New 12 months, new Nashville experiences ready for you.
The climate’s chilly, however not sufficient to maintain you locked inside. January is a superb time for residents to get pleasure from Nashville or for guests to discover the town. Locals admire the thinner crowds in comparison with summer season or fall. Lodge costs drop. The occasion calendar stays filled with concert events, sports activities, cultural celebrations, and family-friendly actions.
January 2026 brings a collection of main occasions, together with MLK Day celebrations, Predators hockey, Monster Jam, big-name concert events on the Ryman, and the legendary Grand Ole Opry. Plus museum reveals, comedy reveals, kid-friendly actions, and the type of reside music Nashville does higher than wherever else.
Whether or not you are planning a staycation, a winter getaway, or scoping out Nashville as a possible house, January offers you an opportunity to see the town in its on a regular basis rhythm—with loads of pleasure blended in.
Fast January Nashville Ideas
- Buy Predators tickets early: Hockey video games promote out quick, particularly weekend matchups
- Costume in layers: January climate swings from 30s to 60s, relying on the day
- Examine Opry schedules weekly: The winter Ryman residency provides reveals all through the month
- Go to museums on chilly days: Many supply reductions in January or free admission
- Plan round MLK weekend: Motels replenish, however the celebrations are value experiencing
- Make restaurant reservations: Even with fewer vacationers, common spots guide up on weekends
- Observe venue social media: Final-minute reveals and ticket offers pop up commonly
Why January Is a Nice Time to Be in Nashville
January affords one thing summer season vacationers miss: genuine Nashville.
Town slows down simply sufficient that you would be able to truly get into eating places. You may tour the high Nashville neighborhoods with out combating crowds. And for those who’re house-hunting, actual property brokers have extra time to point out you round.
You may see Nashville in “on a regular basis mode.” Espresso outlets stuffed with locals. Neighborhood bars with common crowds. The actual rhythm of the town, as a substitute of the vacationer model.
The climate stays gentle in comparison with northern cities. Highs usually vary from the excessive 40s to the low 50s, with occasional hotter days reaching into the 60s. Nights get chilly (20s–30s), so layers are key. Most days, you possibly can stroll round comfortably with jacket.
Music by no means stops—it’s the most effective elements of residing in Nashville. January brings main concert events, intimate membership reveals, and the Opry’s winter house on the historic Ryman Auditorium. Sports activities followers get Predators hockey in full swing. There’s much more pleasure to search out at museums, comedy reveals, and Monster Jam.
January 2026 Nashville Occasions Calendar
This is what’s occurring week by week.
Week 1: New Yr’s & First Weekend (January 1–4)
Begin the 12 months with outside actions and reside music.
First Day Hikes at Tennessee State Parks kick off on January 1. Free guided hikes at a number of state parks close to Nashville, together with Radnor Lake. All talent ranges welcome. Will get you exterior and lively to begin the 12 months proper.
Opry on the Ryman runs January 2–3 and 9–10. The Grand Ole Opry strikes to the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville each winter. The “Mom Church of Nation Music” boasts unimaginable acoustics and a wealthy historical past. Friday and Saturday reveals all through the run.
The Petty Junkies play third & Lindsley on January 2nd. Tom Petty tribute band in an intimate venue within the vibrant SoBro neighborhood (adjoining to downtown). Excellent for rock followers who need a smaller membership ambiance.
A number of January-long excursions and reveals begin this week:
- Nashville Trolley Excursions (hop-on, hop-off sightseeing)
- Shiners Nashville (new grownup comedy/selection present)
- Grand Ole Opry Backstage Excursions (via January 10)
Week 2: Concert events, Lessons, & Indoor Enjoyable (January 5–11)
Chilly snap anticipated mid-month? Indoor actions have you ever lined.
The Ryman Auditorium continues internet hosting Opry reveals via January 10. Get tickets whilst you can—these all the time promote nicely.
Nashville Antiques & Backyard Present returns January 9–11 on the Music Metropolis Heart.
Lastly, the Nashville Predators’ house schedule begins to actually warmth up this week. They’ve gone from an upstart NHL group began in 1998 to one of many issues Nashville is understood for.
