The aviators are on. The arena lights are humming. If you've ever stood in a crowd when the first notes of "Springsteen" hit, you know it's not just a concert; it's a religious experience for the Church Choir. Honestly, trying to keep up with eric church concert dates lately feels like chasing a freight train. Just when you think he’s done, he adds twenty more stops.
Eric Church is currently in the middle of his massive "Free The Machine Tour," and the schedule for 2026 is officially packed. This isn't just another run of shows. He’s touring behind his ninth studio album, Evangeline vs. The Machine, which dropped back in May 2025.
If you're looking for where to catch him, he’s hitting everything from tiny Nashville club sets to massive stadium finales. It's a lot to track.
The 2026 Free The Machine Tour Schedule
The 2026 leg of the tour is a beast. He kicks things off in late January and doesn't slow down until the spring.
What’s interesting about this specific run is the variety. You’ve got a two-night stand in D.C. to start things off, and then he zig-zags across the Midwest and the South.
January & February 2026 Dates
The year starts hot at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., with Caylee Hammack opening on January 22nd and 23rd. From there, he heads to the cold. Omaha gets him on February 5th at the CHI Health Center, followed by Sioux Falls on the 6th and St. Paul on the 7th. Ella Langley is holding down the opening slot for that whole northern run.
He crosses the border into Canada for a massive show at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on February 12th before swinging back into New York for dates in Buffalo and Albany on the 13th and 14th. Then it’s down to the Delta. North Little Rock, Kansas City, and St. Louis are the targets from February 19th through the 21st with 49 Winchester.
He ends February deep in Texas. Tulsa, Fort Worth, and Austin are scheduled for the 26th, 27th, and 28th. Stephen Wilson Jr. is the support for those Lone Star shows.
March & April 2026 Dates
March is heavy on the Carolinas and the Deep South.
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- Knoxville, TN: March 5 (Thompson-Boling Arena)
- Greensboro, NC: March 6 (First Horizon Coliseum)
- North Charleston, SC: March 7 (North Charleston Coliseum)
- Birmingham, AL: March 19 (Legacy Arena)
- Atlanta, GA: March 20 (State Farm Arena)
- Hollywood, FL: March 27 (Hard Rock Live)
April is the home stretch. He hits Greenville, South Carolina, on April 3rd and Charlotte the next day. The whole tour currently wraps up with two Florida shows: Jacksonville on April 10th and Tampa on April 11th. Ashley McBryde is slated to join him for those final four dates, which basically guarantees a masterclass in songwriting every single night.
The Nashville Presence: Chief’s on Broadway
You can't talk about eric church concert dates without mentioning Nashville. Eric isn't just a visitor there anymore; he’s a landlord.
His six-story venue, Chief’s, has become the unofficial headquarters for the fan club. While the big arena tour is the main event, the "Neon Steeple" inside Chief’s is where the real magic happens.
On February 7, 2026, there’s a special "Ultimate Eric Church Experience" show scheduled there to celebrate the anniversary of The Outsiders. These shows are notoriously hard to get into. You basically have to be a "Church Choir" premium member and have the fastest thumbs in the South when tickets drop.
Ashley McBryde is also doing a residency at the venue called "The Redemption Residency," which runs through April 2026. Even if Eric isn't on the marquee every night, his fingerprints are all over that building.
What to Expect at the Show
Church told Jimmy Fallon recently that he hates doing the same thing twice. He’s not lying.
The Free The Machine setup is wild. It starts with over 20 people on stage—strings, horns, a full choir. It’s orchestral. It’s huge. But then, as the night goes on, he starts "letting people go away."
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The stage gets smaller. The sound gets grittier. By the end of the night, it’s just Eric and an acoustic guitar. It’s a literal journey through his career.
He's also leaning heavily into the IMAX experience. On February 11 and 14, 2026, there are "Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive" screenings in IMAX theaters nationwide. It's for the folks who can't make it to a physical arena or just want to see the sweat on his brow in high definition.
Festival Appearances and Special Shows
Outside of the headlining tour, Eric has a few "big ticket" one-offs.
- Barefoot Country Music Fest: He’s headlining this in Wildwood, NJ, on June 21, 2026.
- Alan Jackson’s Finale: This is a big one. On June 27, 2026, he’s joining Alan Jackson at Nissan Stadium in Nashville for Alan’s "Last Call" finale.
- YQM Country Fest: Up in Dieppe, New Brunswick, on August 28, 2026.
How to Actually Get Tickets
Don't buy from scalpers if you can help it. Seriously. Eric has been a vocal hater of the secondary market for years.
The best way in is the Church Choir. Premium members get first crack at everything. For the 2026 dates, the general public sale happened back in October 2025, so most shows are technically "sold out" or down to verified resale.
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However, keep an eye on his official site. He often releases "production holds" (tickets held back until they know exactly where the stage and soundboard sit) a few days before the show.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the secondary markets early: If you missed the initial sale, prices for the Florida and Carolina dates in April are likely to climb as the dates approach.
- Verify the opener: The vibe of the show changes depending on who's starting. 49 Winchester brings a soulful, Appalachian rock vibe, while Ashley McBryde brings pure country grit.
- Check the Chief’s Calendar: If you’re planning a Nashville trip, keep an eye on the Neon Steeple schedule. Surprise sets are his specialty.
Whether you're heading to a massive arena or trying to squeeze into a bar on Broadway, the 2026 schedule proves the Chief isn't ready to turn the lights off just yet.