FAQ
Questions?
WHAT IS BIG EARS?
Big Ears is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The mission of Big Ears is to collaborate with artists, audiences, and communities to create joyful, meaningful, and transcendent cultural experiences that defy boundaries, fuel curiosity, ignite the spirit, and nourish the soul. The Big Ears Festival is the flagship event of the organization. Click to visit our Introduction & Overview page for Festival 101 or learn more about Who We Are.
WHEN ARE FESTIVAL PASSES AVAILABLE?
The festival’s 2026 lineup will be announced on Tuesday, September 9, at 9am ET.
A donor pre-sale for Voyager-Level donors ($100 or above) will begin when the lineup is announced at 9a ET on September 9.
The next day, Wednesday, September 10, a pre-sale for previous pass purchasers will begin at 9am ET.
Passes will be available to everyone on Thursday, September 11, at 9am ET.
Single-Day passes, including Premier level, will be made available at a later date pending availability.
AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A PRE-SALE?
Early access to festival passes is one of many ways we show appreciation to those who help sustain Big Ears and make the festival possible.
If you’ve contributed $100 or more between September 10, 2024 and September 7, 2025, you’ll be included in our 2026 donor pre-sale on Tuesday, September 9 at 9am ET receiving first access to festival passes as a thank-you for your generosity.
Likewise, anyone who has purchased a festival pass since 2022 will also be welcomed into our “Previous Purchaser” pre-sale taking place Wednesday, September 10 at 9am ET before being made available to everyone else, a gesture of gratitude for your support and commitment to being part of Big Ears.
To ensure you receive details about taking advantage of either pre-sale, please make sure you’re subscribed to the Big Ears newsletter with the email address connected to your donation or the Front Gate Tickets account used to purchase passes. If you have never subscribed or have unsubscribed from our mailing list, you may not receive the information.
HOW DO I GET TO BIG EARS?
Big Ears takes place in downtown Knoxville, TN, located at the crossroads of I-40 and I-75, and is an easy drive from anywhere in the eastern United States: 3 hours from Nashville and Atlanta and an easy 4 hours from Cincinnati, Louisville or Charlotte.
McGhee Tyson Airport is only 20 minutes from downtown Knoxville, and is serviced by six national airlines with both direct and easy connecting flights. Click here to help plan your trip.
WHERE DO I STAY?
Knoxville offers a wide range of lodging options—from boutique hotels and well-known chains to short-term rentals—both downtown and in nearby neighborhoods. While downtown properties offer the most convenience, rates can be higher than areas like Cedar Bluff, Papermill, and Merchants Drive. These neighborhoods are just a 10–15 minute drive from the festival footprint and feature a variety of comfortable hotels. These locations are easily accessible by rideshare or personal vehicle, and parking downtown is plentiful and free in city-managed garages and surface lots after 6pm on Thursday and Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Big Ears partners with Visit Knoxville to offer a limited hotel portal featuring discounted rates at select properties. This portal will launch when the festival lineup is announced on September 9, 2026, and rooms—especially downtown—tend to go fast. All bookings through the portal are first come, first served, so we encourage you to explore all options early.
Click here for more information on hotels.
HOW DO I GET AROUND?
Once you arrive in downtown Knoxville, getting around is easy. All festival venues, restaurants, bars, and shopping are within easy walking distance of each other. Knoxville has been recognized as one of “America’s Bicycle Friendly Cities” and bike parking is available at or near all venues. The festival will provide a dedicated shuttle which will make stops at or near all venues. In addition, Knoxville is well supported by both Uber and Lyft.
WHAT TIME DOES BIG EARS START AND END?
Big Ears festival activities generally kick off Thursday evening around 5pm. Music programming for Friday-Sunday will begin around noon, with talks, panels, etc. filling morning hours. Concerts will finish around 1am or later. Final concerts on Sunday will finish by 11 pm. The detailed schedule will be announced roughly a month before the festival.
WHEN WILL THE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE BE AVAILABLE?
A detailed, hour by hour performance schedule will be released at a later date. Stay tuned to our social media and website and subscribe to our newsletter for details as they unfold.
WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH A FESTIVAL PASS?
Big Ears concerts and events take place in nearly 20 venues, with capacities that range from 100 to 2,500 people. Admission to each event is on a first come, first served basis (subject to the legal capacity of the venue) with VIP patrons given priority access, followed by Premier and then 4-Day Weekend patrons.
All weekend passes include:
• Admission to nearly 250 concerts, performances, and events in 20 venues over 4 days
• Admission to all official film screenings and literary events during the festival
• Entrance to all official talks, panel discussions, exhibitions, and workshops
Festival passes are wristbands which must be worn by the patron and scanned upon entry to access festival venues.
Passes are required for patrons ages 2 and older. Big Ears does not offer tickets to individual shows during the festival weekend.