- vs. NY Islanders: January 8
- vs. Chicago Blackhawks: January 10
- vs. Washington Capitals: January 11
Week 3: MLK Day & Huge Occasion Weekend (January 12–18)
That is Nashville’s largest weekend of the month. To get it began, head to Bridgestone Enviornment on Tuesday, January 13, because the Predators play host to the Edmonton Oilers—the two-time defending Western Convention champions.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on January 19, 2026. Occasions embody:
- MLK Day March usually begins at Jefferson Road Baptist Church, ending at TSU’s Gentry Heart (close to West Nashville)
- Youth rallies and symposiums (January 12–20)
- Neighborhood convocation
- Particular concert events and providers
Bridgestone Enviornment has rather more to supply than simply NHL video games, concert events, and one of many largest rodeos in Nashville. Monster Jam: Freestyle Mania hits Bridgestone Enviornment January 17–18. Child-friendly motorsports with Grave Digger, Dragon, and different well-known monster vans. Loud, high-energy, children find it irresistible. Carry ear safety.
Ruston Kelly performs on the Ryman on January seventeenth. Singer-songwriter with Nashville roots. Intimate present in an iconic venue.
Weeks 4–5: Late-January Headliners (January 19–31)
The month finishes sturdy with main reveals and sports activities.
The Preds host three house video games:
- vs. Buffalo Sabres: January 20
- vs. Ottawa Senators: January 22
- vs. Utah Mammoth: January 24
Ryman Auditorium brings critical expertise in late January, from big-time musical artists to headliner comedy reveals.
Harlem Globetrotters play at Bridgestone Enviornment on January thirty first. An evening of enjoyable for all ages with basketball tips, comedy, and viewers participation.
Huge Occasions to Placed on Your January 2026 Bucket Checklist
Dwell Music & Concert events
Nashville’s “Music Metropolis” nickname is well-deserved, and January proves it.
Opry on the Ryman (January 2–10) tops each Nashville bucket listing. The Grand Ole Opry has broadcast from numerous venues since 1925. Each winter, it returns to the Ryman Auditorium, the place it lived from 1943 to 1974.
The constructing’s acoustics are legendary. The historical past is palpable. Friday and Saturday reveals function rotating nation artists, many making shock appearances.
The Ryman Auditorium hosts quite a few January reveals past the Opry:
- Ruston Kelly (January 17): Nashville-based singer-songwriter
- Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Venture (January 23): bluegrass legends
- Mavis Staples (January 24): soul and gospel icon
- “NASHVILLE: The Encore Tour” (January 25): forged from the TV present performing fan favorites
Smaller venues supply intimate experiences. third & Lindsley books rock and Americana acts. The Brooklyn Bowl combines reside music, bowling, and meals within the Germantown neighborhood. The Basement East showcases up-and-coming artists within the Historic Edgefield space.
Examine Songkick, Nashville.com, and particular person venue calendars for the whole January lineup. Reveals will likely be added all through the month.
Theatre, Comedy & Particular Performances
Zanies Comedy Membership and The Lab at Zanies convey stand-up to the hip 12 South neighborhood each week. Nationwide touring comics plus native expertise. The Ryman hosts greater comedy names like Hannah Berner (January 29) and Sheng Wang (January 30).
Candlelight Concert events on the Parthenon proceed into February 2026. String quartets carry out tributes to Coldplay, The Beatles, and different artists within the historic Midtown neighborhood setting. Intimate, atmospheric reveals lit fully by candles.
Line dancing courses run all through January at a number of venues. Inexperienced persons welcome. Be taught two-step, nation swing, and basic line dances. Nice strategy to expertise Nashville’s music tradition hands-on.
Cultural Celebrations & Annual Occasions
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19–20) stands as one among Nashville’s most essential annual observances. Town hosts one of many nation’s oldest MLK commemorative marches, working for over 30 years.
Go to the Civil Rights Assortment at Nashville Public Library for historic context. The Nationwide Museum of African American Music—one of many greatest museums in Nashville—is one other standout, particularly throughout MLK week.
As talked about earlier, the Nashville Antiques & Backyard Present is again on January 9–11 on the Music Metropolis Heart in The Gulch. This annual occasion options over 150 exhibitors, famend audio system, and residential/backyard design inspiration. There’s additionally a preview occasion on Thursday, January 8, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Child-Accepted January Actions for Households
Indoor Museums & Arms-On Enjoyable
Chilly day? These museums embody a spread of sights, from world-renowned landmarks to a few of Nashville’s high kid-friendly actions.
