Country music fans in the Midwest are going to have to hitch themselves to another post. The Faster Horses country music festival will not be happening again this year. It has typically taken place at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on the third weekend in July since 2013.
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This is the second straight year that the event has been put out to pasture. A "pause" was also placed on the 2025 edition. The 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Happened to the Faster Horses Country Music Festival?
Fans following the Faster Horses music festival's social media account were greeted with the following message yesterday, Wednesday, March 5.
"Faster Horses Music Festival will not return in 2026," the post read. "While the festival will not take place this year, we are proud of the memories made and the impact it has had on live music in Michigan. We remain grateful to the fans, artists, partners, and the Michigan International Speedway community who have supported Faster Horses over the years."
Described as a "three-day hillbilly sleepover," around 40,000 music lovers from all over the Midwest camped out at the race track where the festival took place.
Some of the best country acts headlined the event. Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, and Zac Brown Band have taken the stage in the past. In 2024, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy were on the lineup.
As reported by The Detroit News, Cambridge Township clerk Rick Richardson learned of the cancellation from officials at Michigan International Speedway.
"MIS told us that Live Nation indicated that they were taking a pause for 2026," he said. "I have no other details than what has been provided to us."
Wasn't There Another Music Festival in Michigan?
Last year, the Country Roads Music Festival took over the weekend vacated by the Faster Horses event. That festival, which had Colt Ford on its lineup, was canceled days before it was supposed to start.
"We've made the difficult decision to postpone Country Roads Music Festival until 2026," the announcement read. "Our goal has always been to create something meaningful for this community, and we want to give it the time and care it deserves."