WHAT DOES A 4-DAY PREMIER PASS INCLUDE?
Premier pass holders will receive everything offered to 4-Day Weekend passholders and more!
Premier patrons are offered priority admission to official Big Ears venues where available. After VIP pass holders are given access to a venue, Premier pass holders will be granted access prior to Weekend patrons. If a venue reaches capacity and becomes 1 in, 1 out, Premier pass holders will be given priority entry after VIP patrons.
In addition, Premier pass holders, along with VIPs, will receive an invitation to an exclusive, unannounced “secret show” during the festival weekend.
Upon release of the festival schedule, reserved-seat, separately ticketed add-ons will be placed on sale. Premier and VIP pass holders will have early access to purchase these before Weekend pass holders.
Venues with Priority Access:
• Knoxville Civic Auditorium
• Tennessee Theatre
• Bijou Theatre
• First Presbyterian
• The Point
• St. John’s Cathedral
• The Mill & Mine
• Jackson Terminal
• The Standard
• Regas Square
WHAT DOES A 4-DAY SONIC EXPLORER VIP PASS INCLUDE?
Sonic Explorer VIP pass holders will receive everything offered to 4-Day Weekend and Premier passholders and more!
Where available, Sonic Explorer VIP pass holders will enjoy and dedicated line or entrance and are granted entry to performance venues prior to Premier and Weekend pass holders. If a venue reaches capacity and becomes 1 in, 1 out, VIP pass holders will be given priority entry followed by Premier and then GA patrons.
In addition, Sonic Explorer VIPs enjoy a reserved, VIP section in seated venues (where available). This section will be held until 10 minutes before show time when the section will be opened to all patrons to ensure maximum attendance and venue capacity as well as to ensure sections do not remain empty during an artist’s performance.
Along with preferred entry and seating, VIP patrons receive invitations to exclusive events such as the Official Kick-Off Party and a VIP Happy Hour.
Every VIP pass comes with a voucher that can be redeemed for a merchandise package at the festival’s on-site store ($100 value).
Venues with Dedicated VIP Line / Entrance or Priority Access
• Knoxville Civic Auditorium
• Tennessee Theatre
• Bijou Theatre
• First Presbyterian
• The Point
• St. John’s Cathedral
• The Mill & Mine
• Jackson Terminal
• The Standard
• Regas Square
Venues with Reserved, VIP Seating:
• Knoxville Civic Auditorium
• Tennessee Theatre
• Bijou Theatre
• Church Street United Methodist
• First Presbyterian
• The Point
• St. John’s Cathedral
CAN I PURCHASE A DAY PASS?
Big Ears may offer a limited quantity of single day passes for each of the festival’s four days.
A daily pass allows access to all publicly announced events in all official Big Ears venues on that particular day. This includes:
• All concerts and performances in 20+ venues*
• Admission to all official film screenings and literary events*
• Entrance to all official talks, panel discussions, exhibitions, and workshops*
*Subject to each venue’s capacity
HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY FESTIVAL WRISTBAND?
Wristbands will be mailed to patrons at the mailing address provided upon checkout. Please ensure your mailing address is accurate and at a location that you can access in late February and early March 2026. To change or update your mailing address, please contact Front Gate Tickets customer support here.
Wristbands will not be mailed to international customers and must be picked up at will call at the festival’s on-site box office.
Any passes purchased after the mailing cutoff will be picked up via will call at the festival’s on-site box office as well.
HOW DO I REGISTER MY FESTIVAL WRISTBAND?
Registering your wristband provides many benefits including protection against loss and theft. Registration information will be provided along with your festival pass.
WHAT IF I LOSE MY WRISTBAND?
If you have lost or misplaced your wristband or did not receive it due to shipping errors, please come to the festival box office with your proof of purchase and a photo ID. We will help you replace it. Lost or stolen wristbands are subject to a $10 replacement fee payable by credit card at the on-site box office.
MY WRISTBAND IS TOO TIGHT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
We recommend applying your wristband with enough space to easily slide 2 fingers between the band and your wrist. Wristbands that are over-tightened cannot be loosened. If your wristband is too tight, please come to the festival box office and we will issue a replacement. Replacements are subject to at $10 fee.
WHERE IS THE ON-SITE BOX OFFICE?
The 2026 Big Ears Festival Box Office details & location will be shared closer to the festival.
WHAT ARE ON-SITE BOX OFFICE HOURS?
The 2026 Box Offfice hours will be shared closer to the festival, for reference please refer to 2025 Box office hours:
CAN I BUY A PASS AT THE ON-SITE BOX OFFICE?
Passes are not available for purchase at the on-site festival box office and must be purchased in advance.
DOES BIG EARS OFFER REFUNDS?
All sales are final and no refunds will be offered. However, if you are unable to attend, you can offer your pass for sale to other verified fans by using the official Ticket Exchange.
