IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!)
- Dates
- Oct 19 to 23, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Downtown Chattanooga
- Price
- $210
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 7, 2026
IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!) returns to Chattanooga, TN, Oct 19 to 23, 2027. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
IBMA World of Bluegrass is the bluegrass industry's flagship week, run by the International Bluegrass Music Association and combining a business conference, the genre's annual Bluegrass Music Awards, artist showcases and the Bluegrass Live! festival. After more than a decade in Raleigh, North Carolina, it relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee (host 2025-2027), set between the Tennessee River and the surrounding mountains. Fans describe it as a place where you can see much of the working bluegrass world in one compact setting, with jamming everywhere.
What people love
Attendees call IBMA a bluegrass lover's paradise, praising the density of top bands and impromptu jamming and telling newcomers they won't regret it. Recent awards shows drew praise for improved production, though some found the scripted stage patter stiff. The move away from the beloved free downtown street fest and cuts to some late-night showcases have been the main sources of grumbling.
Last time around (2025)
The 2025 edition, held September 16-20, was the festival's first in Chattanooga after its move from Raleigh. The relocation reshaped the event, the free downtown street fest that fans loved did not carry over and several late-night showcase rooms scaled back, prompting a mixed reaction even as the core showcases, awards and jams drew enthusiastic crowds.
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!) on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
How do I get to IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!)?
By car
Most people drive to IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!). Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
Cost Convention Center garage: $4 (0-1 hr), $8 (1-3 hr), $10 (3-5 hr), $15 (5-8 hr), $25 (8+ hr/overnight) per the Convention Center's own published rate table. This is a multi-venue downtown umbrella event (Convention Center, Miller Park/Plaza, Patten Square, The Signal, Barrelhouse Ballroom, Hi-Fi Clyde's, Songbirds, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium) spread across an 'incredibly walkable downtown' per the event's own site, no single dedicated festival parking lot exists; attendees are expected to use general downtown parking (garage or metered street) and walk/use the free CARTA circulator between venues.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Chattanooga. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!)?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Mid-range hotels 2
Directly connected to the Chattanooga Convention Center
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1300 Carter St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 2
Downtown Chattanooga, TN
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesDowntown Chattanooga, TN
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 1
Downtown Chattanooga, TN
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
The event's own hotels page lists 20 walkable-distance hotel properties plus discounted room blocks. Airbnb inventory in downtown Chattanooga is substantial and worth including as an option.
Search AirbnbWorld of Bluegrass's own FAQ vaguely notes 'many campgrounds with easy access to downtown' when asked about camping, but names no specific campground, RV park, or official festival-camping arrangement; this reads as general local awareness, not an on-site or festival-affiliated camping option. Hipcamp-listed private-land camping/glamping in the wider Chattanooga area is the closest fit for attendees wanting a camping-adjacent alternative to a hotel.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Downtown Chattanooga
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
What the organizer or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
IBMA World of Bluegrass does not publish its own accessibility page and defers to its venue. Its FAQ, asked whether Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium provides assistance to those with special needs, answers yes and points to the auditorium's ADA page.
Read the full notes
Parking noted in the FAQ is in Republic Parking lots near Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium off McCallie Avenue. The festival spans indoor auditorium events and the outdoor IBMA Bluegrass Live! street festival, and the organizer publishes nothing about terrain, accessible parking, accessible toilets, accessible viewing, companion or carer tickets, ASL or a quiet space for the outdoor portion.
Confirm your specific needs with the organizer's access team before you travel.
Checked 2026-09-03 · source
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!) 2027?
Oct 19 to 23, 2027
How much are IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!) tickets?
$210 per person, from the official ticket page. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Where is IBMA World of Bluegrass (featuring IBMA Bluegrass Live!) held?
Downtown Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.