Things to Do in Nashville in December 2026

Full disclosure: we own and host The Golden Ticket. This guide is not affiliated with any of the venues, artists, teams or events named. Dates and times were checked against each venue’s or organizer’s own page on November 7, 2026. Shows move and sell out, so confirm before you book.

Things to do in Nashville in December 2026 at a glance

Nashville’s December calendar is heavy on holiday shows and light on the bachelorette crowds that fill the summer. The big venues sit in a tight cluster downtown, about a mile from the Gulch, so a group can walk to most of this list or split a short ride. The full week-by-week list, including smaller clubs, is on our page of upcoming Nashville events near the Gulch.

Holiday concerts at the Ryman

Christmas at the Ryman with Amy Grant and Vince Gill runs from Monday, December 14 through Wednesday, December 23, 2026. The Ryman lists 12 concerts: evening shows at 7:30 PM on December 14, 15, 16 and 17, then both 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM shows on December 19, 20, 22 and 23. There are no shows on December 18 or 21. Details and tickets are on the Ryman’s Christmas at the Ryman page.

Little Big Town: The Christmas Shows take the same stage earlier in the month, on Tuesday, December 8, Wednesday, December 9 and Thursday, December 10, each at 7:30 PM.

The Ryman is 1.3 miles from the house, a 25 to 30 minute walk through downtown or about a 5-minute ride. Daytime tours run 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, seven days a week, so a group can see the building in the afternoon and come back for the show.

Arena shows at Bridgestone

• Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve plays Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. Doors open at 5:30 PM and the show starts at 7:00 PM. One performance is listed, not the two some cities get. See the arena’s event page.
• Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour is at Bridgestone on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM. See the arena’s event page.

Bridgestone Arena is 1.1 miles from the house, a 20 to 25 minute walk or about a 5-minute ride. Two arena rules worth knowing before you leave the house: backpacks of any size are not allowed in, and bags larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches are turned away. The arena does not store bags for you.

Nashville’s Nutcracker and Home Alone in Concert

Nashville’s Nutcracker, by Nashville Ballet, runs at TPAC’s Jackson Hall through Sunday, December 27, 2026. The run opens the day after Thanksgiving, and the December performances are on December 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 18 to 24, then December 26 and 27. Most are 2:00 PM matinees, with 7:00 PM shows on December 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23. The ballet lists two 51-minute acts with a 20-minute intermission. Dates and tickets are on the Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker page. TPAC is 1.5 miles from the house, about a 5-minute ride or a 30-minute walk.

Home Alone in Concert pairs the film with the Nashville Symphony playing the score live at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. There are four showings: Friday, December 4 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, December 5 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 PM. The symphony notes the film is rated PG. Tickets are on the Nashville Symphony’s page. The Schermerhorn is 1.2 miles from the house, a 25 to 30 minute walk or about a 5-minute ride.

Football at Nissan Stadium

The Tennessee Titans play two December home games in 2026, both Sunday noon kickoffs: Washington Commanders on December 6 and Indianapolis Colts on December 20. Both are on CBS. The Titans schedule has the latest times.

Then on Wednesday, December 30 at 2:00 PM Central, the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl brings an SEC team and a Big Ten team to the same field. SeatGeek is the official ticket provider. We wrote a separate guide to where to stay for the Music City Bowl that covers tickets, bag rules and the parking situation.

Nissan Stadium sits across the Cumberland River from downtown, about 2 miles from the house. That is a 6 to 10 minute ride or about a 40-minute walk over the pedestrian bridge. Nissan Stadium is open-air, so a December noon kickoff means layers.

Ring in the new year downtown

The bowl game is on a Wednesday and New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, the city’s free outdoor concert at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, is the next night, Thursday, December 31. Our Nashville New Year’s Eve 2026 guide has the lineup, the schedule and how to get there from the Gulch. The park is about 2 miles from the house.

