Athens State University will be welcoming old time music lovers of all ages to campus from September 30 – October 3, 2026 for the 59th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the official stage debut of The Delmore Brothers; they competed in the 1926 Athens Fiddle Contest and subsequently launched their music career. To celebrate and commemorate this milestone, a special new Delmore Brothers tribute album will be released on Thursday, October 1 and available for purchase at the Convention.
Musical competitions will be held on the Founders Hall Main Stage, Brown Hall Stage and the Delmore Brothers Stage in McCandless Hall (sponsored by Pettus Plumbing & Piping and the Huntsville International Airport) with over $47,000 in prize money to be awarded. Proceeds from the convention fund student scholarships and other university projects throughout the year.
Entertainment:
The 2026 Fiddlers Convention’s concert line-up includes:
- Wednesday, September 30 at 7:30 pm – The Larry Sparks Show *Free Preview Night Gospel Concert – No Admission Ticket Required*
- Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 pm – Mike Compton & Andy Todd: Special Delmore Brothers Tribute
- Thursday, October 1 at 8:00 pm – Dale Ann Bradley
- Friday, October 2 at 6:00 pm – The Isaacs
- Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 pm – The Del McCoury Band
All concerts will take place on the Founders Hall Main Stage. Access to all Fiddlers Convention entertainment is included with the purchase of an admission ticket.
Competitions:
Historically, the convention has attracted more than 15,000 people, with more than 200 musicians participating. New this year, competitions will begin at 3:00 pm on Friday, October 2, resume at 8:30 am on Saturday, October 3, and conclude with the crowning of the Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion on Saturday evening.
2026 Competition Schedule
Friday, October 2
- 3:00 pm – Founders Hall Main Stage: Mandolin, Bluegrass Banjo, Dobro
- 8:00 pm – Delmore Brothers Stage at McCandless Hall: Old Time Singing
Saturday, October 3
- 8:30 am – Brown Hall Stage: Beginner Guitar, Beginner Mandolin, Beginner Banjo, Beginner Fiddle, Apprentice Fiddle, Senior Fiddle, Classic Old Time Fiddle, Appalachian Buck Dancing preliminaries, Guitar Fingerpicking, Guitar Flatpicking
- 8:30 am – Founders Hall Main Stage: Old Time Banjo, Old Time String Band preliminaries, Bluegrass Band preliminaries, Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion preliminaries
Finals will begin on the Founders Hall Main Stage immediately after all the preliminary rounds of competitions have concluded. All individual categories will be designated Alabama State Champion, and the open fiddle category will be designated Tennessee Valley Fiddle Champion. All competition categories have eight (8) award places with a cash prize for each place.
Bryant Bank Cash Giveaway:
Convention guests will also have the opportunity to enter the annual Bryant Bank Cash Giveaway. Drawings will be held twice a day for a total of $500 on Thursday, $1,000 on Friday, and $1,000 on Saturday.
Arts, Crafts, and Food Vendors:
Approximately 160 booths featuring old-fashioned arts and crafts will be open for business in the Craft Vendor Area sponsored by Bank Independent, TOC, and Trustmark Bank. Convention goers will see everything from traditional artwork to handmade crafts. Food vendors will also be on hand at the Food Court, sponsored by Pepsi and Capshaw RV Park, to provide anything from a quick snack to a full meal.
Tradeshow:
Be sure to visit the Jerry McGlocklin Music Store, sponsored by Martin & Cobey, located in the Sandridge Hall Ballroom, featuring vendors selling instruments and accessories.
Strings Workshops:
Several strings workshops for emerging musicians of all ages and abilities will be offered for FREE in Kares Library. The workshops are located outside of the Convention gates, therefore they are open to the public and no admission tickets are required.
Workshop Schedule
Thursday, October 1
- 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Celtic Fiddle and Tunes with Jamie Ferguson
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Old Time Fiddle and Tunes with Aerin deRussy
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Old Time Banjo and Tunes with Carter Laney
- 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Old Time Guitar with Jim and Joyce Cauthen
- 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Upright Bass with Ryan Brown
- 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Tunes JAM with Bailey Hill
Friday, October 2
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Contest Fiddle with Ed Carnes
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Contest Guitar Accompaniment with Terry Barnett
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Bluegrass Fiddle with Tyler Andal
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Bluegrass Guitar with Dillon Hodges
- 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Bluegrass Banjo with Scooter Muse
- 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Mandolin with Tony Robertson
- 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Bluegrass JAM with Russ Holder
Tickets:
Single day admission will be $20 per adult for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A 3-Day Weekend Pass option is also available for $30 per adult. Children under 12 will be admitted free with a paid adult. The preview night concert scheduled for Wednesday evening is free and does not require the purchase of an admission ticket.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.AthensFiddlers.org. The purchase of an admission ticket includes access to all convention entertainment, events, and activities as well as entry to one competition category. Additional competition entries may be purchased for $5 each, or $10 for a band.
Delmore Brothers Tribute Album:
The Delmore Brothers tribute album, A CENTURY OF STRINGS, STORIES & SONGS, is funded by the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Steering Committee which provides oversight for the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention. Grammy nominated producer, songwriter and artist Jerry Salley was brought on board to produce the album which contains 15 Delmore Brothers songs, covered by multiple Grammy and IBMA award winning artists, featuring primarily duets done in the Delmore Brothers’ style. Songs and artists included on the album are:
- Honey, I’m Ramblin’ Away – Junior Sisk & Don Rigsby
- I’ve Got the Big River Blues – Marty Raybon & Jimmy Fortune
- When It’s Time for the Whippoorwill to Sing – Doyle Lawson & Jerry Salley
- Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar – Trey Hensley and Del McCoury
- Put Me on the Trail to Carolina – The Malpass Brothers
- Brown’s Ferry Blue – The SteelDrivers
- Will You Be Lonesome Too? – The Grascals (feat. Charlie McCoy)
- Field Hand Man – Wood Box Heroes
- Hillbilly Boogie – Alex Miller & Carson Peters
- The Fugitive’s Lament – Riders in the Sky
- Blue Railroad Train – Bradley Walker & Ricky Skaggs
- Life’s Too Short – The Gibson Brothers
- Blues Stay Away From Me – Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
- Bound For The Shore – Appalachian Road Show
- Sweet, Sweet Thing – Darin and Brooke Aldridge (feat. Charlie McCoy)
Sponsors:
Special thanks to all of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention sponsors and supporters:
- Pettus Plumbing & Piping (Stage Sponsor)
- Huntsville International Airport (Stage Sponsor)
- Redstone Federal Credit Union (Wristband Sponsor)
- TriGreen Equipment (Contestant T-Shirt and Shutte Sponsor)
- Bryant Bank (Cash Giveaway Sponsor)
- Martin & Cobey (Jerry McGlocklin Music Store Sponsor)
- Nanny’s Old Fashion Lemonade (RV Campground Sponsor)
- Pepsi (Food Court Sponsor)
- Capshaw RV Park (Food Court Sponsor)
- Bank Independent (Craft Vendor Sponsor)
- TOC (Craft Vendor Sponsor)
- Trustmark Bank (Craft Vendor Sponsor)
- Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area
- Alabama Tourism Department
For more information about the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, please visit www.AthensFiddlers.org or call the Athens State Office of University Advancement at (256) 233-8190.