Farm Aid 2026 comes to Virginia Beach on Saturday, September 26, at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, marking the fourth time the annual music festival has been held in Virginia since its founding in 1985. Governor Abigail Spanberger will attend the event, which brings together farmers, performing artists, advocates, and visitors.
The festival will feature music, food from Virginia producers, and agricultural programming including the HOMEGROWN Village with hands-on activities focused on soil, water, energy, food, and farming. For those unable to attend in person, CNN will broadcast the event live from 7 to 11 p.m. ET on Saturday. The festival lineup includes Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Willie Nelson and Family, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, and others.
Agriculture and forestry generate $105 billion in combined annual economic impact across Virginia and support more than 490,000 jobs, according to the state. Earlier in 2026, Governor Spanberger signed bipartisan legislation creating Virginia's first Farm & Forest Prosperity Plan to strengthen and grow the state's agriculture and forestry industries.
"Virginia is proud to welcome Farm Aid and everyone from Virginia and across the country who is coming together in Virginia Beach this weekend," said Governor Spanberger. "As family farmers continue to contend with extreme weather and trade disruption, Virginia is coming together to support the men and women who work every day to feed and fuel our communities."
Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $90 million since 1985 to support programs helping family farmers thrive and promote food from family farms.