its signature marathon sets and devoted fan base to Bridgestone Arena for one of the most anticipated arena nights of the fall.
NOV 18
60th Annual CMA Awards
Bridgestone Arena · Broadcast on ABC and Disney+
The biggest night in country music returns to Bridgestone Arena for its 60th edition, with Lainey Wilson hosting for the third straight year. Ella Langley leads all nominees with nine nods, one short of the single-year record, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven (Associated Press, September 2026). Tickets or not, downtown will be buzzing all night. CMA Awards
NOV 21
Punch Brothers
Ryman Auditorium · Tickets on sale
Chris Thile and company bring their virtuosic, genre-defying string band to the Ryman. A must for anyone who loves bluegrass taken somewhere new.
NOV 23 & 24
Olivia Rodrigo: The Unraveled Tour
Bridgestone Arena · Tickets on sale
Two back-to-back nights from one of pop’s biggest stars, with Devon Again opening. Expect a sea of glitter and a crowd that knows every word.
NOV 27 TO 29
Brett Eldredge: Glow Holiday Run
Ryman Auditorium · Tickets on sale
Brett Eldredge’s crooner-style holiday show has become a Nashville tradition, and Thanksgiving weekend at the Ryman is the perfect way to kick off the season.
EVERY MONDAY
The Time Jumpers
3rd and Lindsley · 8 p.m.
The legendary Western swing band holds down its Monday night residency all month. It is one of the best values in Nashville live music and a local favorite for a reason.
Six1Five Insider Tip
CMA night is the busiest evening downtown all month. If you are heading out, rideshare in or plan dinner in Germantown or The Gulch instead of Lower Broadway.
Holiday Lights and Seasonal Openings
NOV 6 TO JAN 2
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
Gaylord Opryland Resort · Tickets vary by experience
Nashville’s biggest holiday spectacle returns with dazzling lights, holiday shows, ice skating, and an ice sculpture display. Go on a weeknight early in the season to beat the crowds.
NOV 13 TO JAN 3
Glow Wild at the Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo · Tickets from $27
Illuminated wildlife displays, an 85-foot tree, ice skating, and visits with Santa turn the Nashville Zoo into a winter wonderland, according to StyleBlueprint’s November 2026 guide.
NOV 20 TO JAN 3
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens · Adults $26 to $32, timed entry
More than a million lights line a one-mile garden path, with a 28-foot Pixel Pine, s’mores fire pits, and a French-inspired holiday display inside the historic mansion. Timed tickets sell out on peak nights, so book ahead.
NOV 13 TO 15
Christmas Village
The Fairgrounds Nashville
More than 250 merchants fill the Fairgrounds for one of the city’s biggest holiday shopping weekends, with proceeds supporting local charities.
NOV 27 TO DEC 27
Nashville’s Nutcracker
TPAC, Andrew Jackson Hall · Tickets on sale
Nashville Ballet’s beloved holiday production, performed with live music from the Nashville Symphony, opens the day after Thanksgiving.
Six1Five Insider Tip
Weekend time slots at the holiday light displays go first. Pick a weeknight early in the season for an easier, more relaxed stroll.
Food, Drink, and Community
NOW OPEN
Puesto
Nashville Yards
The family-owned, Mexico City inspired concept opened its first location outside California at Nashville Yards this fall, according to City Cast Nashville (October 2026). Think creative tacos, fresh guacamole, and margaritas made for lingering.
NOW OPEN
Soundproof
Nashville Yards, inside Hooky
A speakeasy-style cocktail bar with live music, inspired by Music City’s recording-session era. It opened October 29 and fits Nashville like it was always meant to be here.
NOW OPEN
Bar Cala Cala and Bar Ena
East Nashville and Chestnut Hill
Two intimate, cocktail-forward newcomers: Bar Cala Cala is an East Nashville listening bar with Italian island fare, and Bar Ena is a 15-table wine and cocktail bar in Chestnut Hill from the team behind cafe babu.
NOW OPEN
GAON
Eastland Avenue, East Nashville
Korean comfort food done beautifully: dumplings, bibimbap, and seolleongtang on Eastland Avenue. Exactly what a cool November night calls for.
NOV 7
28th Annual Turnip Green Festival
Nashville Farmers’ Market · FREE admission and parking
Braised greens, live funk and soul, food trucks, and the last of the fall produce. One of the city’s most charming community traditions.
NOV 8
Frist Arts Fest
Frist Art Museum · $20 adults, free for members and guests 18 and under
A full day of art activities, performances, gallery tours, and a local makers market at the Frist. A great family Sunday.
