It ain’t a bad life for country music fans in Tampa this year. In yet another major concert unveiling, Tampa Pig Jig announced that country music superstar Thomas Rhett will headline its annual food and music festival this fall.
The 15th annual Tampa Pig Jig takes place on Saturday, October 17, at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. The event has been a huge hit since its humble beginnings as a backyard BBQ for charity, drawing bigger and bigger acts with each successive year. Tickets and more festival information are available here.
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In addition to Rhett, the 2026 edition of Tampa Pig Jig will also feature the Grammy-nominated trio Midland, acclaimed singer-songwriter Kameron Marlowe, Gainesville sons Sister Hazel, and up-and-coming country singer Cassidy Daniels. While the music gets the headlines, the festival also stays true to its roots, serving up great barbecue as part of the BBQ competition, as well as plenty more food and drink.
Beneath the music, food, and drink, the Tampa Pig Jig is a philanthropic event that raises money for NephCure, the only nonprofit organization committed to supporting research, improving treatment, and finding a cure for the debilitating kidney disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome.
On the musical side, this will be one of the festival’s best lineups yet. For those unfamiliar, Rhett has rocketed to stardom over the last decade. He has racked up 25 No. 1 hits, more than 16 billion global streams, and a long list of accolades, including eight ACM Awards (2020 Entertainer of the Year), two CMA Awards, and five Grammy nominations. His latest album, About A Woman, expands on what Country Living called his “best work yet,” featuring 25 tracks and collaborations with Blake Shelton, Teddy Swims, and more, along with his current hit single, Ain’t A Bad Life.
