DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — After 15 years rocking in Cullman, Rock the South is officially moving to Decatur in June of 2026. With thousands of fans expected to attend, local tourism is expected to soar.
“I think the impact is just going to be more than we can ever imagine,” Danielle Gibson, President & CEO of Decatur-Morgan County Tourism, told News 19.
She said this will be a great way to show people what Decatur has to offer.
“There’s a lot of excitement with the new location, so I think we’re going to see thousands and thousands of people here,” she said.
Plus, with fans coming in from all over for “the Biggest Party in the South“, the local economy is expected to boom. Hotel rooms, restaurants, shops, and more are expected to be packed all throughout the festival.
“There’s going to be a ton of people staying in the hotels, and they’re going to want to eat, and they’re going to want to find a really cute outfit,” Gibson said.
With both tourists and locals spending money during the festival, the City of Decatur is estimating an economic impact of $15 to $20 million.
Tuesday, Rock the South officially revealed the lineup for next year’s event on June 11 through 13. Jason Aldean, Riley Green, and Zach Top are headlining, with 25 other acts also taking the stage.
“We’re ready to host them,” Gibson said. “The lineup is incredible.”
Rock the South organizers say they’ve purchased more than 100 acres of land for the festival site off Gordon Terry Parkway. Organizers tell News 19 that they will be developing the property for the festival, including making infrastructure improvements and installing drainage.
The post Rock the South’s move to Decatur expected to boost tourism appeared first on WHNT.