Outdoors and Thanksgiving Week
ALL MONTH
Fall Color at Percy Warner Park and Radnor Lake
Percy Warner Park and Radnor Lake State Park · FREE
Early November is prime time for fall color in Nashville. Drive the scenic loops at Percy Warner Park, or walk the lake trail at Radnor for a quieter take on the season.
NOV 26 · THANKSGIVING
The Boulevard Bolt
Belle Meade Boulevard · Registration required
Nashville’s favorite Thanksgiving morning tradition: a run or walk down Belle Meade Boulevard that brings thousands of neighbors together for a good cause before the turkey hits the table. Register for the Boulevard Bolt
NOV 26 · 8 A.M.
Music City Turkey Trot
Nissan Stadium · $40 to $60 registration
A 5K or one-mile fun run with medals, shirts, and a costume contest. Earn your pie before the feast.
NOV 27
Day After Thanksgiving Museum Fun Day
Lane Motor Museum
A family-friendly way to spend Black Friday away from the malls, surrounded by one of the most unusual car collections in the country.
Six1Five Insider Tip
The Boulevard Bolt is one of Nashville’s most popular Thanksgiving traditions. Register early, then head home to a well-earned feast.
Nashville Sports
NOV 1
Nashville SC: Final Regular-Season Home Match
GEODIS Park · Tickets on sale
Nashville SC closes out its regular-season home schedule at GEODIS Park before the final regular-season match on November 7, per the club’s 2026 schedule. Playoff dates are still to be announced.
NOV 3 · 7 P.M.
Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Bridgestone Arena · Tickets on sale
The Preds close out a five-game homestand against Carolina. See the Predators schedule
NOV 14 & 28
Vanderbilt Football: Alabama and Tennessee
FirstBank Stadium · Tickets on sale
Two of the biggest home games of the year: the Commodores host Alabama on November 14 and close the regular season against Tennessee on November 28.
NOV 15 · NOON
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Nissan Stadium · Tickets on sale
The Titans’ only November home game comes in their final season at Nissan Stadium before the 2027 move to the new stadium. Kickoff times can change under the NFL’s flex scheduling.
NOV 27 · NOON
Nashville Predators vs. Utah Mammoth
Bridgestone Arena · Tickets on sale
A Black Friday matinee is one of the best ways to spend the day after Thanksgiving: hockey, then holiday shopping or lights downtown.
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Plan Your November Right
November moves fast once the holidays arrive. Here is how to make the most of it:
→ Kick off the month with Steve Lacy (Nov 2), Dwight Yoakam (Nov 4 and 5), Jonas Brothers (Nov 5), and Dave Matthews Band (Nov 6).
→ Spend November 7 at the free Turnip Green Festival, then catch fall color at Percy Warner Park or Radnor Lake.
→ Get your holiday shopping started at Christmas Village (Nov 13 to 15), and book Glow Wild and Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS early.
→ November 18 belongs to the 60th CMA Awards. Plan dinner downtown early, because the whole city shows up.
→ Thanksgiving week: the Boulevard Bolt or Turkey Trot on Nov 26, Black Friday Preds at noon on Nov 27, and Brett Eldredge’s holiday run at the Ryman Nov 27 to 29.
Frequently Asked Questions About November in Nashville
What are the best things to do in Nashville in November 2026?
Highlights include the 60th CMA Awards on November 18 at Bridgestone Arena, the opening of A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland (November 6), Glow Wild at the Nashville Zoo (November 13), Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS (November 20), concerts from Dave Matthews Band, Olivia Rodrigo, and Dwight Yoakam, and Thanksgiving traditions like the Boulevard Bolt.
When are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 60th Annual CMA Awards take place November 18, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, hosted by Lainey Wilson and broadcast on ABC and Disney+.
When does Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS open in 2026?
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood runs November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with timed-entry tickets for adults ranging from about $26 to $32 depending on the night.
What is there to do in Nashville on Thanksgiving?
Many locals start Thanksgiving with the Boulevard Bolt on Belle Meade Boulevard or the Music City Turkey Trot at Nissan Stadium. The day after, the Predators host a noon Black Friday game and Nashville’s Nutcracker opens at TPAC.
Do the Titans play at home in November 2026?
Yes, once. The Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on November 15, 2026, during their final season in the stadium before the 2027 move.
You Might Also Find Interesting
→ Best Things to Do in Nashville: October 2026
→ Living in 12 South and Belmont Nashville
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