I’M UNABLE TO ATTEND. CAN I SELL MY PASS?
Yes! If you purchased a ticket directly from Front Gate Tickets and can no longer attend the festival, you can use the Ticketmaster Verified Ticket Exchange to sell your passes to another fan. Sign in to your Front Gate Tickets account and under “Your Account” select “Order History” to list your ticket on the Ticketmaster Verified Exchange. Offering your pass for sale does not guarantee a buyer.
IS IT OK TO BUY FROM A THIRD PARTY?
Passes are non-transferable and the festival will not honor passes purchased from a third party. Only passes purchased through the Big Ears Festival website and it’s official ticketing provider, Front Gate Tickets are guaranteed to be authentic. If you want 100% confidence in your purchase, you should only purchase through the links on our passes page.
Big Ears will verify that only those who purchased passes are able to claim them.
Big Ears is not responsible for any counterfeit passes or wristbands purchased via an unverified or unofficial third party.
For you own protection, please do not purchase passes from any source other than bigearsfestival.org or Front Gate Tickets.
Removing a wristband automatically voids it (unless by accident or for safety reasons, in which case you will need to get a replacement wristband from the festival’s box office (this will require you to prove your purchase information). Festival security will check every wristband to ensure it has not been removed or passed between multiple people.
ARE THERE ANY AGE RESTRICTIONS?
Big Ears Festival is an all-ages event. Passes will be required for patrons ages 2 and older.
IS BIG EARS ADA ACCESSIBLE?
Yes, Big Ears Festival venues are ADA accessible in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, though the exact accessibility specifications vary based on the venue. Further information can be found on the Accessibility page of this website.
For additional accessibility questions, contact info@bigearsfestival.org to learn more.
WHAT ABOUT SAFETY AND MEDICAL NEEDS?
If you need medical attention while attending a Big Ears event, please alert an event organizer, venue staff, or member of our security staff and we will assist you.
CAN I BRING A CAMERA?
Disposable and small digital photography will be allowed, but anything with a removable lens is not permitted. Audio and video recording devices are prohibited. Additionally, please be respectful of other patrons and the artists when using your camera. No flash photography allowed.
WHAT CAN I BRING AND WHAT’S PROHIBITED?
What’s ACCEPTABLE: Small purse or backpack, water bottles, camera with non-removable lens. Please remember, everyone is subject to search and a large bag may cause delays when entering a venue.
What’s PROHIBITED: Drugs, controlled substances, alcohol, weapons, firearms, projectiles including glowsticks, video recording equipment, tri-pods, audio recording equipment and unauthorized merchandise. This list is not exhaustive and venue or festival management and, at their discretion, may not allow other items that could cause harm to festival attendees, staff, or performing artists.
Any person attempting to enter the venues with any of the prohibited item(s) above will be refused access, or at the venue’s discretion, allowed to give up the prohibited item(s) before entry. Confiscated items will be disposed of at the venue’s discretion.
DO YOU ACCEPT DEBIT AND CREDIT CARDS?
Yes, bars at all venues will accept cash and credit/debit cards. The festival’s merchandise store will only accept credit/debit card, chip, or contactless payment methods.
There are numerous banks and ATMs located throughout the downtown area and festival footprint.
IS THERE A BIG EARS APP?
Yes. The Big Ears Festival app is an amazing resource for staying informed about all the happenings at the festival including a map, performance schedule, artist bios, and push notifications for pop-up performances and other surprises.
CAN I VOLUNTEER?
Yes! We will be announcing volunteer opportunities for the 2026 festival very soon. Head over to our volunteer page for more info. If you have any questions about the program, email volunteers(at)bigearsfestival(dot)org.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT BIG EARS?
You can make a tax deductible gift to Big Ears. Donors will receive premium festival benefits not available to the general public. Visit our Donate page found here for more information. To learn more about the benefits at the $5,000.00+ level, or to make a gift of stock or from your work donor-advised fund, please contact development(at)bigearsfestival(dot)org.
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available as well. Please contact sponsors(at)bigearsfestival(dot)org for more information.
CAN I BE A VENDOR AT THE FESTIVAL?
Big Ears is primarily an indoor festival that takes place in over a dozen venues. Sorry, there are no opportunities for vendors.
CAN MY BAND PLAY AT BIG EARS?
We do not accept unsolicited submissions.
CAN’T FIND AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION?
If you need more information or have additional questions, please contact us directly via our contact page or by emailing us at info@bigearsfestival.org. Please note that any music submissions sent to this email will not receive a response.
Big Ears has partnered with Front Gate Tickets as it’s official ticketing provider. For any questions regarding your Front Gate order, please contact them here.
Ticketmaster Verified Ticket Exchange is the official resale partner of Big Ears Festival. For any questions regarding the exchange, please contact them here.
Still have questions? Contact Us