Culture
Tyler Childers headlines Buckeye Country Superfest 2026 at Ohio Stadium June 13
By: Emily Votaw
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) – Buckeye Country Superfest returns to Ohio Stadium (411 Woody Hayes Drive) on June 13, with Tyler Childers leading a lineup of prominent contemporary country, Americana, and roots artists.
Childers headlines in support of Snipe Hunter, his Rick Rubin-produced 2025 album, anchoring a bill that spans the genre’s current range: country-rock heavyweights The Red Clay Strays, 2026 American Music Award nominee Lord Huron, genre-hopping Sierra Ferrell, Texas Americana outfit Flatland Cavalry, and the singular Kaitlin Butts.
The day starts at 10 a.m., when a free Tailgate Fan Fest opens across the street from the stadium. That bill features “Save My Soul” singer Noah Rinker, folk singer Willi Carlisle (whom The Washington Post called “down home and brainy”), rising country performer Annie Bosko, and our region’s own William Matheny, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Morgantown, WV.
Two Friday night shows extend the weekend. Sierra Ferrell plays a sold-out set at The Bluestone (583 East Broad Street) with The Brudi Brothers, and Evan Honer headlines Newport Music Hall (1722 North High Street) with Leon Majcen. Tickets remain available for the Newport show.
WOUB’s Emily Votaw spoke with Aaron Thomas, chief entertainment officer at Columbus Arena Sports & Entertainment, and Catherine Lawler, talent buyer at AEG, about how a 100-year-old football stadium becomes a country festival and how a lineup like this comes together. Find a transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity, below.
Catherine Lawler: Every lineup is built from the headliner down, so they really inform what the whole day is going to look like year over year. When choosing a headliner, we pay attention to artists that are touring, we listen to their new music, and, of course, attend their other concerts.
Country as a genre is really fluid right now, allowing us to try out different sub-genres every year. Tyler had some amazing tours the last couple of years, and was on track to release his new album, Snipe Hunter, so it felt like a no-brainer to have him headline.
Votaw: Ohio Stadium is an iconic venue most people associate with football. What are the unique challenges and rewards of transforming it into a country music festival space?
Aaron Thomas: Ohio Stadium is over 100 years old, and that history comes with its own challenges. We need to ensure we can safely and efficiently build a top notch production and provide modern amenities for both our artists and guests. The challenge is to preserve that tradition and use the community asset above and beyond the seven to eight home football games it hosts each year. We’ve proven since the first special events in the early ’90s that we can successfully produce and present shows that draw crowds from across the country and beyond.
Votaw: Sierra Ferrell is appearing both at the main stadium show and headlining the Friday night Bluestone show. How did that come together, and what does it say about her standing in the Americana/country world right now?
Catherine Lawler: This was a fun new addition to the festival this year. I’m sure as most Columbus locals know, The Bluestone is the spot to see country acts in town. We have had the Official Buckeye Country Superfest Preparty at the Newport the last few years – and tickets are still available to see Evan Honer – but with so many people coming to town for the festival, we were looking for more ways to expand the experience outside of Saturday’s show day, and the Pre-party.
I brought this idea to Sierra’s team, and they were just as excited about the opportunity as I was. As a longtime fan, Sierra’s growth over the last few years is truly remarkable, and seeing her perform in an intimate club just isn’t very common anymore. The tickets sold out immediately, as expected, and we are looking forward to having her play The Bluestone.
Editor’s Note: Sierra Ferrell performed as a part of WOUB’s 2023 Nelsonville Music Festival Sycamore Sessions.
Votaw: The Tailgate Fan Fest is free and open to the public with no ticket required. What’s the philosophy behind keeping that accessible, and what can first-time attendees expect?
Catherine Lawler: The Tailgate Fan Fest is where I started working on this festival. This idea rolled over from Ohio State Football games, as they use a similar set up. We have grown the tailgate over the years, and we like to keep this part of the fest open to the public because we love the idea of the tailgate culture surrounding OSU Football and the Stadium. I spend as much time as I can out at the tailgate, and fans should too, as its your opportunity to check out some new up-and-coming artists, grab your favorite artist’s merch and a bite to eat.
Aaron Thomas: We want our guests to leave the venue with their expectations exceeded. We want them to understand the effort and care we put into this production every year and to feel excited to see how we will raise the bar each year: new artists, new activities, and new experiences. We hope they can enjoy a full day of great music and performances, share in the community of their fellow fans, and take a break for a few hours—something that only live experiences can provide.
Votaw: Is there anything about this year’s event that you’re personally most excited about that fans might not know yet?
Aaron Thomas: We are very excited for some new features at our Tailgate Fan Fest, we don’t want to spoil the surprise. Come see for yourself!
Catherine Lawler: I’m going to have to agree with Aaron here, there are a couple new fun ideas we’ve added to the tailgate that have been in the works for awhile. Of course, I am also looking forward to seeing some of my favorite artists play some great music both at the Fan Fest Tailgate and inside the Stadium. Can’t wait to see the Shoe packed out with all of the fans.