2026 Special Events
The Mountain Music Festival 2026 offered a full program beyond its main-stage concerts. Fans attended Artist Photo Experiences, guitar clinics, acoustic sessions, festival workshops, comedy shows, trivia, karaoke, VIP activities, and late-night events throughout the weekend.
Many events took place inside the Gatlinburg Convention Center, while evening programs continued at Smith & Son in downtown Gatlinburg.
ARTIST PHOTO EXPERIENCES AND MEET AND GREETS
Scheduled Photo Experiences gave fans the opportunity to meet select performers and take photos during the festival weekend. Sessions took place in Bigfoot’s Den on the upper level of the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Artists involved in the 2026 Photo Experiences included Lynch Mob, Tora Tora, Tuk Smith, Pearcy/DeMartini, Sebastian Bach, John Corabi & Friends, White Lion, Lita Ford, Warrant, Stone Whiskey, and other festival performers.
GUITAR CLINICS AND FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS
The 2026 Guitar Clinics gave participating fans direct access to experienced rock guitarists. The clinic program included:
- George Lynch Guitar Clinic
- Reb Beach Guitar Clinic
- Joel Hoekstra Guitar Clinic
- Shred Coaching
Additional festival workshops and interactive activities included Painting with Rockstars and So You Think You Can Shred The Mountain.
VIP EXPERIENCE
VIP guests received access to several benefits and designated festival areas throughout the weekend. The 2026 VIP experiences included:
- Early festival check-in
- Priority entry to the Main Stages
- Access to two VIP lounges overlooking the Main Stages
- Priority entry for Photo Experiences
- Front-of-stage access in the Rock Arena
- Priority access to selected ticketed events
The VIP lounges were located in the Greenbrier and Elkmont rooms on the upper level of the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
ACOUSTIC SESSIONS AND SMALLER PERFORMANCES
The Terrace and Summit Stage hosted smaller performances away from the full production of the Rock Arena. These spaces featured acoustic sessions, close artist appearances, and additional performances throughout the weekend.
The more intimate settings gave fans a different experience from the Mountain and Creekside Stages while keeping the music running between the main concerts.
LATE-NIGHT EVENTS AND AFTER PARTIES
The entertainment continued after the main-stage performances. The 2026 late-night program included:
- Late Night Party with Ted Poley
- Punchlines & Backlines comedy shows
- Rock N’ Roll Music Videos & Trivia
- Karaoke with Brian & Izzy
- Gongshow Karaoke with Brian & Izzy
Several of these after parties and evening activities took place at Smith & Son in downtown Gatlinburg.
MORE 2026 FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
The special events program also included:
- Painting with Rockstars
- Chainsaw Carver demonstrations
- Trader’s Alley
- Rock N’ Roll Market
- Charity Auction
- So You Think You Can Shred The Mountain
These Gatlinburg events brought art, comedy, shopping, competitions, and fan activities into the festival schedule alongside the live performances.
2027 SPECIAL EVENTS
The Photo Experiences, VIP activities, workshops, acoustic sessions, and after parties for The Mountain Music Festival 2027 have not yet been announced.
Join the mailing list for confirmed 2027 festival updates.