Over the weekend, Country Thunder — the largest Country music festival brand in North America — marked a major milestone with the 30th anniversary of Country Thunder Wisconsin. From July 16-19, thousands of fans gathered at Shadow Hill Ranch in Twin Lakes for four days of must-see performances, camping, and community — cementing the festival’s status as one of summer’s premier destinations for Country fans.

Headlined by superstars Gavin Adcock, Riley Green, Keith Urban, and The Red Clay Strays, Country Thunder Wisconsin 2026 brought together some of Country’s biggest acts and hottest newcomers, boasting a blockbuster lineup including Gretchen Wilson, Mark Chesnutt, Ian Munsick, Nate Smith, Shaboozey, George Birge, Dasha, Corey Kent, Mae Estes, and many more.

On Thursday night, Gavin Adcock got the weekend off to a thrilling start with a barn-burning headline performance, tearing through colossal hits like “A Cigarette,” “Last One To Know,” and “Need To.” During his set, the Georgia-bred phenomenon also invited eight-year-old Camron from Carol Stream, Illinois, and his little sister McKinley onstage, giving the next generation of Country fans a moment to remember.

Later in the weekend, Riley Green’s Saturday night headline spot included a surprise appearance from Dasha, who joined the award-winning hitmaker for a duet of his PLATINUM-certified fan favorite “Don’t Mind If I Do.” Earlier that evening, MULTI-PLATINUM chart-topper Nate Smith sent the festival into a frenzy with a powerhouse set packed with standout moments, including venturing into the crowd during his Billboard Hot 100-charting smash “Whiskey On You,” welcoming audience members onstage for a round of “Nate Smith Karaoke,” and signing memorabilia for a massive throng of fans. Country Thunder Wisconsin came to a close Sunday night with heartwarming highlights as Shaboozey brought a young female fan onstage to help him perform his current Country radio hit “Cowgirl” and Keith Urban welcomed a young Packers fan with a sign that read “Hey Keith, Remember Me?” to recreate the 2023 on stage moment yet again at the festival. 

 

PICTURED: NATE SMITH TAKING “WHISKEY ON YOU” TO THE CROWD SATURDAY NIGHT (7/18)

PICTURED: KEITH URBAN BRINGS YOUNG PACKERS FAN ON STAGE SUNDAY NIGHT (7/19)

A brand-new addition for 2026, the Buckin’ Thunder Pro Bull Riding Event proved to be one of the festival’s top attractions. Presented in partnership with Big Hat Rodeo (a Midwest institution with more than a century of rodeo history), the sanctioned bull-riding competition brought breathtaking feats of skill and grit, with elite cowboys facing off against some of the sport’s toughest bulls on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The inaugural Buckin’ Thunder championship was ultimately claimed by Jake Morinec, capping off what’s sure to become a new Country Thunder Wisconsin tradition.

 

PICTURED: BUCKIN’ THUNDER IN ACTION

All throughout the weekend, the Lake Stage presented by 102.3 The Coyote turned the spotlight on the next wave of Country talent, featuring more than 20 emerging artists from Wisconsin and beyond. Meanwhile, the Songwriters Showcase presented by American Songwriter gave festival-goers an up-close look at the composers behind a host of No. 1 songs, including hits by Cody Johnson, Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, and spotlighted the American Songwriter “Sounds Like Summer” contest winner Paige Davis.

In honor of Country Thunder Wisconsin’s 30th anniversary, the festival launched its #mycountrythunderlegacy campaign, celebrating the fans whose stories have become woven into the festival's history. Among those featured: Thad, who’s attended every Country Thunder Wisconsin since the first year, met his wife at the festival, and married her there in 2022; Jaafar, who’s turned an annual trip from California into a meaningful tradition with his oldest daughter; and Jennifer, who’s been a part of Country Thunder Wisconsin for all 30 years, fully embodying the spirit that’s made the festival a home away from home for so many Country fans over the decades.

Looking ahead to another unforgettable summer, fans can now renew their camping passes and reserved seats for Country Thunder Wisconsin 2027, with the public on-sale beginning August 7. For more info, visit countrythunder.com.

 

CAMPGROUND SIGHTINGS

 

ABOUT COUNTRY THUNDER MUSIC FESTIVALS:
Country Thunder Music Festivals thrives as the world’s preeminent Country music festival brand. Led by President and C.E.O. Troy Vollhoffer since 2005, it continues to set the tone for Country music and culture. This global powerhouse encompasses annual multi-day events in six major markets across two countries, earning “Festival of the Year” at the ACM Awards three times and entertaining millions of fans to date. Its stages have welcomed GRAMMY® Award-winning generational superstars, genre-busting trailblazers, and rising talent alike. Beyond boasting a reputation for once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, it has perennially provided a launchpad for breaking acts. Between those powerhouse performances, each location features an immersive concourse consisting of numerous cuisine and beverage options, local vendors, and various attractions. Dubbed “a pillar of country festival culture” by Holler., American Songwriter has hailed it as “a country music lover’s dream,” while The Tennessean summed it up best, “For three decades, the Country Thunder brand has succeeded in offering fans top-tier performances.” The brand’s festivals include Saskatchewan, Arizona, Wisconsin, Alberta, and Florida. As always, Country Thunder Music Festivals embodies the past, present, and future of Country music and so much more.

ABOUT COUNTRY THUNDER WISCONSIN:
With a storied history as the epicenter of Country music in America’s heartland, Country Thunder Wisconsin is one of the nation’s leading music festivals, which in 2026 will celebrate 30 years of fun. Held at Shadow Hill Ranch in the lush rolling hills of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, breathtaking backdrops and unforgettable performances have made Country Thunder Wisconsin a premiere destination for music, camping, and community, with roots dating back to 1996. Now one of the most anticipated events in Country Thunder calendar – the largest Country music festival brand in North America – the annual four-day summertime fest was transformed into the “biggest party in the Midwest” by visionary CEO Troy Vollhoffer, who took over Country Thunder in 2009. Since then Country Thunder Wisconsin has welcomed more than 1 million fans through its gates and been honored as “Festival of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music, pairing superstar lineups with world-class attractions, and some of the best camping in the United States. Its superstar alumni include Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, and many more. After 30 years, the crown jewel of Country music in the Midwest returns on July 16-19, headlined by Gavin Adcock, Riley Green, Keith Urban, and The Red Clay Strays.

 

 

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