With its unmatched blend of music, culture, innovation, and Southern hospitality, Nashville is firmly on the map as a top-tier MICE destination.
The city welcomed 16.8 million annual visitors in 2026, a figure expected to grow to 18.1 million by 2027 (Tourism Economics) and spending sat at $657 per visitor and $305 per day in 2024.
So, what makes Music City such a draw for the meetings and events market?
We’ve come together with our M&I Flagship Nashville, 30 Aug to 2 Sept 2026, Headline Partners, Visit Music City and Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown to tell you.
Nashville’s accolades keep stacking up. It was recently ranked #13 on Travel + Leisure’s list of Best Cities in the U.S. (July 2025) and Americans’ favourite big city on Yougov (July 2025).
Elsewhere, it received accolades from Condé Nast Traveler (May 2025) as a top destination for women travelling solo, and TimeOut, where The Grand Ole Opry made their list of Top 10 U.S. Travel-Worthy Experiences for 2025.
Perhaps most notably, in October 2024, the President of the United States awarded the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum the National Medal of Arts, cementing the city’s place as a cultural powerhouse.
Nashville is rapidly expanding its hospitality infrastructure. Since 2020, 55 hotels have opened, adding 9,063 new rooms and bringing the total to nearly 60,000 across the metro area.
One such hotel, ideal for MICE events, is our M&I Flagship Nashville Headline Partner, the recently renovated Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown. The hotel offers 494 rooms, on-site restaurants and a rooftop bar, as well as almost 29,000 square feet of event space across 13 venues, including the expansive 10,680 square foot Platinum Ballroom, advanced AV systems, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, and dedicated event planners.
Nashville is innovating to supply the MICE demand on the destination, with major development projects in progress. Nashville International Airport’s expansion includes a new concourse which is opening in 2025 and a full rebuild of another, opening in 2028. Downtown, the East Bank Development is transforming 550 acres into a vibrant new neighbourhood, with a new Tennessee Titans stadium on track for a 2027 debut. Nashville Yards, a 19-acre project, will add 3 million sq. ft. of office space, 2,000 residential units, retail, entertainment, and a 4,500-capacity music venue.
Nashville is also a corporate hub. Headquarters and regional offices for Amazon, Bridgestone Americas, iHeartMedia, Mitsubishi Motors, as well as Vanderbilt University are all based here – making the city a strategic destination for business and incentive events.
Music is woven into the city’s DNA – no visit is complete without catching a show at the Grand Ole Opry or the historic Ryman Auditorium, affectionately known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” Built as a tabernacle over 130 years ago, the Ryman has hosted genre-defining artists and continues to draw top talent. The Opry still produces live radio-style shows three times a week, blending country legends and up-and-comers in a single lineup.
Other iconic venues include The Station Inn and The Bluebird Cafe, where songwriters share stories behind chart-topping hits.
But it isn’t all about country music; with more than 180 live music venues across the city, including many independent ones, there’s something for everyone.
Learn all about the rich history with a visit to the National Museum of African American Music, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Whilst being the home to country music, there’s more to Nashville – it’s a vibrant hub for history, art, and exclusive experiences.
The Parthenon at Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of the original in Athens, the Frist Art Museum offers an ever-changing lineup of exhibitions, and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens invites you to stroll through its lush 55-acre grounds.
Catch a performance from the Nashville Ballet, Opera, or Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center or visit the Tennessee Performing Arts Center for a night of theatre.
Nashville also offers a more upscale hospitality experience, with rooftop bars perched atop the Four Seasons, 1 Hotel, Grand Hyatt, Noelle, and Fairlane offering sweeping city views. Elsewhere, you can indulge in high tea at The Hermitage Hotel, a tasting at Union Station, or a spa day at the city’s top hotel spas, like those at the Omni, Westin, and JW Marriott.
If you’re looking for something a little more adrenaline-inducing, head to support the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Sounds, Nashville SC or Nashville Predators.
Nashville has several enticing neighbourhoods, each offering a distinctive character, and a variety of attractions.
For example, 12South is the ideal spot to browse the boutique shops, grab brunch and catch some of the murals that adorns these streets, such as the iconic ‘I Believe in Nashville’ one. East Nashville offers laid-back cafes, record stores, and local bars. Germantown, one of the city’s oldest areas, blends cobblestone charm with fine dining for the foodies, alongside craft breweries.
There’s dining options to please any crowd in Nashville, from fine dining to hidden gems. A visit to the city wouldn’t be complete without a taste of the local delicacies, such as barbeque, hot chicken and ‘meat and three’, before heading for a beverage at one of the many high-end cocktail bars. Beer and spirits lovers can tour Tennessee Brew Works, Diskin Cider, or the famous Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. For a day trip, visit the iconic Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg.
Whether you’re planning a major conference, incentive retreat, or boutique event, Nashville delivers the perfect mix of culture, convenience, and charm.
With its impressive visitor numbers, investment and growth in the city, its unmissable attractions and unbeatable energy, there’s never been a better time to explore the MICE opportunities here. There’s most certainly more than one way to play music city.
Get in touch to find out more about attending the event.
© M&I is part of Worldwide Events Group Ltd, which includes PLE, 1st Floor, 5-7 Marshalsea Rd, London, SE1 1EP
Affiliate company: White Label Travel
14-16 April 2026 | Abu Dhabi
Benefit from our signature Flagship ROI in Türkiye’s most up-and-coming MICE destination
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30 Nov - 4 Dec 2025 | UAE
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Open your property up to a new range of events and opportunities by taking advantage of an online assessment created by our event partner, Healthcare Venues, which will determine if your venue is capable of hosting healthcare meetings and events.
If your property passes, you’ll receive Healthcare Venue certification, verifying you to our buyer network as a specialist healthcare venue.
Tim Chudley
Managing Director, Sundial Group
