Dollyfest 2027 Is Coming to Nashville and London—Here’s Why Both Cities Mattered So Much to Dolly
Nashville raised her, and London adored her—here's the connection behind the celebration honoring the music legend
Key Takeaways
- Dolly Parton's estate announced "Dollyfest," a 2027 festival honoring her legacy.
- The festival will be held in Nashville and London over two consecutive weekends.
- Dollyfest revives a concert originally planned for Dolly's 80th birthday in 2026.
It’s been one week since country music icon Dolly Parton passed away at age 80, and tributes continue to pour in from fans and celebrities worldwide. From candlelight vigils to performances honoring her legacy, the world has come together to honor the late star. Now, the Dolly Parton Estate has announced “Dollyfest,” a two-day celebration planned for 2027 to honor the beloved singer’s life and music. We have all the details on what to expect from the festival, including how to get tickets, below!
What to know about Dollyfest 2027
Dollyfest has been in the works for quite some time. The event was supposed to occur in January 2026—timed with the singer’s 80th birthday. Dolly was going to host and she had plans to perform. After her death, the show will go on, but in a different way.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” Danny Nozell, founder and CEO of the global talent management company CTK Enterprises—which represented Dolly—said in a statement. “Many people behind the scenes know that Dollyfest is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville. We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. A lot of people always say, ‘WWDD’ (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, Dollyfest is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).”
As of publication, it’s unclear what exactly Dollyfest will entail. The initial press release did reveal that it “will be the party of a lifetime,” but it didn’t include any other details.
When is Dollyfest?
Dollyfest will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, and London, England, over two consecutive weekends in 2027. The official dates for the festival have not been announced, but it will not be a traditional memorial.
“We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose,” Nozell said. “However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly. This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”
Prior to her death, Dolly lived in Nashville. But over the years, she spent a lot of time in the United Kingdom.
Dolly first visited London in 1975 to perform at the annual Festival of Country Music at Wembley Arena, and the city held a special place in her heart from that moment on. She had legions of dedicated fans in the UK. In 2014 she performed to one of her biggest audiences of her career in Glastonbury, with 180,000 people in the audience, and she returned to the city many times over the years and even launched an Imagination Library hub there in 2016.
Speaking of that first visit more than 50 years ago, she said,“I couldn’t believe that there was a world like that. Imagine, we used to read about the kings and queens in books. I loved all that royalty stuff. I was always impressed by the robes and jewelry—the stories were like fairy tales to me,” per The Standard. “But then, when I actually saw castles and churches and all the stuff I had in my mind, it was amazing. We don’t have stuff like that in the United States.”
How to get tickets for Dollyfest
Tickets for Dollyfest 2027 have not been released, but the Dolly Parton Estate recommends visiting www.dollyparton.com to sign up for notifications regarding official dates and ticket releases.
Where to go to remember Dolly Parton
If you simply cannot wait until 2027 to remember Dolly, consider a visit to Dollywood or Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, which opened in June of this year.
“We are very excited about our truck stop—The Tennessean Travel Stop!” Dolly said at the grand opening, which Woman’s World attended and was her last in-person public appearance. “I’m sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop. Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers [a.k.a Buc-ee’s]! I had to throw my squirrelly little self in there. We’re not trying to compete with anyone though. We don’t think we’ll have to, we’ll have everything that you want and need. Thank you so much for coming—we’re going to cut the ribbon now!”
Along with her truck stop and theme park, Dolly’s team is also working on her hotel and museum. There is also a hospital in Tennessee named after Dolly and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is also working to rename the Nashville International Airport after the late star.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith and kindness.”
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