Journey Science Heart, positioned adjoining to the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, affords interactive reveals that youngsters can truly contact. The planetarium reveals house movies on a large dome. The BodyQuest exhibit lets children climb via a large human physique. Science demonstrations occur all through the day.
The Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum is not only for adults. Youngsters love the Elvis reveals, Johnny Money’s tour bus, and interactive recording cubicles. January crowds are lighter than in summer season. Many locals go to when it is too chilly to play exterior.
The Tennessee State Museum stays free year-round. Tennessee historical past from prehistoric occasions to the current. Youthful children benefit from the previous furnishings, style shows, and hands-on components.
The Nationwide Museum of African American Music opened in 2021. Interactive reveals let children attempt devices, hear music evolution, and study genres from gospel to hip-hop.
Travellers Relaxation Historic Home Museum affords guided excursions all through January. Excursions happen from Tuesday via Saturday, with 5 excursions provided per day, beginning on the high of each hour from 11 a.m. to three p.m. The home sits on 9 acres in southeast Nashville, simply east of the attractive Oak Hill neighborhood.
Outside Winter Enjoyable on Milder Days
Nashville’s January climate permits outside time on hotter days.
Radnor Lake State Park affords a few of Nashville’s greatest mountaineering trails round a pristine lake. The First Day Hikes on January 1st are free and guided. Different days, go at your individual tempo. Nice chicken watching in winter when bushes are naked.
Centennial Park facilities on a full-scale duplicate of the Parthenon. Youngsters run across the open areas. You may tour contained in the Parthenon to see the huge Athena statue. In the event you’re attending a Candlelight Live performance there, arrive early to discover the grounds.
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park sits close to the Tennessee State Museum downtown. Huge open areas, fountains (off in winter), and the 95-bell carillon that performs on the hour. Instructional markers clarify Tennessee historical past.
The place to Eat and Drink Round January Occasions
Close to Main Venues
Bridgestone Enviornment/Broadway District: Earlier than the sport or live performance, you’ve got choices all through the colourful neighborhoods in downtown Nashville. Scorching hen at Hattie B’s or Prince’s. BBQ at Martin’s or Peg Leg Porker. Broadway bars overflow with reside music and bar meals. Acme Feed & Seed or The Southern Steak & Oyster supply sit-down meals, views, and higher acoustics than the honky-tonks.
Ryman Auditorium/Downtown: Pre-show dinner works greatest away from Broadway’s chaos. Stroll to The Gulch (10 minutes) for upscale choices like Adele’s or The Pharmacy Burger. Germantown (five-minute drive) affords Metropolis Home for pizza or Rolf & Daughters for pasta. After reveals, Broadway bars keep open late.
Opry Home/Opry Mills Space: The Grand Ole Opry sits east of downtown. Opry Mills mall affords chain eating places (Aquarium Restaurant, Rainforest Cafe). Gaylord Opryland Resort (subsequent door) has a number of eating places, from informal to upscale.
Dry January & Mocktail Scene
Nashville bars and breweries embrace Dry January with artistic non-alcoholic choices.
Southern Grist Brewing Co. affords NA beer choices at its West and East Nashville places. Different high Nashville breweries observe go well with with zero-proof choices. A number of cocktail bars craft elaborate mocktails—similar creativity, no alcohol.
Plan a night round a live performance, accompanied by mocktails at a bar that celebrates Dry January. Or go to a brewery’s taproom for NA beers earlier than a present. You may nonetheless expertise Nashville’s social scene with out the hangover.
Making the Most of January in Music Metropolis
January offers you Nashville with out overwhelming.
You may discover Broadway and spend an evening out in downtown Nashville with out shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Museums have house to breathe. Restaurant reservations open up. The calendar stays filled with concert events, sports activities, cultural occasions, and kid-friendly actions.
In the event you’re visiting, you may get genuine Nashville. In the event you’re house-hunting, you may see neighborhoods in real-life mode—not peak vacationer season. Both manner, January proves Music Metropolis thrives year-round.
If the alternatives of Nashville excite you, contact The Ashton Actual Property Group of RE/MAX Benefit with Nashville’s MLS at (615) 603-3602 to get in contact with native actual property brokers who will help discover the proper Nashville house for you at present.
