The announcement comes weeks after protesters gathered outside the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, urging city leaders to deny permits for the festival.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Country Thunder music festival is officially moving to a new Tampa Bay-area location following weeks of pushback for its initial location in St. Pete Beach.

Country Thunder officials announced in a Facebook post Tuesday morning that the upcoming three-day festival has moved to Coachman Park in Clearwater.

“Same party. New energy. Welcome to Clearwater,” the post reads.

The social media post includes a Lego animated video showing a concertgoer transitioning from a beach area to a park.

The event is still set to take place on Friday, May 8, through Sunday, May 10.

Tickets can be purchased on the Country Thunder website.


Pushback to move Country Thunder off St. Pete Beach

The announcement comes weeks after protesters gathered outside the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, urging city leaders to deny permits for the festival.

Residents say the festival coincided with sea turtle nesting season and could threaten both turtles and shorebirds that rely on dark, quiet beaches to survive.

Sea turtle nesting season typically runs from May through October. Conservation advocates say bright lights, large crowds and structures left on the sand can disorient nesting turtles and hatchlings, causing them to move away from the water instead of toward it.

St. Pete Beach’s city manager later sent a letter to Tradewinds Resort, telling Country Thunder organizers to resubmit a completely revised application for the landside of the resort.


Country Thunder lineup🤠

Gavin Adcock, Zach Top and Kane Brown will headline the concert. 

Other performers include Randy Houser, Max McNown, Shaboozey, Gretchen Wilson, Braxton Keith, Dasha, Cole Goodwin, Elizabeth Nichols, Solon Holt and Jay Webb. 


Ticket prices🎟️

Tickets for weekend general admission and other upgraded packages are available now. Here are the different packages available:

2026 Single-Day General Admission – $150-$2502026 Single Day Platinum Experience – $3502026 Single Day Platinum Circle – $4502026 Single Day Diamond Lounge  – $945-$14,5002026 Weekend General Admission – range from $3552026 Weekend Platinum Experience – $7452026 Weekend Platinum Circle – $8802026 Weekend Diamond Lounge – range from $1,625-$25,550