What the weather is like in Nashville in December

According to the National Weather Service office in Nashville, the normal December high at Nashville International Airport is 52.2°F, the normal low is 33.3°F, and the month averages 4.43 inches of precipitation. Those are long-term normals, not a forecast. Plan on cold evenings, the occasional rainy day, and daytime highs that are fine for walking downtown in a jacket. The numbers are on the NWS Nashville climate page.

Where a group stays for a December trip

Best for groups of 6 to 12

The Golden Ticket in the Gulch sleeps 12 in one private house, with 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and 8 beds. It sits about a mile from Bridgestone Arena, the Ryman and the Schermerhorn, and about 2 miles from TPAC and Nissan Stadium, so one address works for every event on this list.

• A heated pool in December: the private pool is open year-round and heats up to 104°F on request at no extra charge. On a 33°F night it works like a very large hot tub.
• Two fireplaces: one in the living room and one in the king master.
• One place for the whole group: the living room, the rooftop lounge and the pool area are private to your group, and the house sound system covers all three.
• A full kitchen: cook a holiday dinner at home instead of hunting for a table for 12 in a busy week.
• Room to spread out: every bedroom has its own full bath, and there are two washer-dryers.
• Parking: plenty of street parking, plus one driveway spot if you ask ahead.

As of November 7, 2026, the house was still open for the weekends of December 4 to 6 and December 18 to 20, and for the last week of the year from December 28. December 10 to 13 and December 23 to 28 were already taken. The house is one booking, so a group that wants a specific weekend should check the live calendar early.

Booking direct at book615.com avoids the guest service fees that the big booking platforms add at checkout. Comparing options first? See our guide to the best places to stay in the Gulch.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Nashville in December?

In December 2026, Nashville has Christmas at the Ryman with Amy Grant and Vince Gill (December 14 to 23), Little Big Town’s Christmas shows at the Ryman (December 8 to 10), Trans-Siberian Orchestra (December 2) and Pentatonix (December 9) at Bridgestone Arena, Home Alone in Concert with the Nashville Symphony (December 4 to 6), Nashville’s Nutcracker at TPAC through December 27, Titans home games on December 6 and 20, the Music City Bowl on December 30, and a free New Year’s Eve concert downtown on December 31.

How cold is Nashville in December?

The National Weather Service lists a normal December high of 52.2°F and a normal low of 33.3°F at Nashville International Airport, with about 4.4 inches of precipitation for the month. Days are mild enough for walking downtown in a coat, and nights usually dip near freezing.

Is Christmas at the Ryman with Amy Grant and Vince Gill happening in 2026?

Yes. The Ryman lists 12 concerts from Monday, December 14 through Wednesday, December 23, 2026. December 14 to 17 have 7:30 PM shows, and December 19, 20, 22 and 23 have both 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM shows.

When does Nashville’s Nutcracker run in 2026?

Nashville Ballet performs Nashville’s Nutcracker at TPAC’s Jackson Hall from November 27 through December 27, 2026. The last performance is a 2:00 PM matinee on Sunday, December 27.

Do the Titans play at home in December 2026?

Yes, twice. The Titans host the Washington Commanders on Sunday, December 6 and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, December 20, both with 12:00 PM Central kickoffs at Nissan Stadium.

What happens in Nashville on New Year’s Eve?

The city holds New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, a free outdoor concert at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on December 31, about 2 miles from the Gulch. The Music City Bowl is the afternoon before, on December 30, at Nissan Stadium.

Is the pool at The Golden Ticket open in December?

Yes. The private pool is open year-round and heats up to 104°F on request, at no extra charge.

Where can a group of 12 stay near downtown Nashville in December?

The Golden Ticket in the Gulch sleeps 12 in 4 bedrooms with 6 bathrooms, about 1.1 miles from Bridgestone Arena and 1.3 miles from the Ryman. As of November 7, 2026 it was still open for the weekends of December 4 to 6 and December 18 to 20.