Willie Nelson and family are back on CNN for ‘Farm Aid 2026’
Willie Nelson and family are back on CNN for ‘Farm Aid 2026’
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and more will join Nelson for the event.
“Shotgun Willie” and his family and friends are back for “Farm Aid 2026: Music Festival Live”. Following last year’s live presentation, CNN will once again partner with Farm Aid to bring the annual music festival to audiences. “Farm Aid 2026: Music Festival Live”, a CNN Special Event, will air live on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 7 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET on CNN. Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and more will join Nelson for the event. You can watch with a five-day free trial to DIRECTV.
How to watch ‘Farm Aid 2026’
- When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET
- TV: CNN
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial to DIRECTV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘Farm Aid 2026’
What time does ‘Farm Aid 2026’ air?
“Farm Aid 2026: Music Festival Live” is a special event that will air live on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 7 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET on CNN.
Why we recommend watching ‘Farm Aid 2026’ on DIRECTV
When it comes to offering the most channels in streaming, every live TV streaming service is chasing DIRECTV. The platform offers most of The Streamable’s top 35 cable channels and every broadcast network in practically every market in the country, so if you are looking for a breadth of programming options, DIRECTV is a surefire hit. In addition, the streamer has the industry’s best guaranteed free trial. While others can roll out longer options depending on what time of year it is and what qualifications you meet as a customer, DIRECTV offers a five-day trial to all new users. So, if you are specifically looking to watch “The Voice” premiere, this is the option that makes the most sense.
Additionally, last fall, DIRECTV is able to offer an even more compelling package of channels for cord-cutters who were looking to save money on their streaming setup. DIRECTV launched its Genre Packs that allow people to pick curated channel lineups around central themes and genres. There are multiple options that include NBC, so you have a number of different ways to get the entertainment that you want without breaking the bank.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch ‘Farm Aid 2026’ for free?
With a free trial to DIRECTV, you can check out the full live event of “Farm Aid 2026: Music Festival Live” at no cost. Other streaming services offer free trials as well, giving you a chance to check out the series and test drive the service.
DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and YouTube TV all offer free trials, but they vary in length, so be wary. DIRECTV’s industry-leading trial runs for five days, while Hulu + Live TV’s is a solid three days, all of which will allow you access to the festival.
Those are pretty straightforward, but when it comes to the sports-minded streamer Fubo, things can get a little complicated. As The Streamable’s expert David Satin discovered when signing up for the service, figuring out how long Fubo’s trial is — even as you are signing up — can be a bit difficult. Nonetheless, it will be at least one day, with the potential to be as many as seven, depending on a wide range of factors that Fubo does not share publicly.
The YouTube TV trial is said to be “up to two weeks,” but can be as short as two days. So it is difficult to ascertain what you are actually getting before you go through the sign-up process.
If you are looking to watch the event for free, I would recommend DIRECTV, because that streamer will give you access to CNN and gives you the best channel options. Every Monday, the episodes will also become available to stream on demand on CNN.com and CNN Connected TV and mobile apps.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| CNN | + $22 | - | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | + $18 | |
Catch up with Farm Aid 2025
About ‘Farm Aid 2026’
The special event was founded by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp. This annual festival raises funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and inspires audiences to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised funds to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
CNN’s airing of the evening will include star-studded performances by board member artists Willie Nelson and Family, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff and more.
How to watch ‘Farm Aid 2026’ from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch “Farm Aid 2026” as you normally would, you can still catch all of the shows no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. You can use a VPN on your phone, tablet, or computer to make it appear like you’re back home—even when you’re not—so you can feel at home wherever you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV in order to stream the special event with a VPN.
NordVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get two full years of protection for just $3.59 per month — plus you’ll get three extra months FREE. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to 10 devices at once — what more could you ask for? Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
While NordVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available
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