Watch: Kenny Chesney Makes iHeartRadio Music Festival Comeback After More Than 10 Years

Kenny Chesney returned to the iHeartRadio Music Festival stage after about a decade on Friday night (September 18).

The Country Music Hall of Fame member, 58, launched the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival presented by Capital One. The genre-spanning, two-night event, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, returned to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chesney took the stage for the first time since the 2015 festival, kicking off his set with his upbeat 2000s anthem, "Beer In Mexico."

"What an honor it is to be here," Chesney said to the arena audience as he continued his career-spanning performance.

The East Tennessee-born hitmaker delivered his iHeartRadio Music Festival set with his 21st studio record on the way. Chesney's Silver Sands Marina is due to arrive on September 25. He said on the TODAY show this week, "you hope that the record that you put out is a reflection, is a mirror, of where you are in your life, and I feel like this record is. …I think there's a lot of emotions on this record that make you feel really alive, and I'm very proud of that."

Chesney played the first single he released from Silver Sands Marina, "Carry On," for the Vegas crowd, along with "Get Along," "When the Sun Goes Down," "American Kids," and more. Next, the country megastar revealed he's gearing up for an album release show in Nashville, Tennessee, and a 2027 stadium tour withEric Church, plus Sheryl Crow, Greylan James and a special appearance by Old Dominion.

Chesney took part in the all-star lineup with BTS, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Ciara, Goo Goo Dolls, Lainey Wilson, LE SSERAFIM, Major Lazer, Muse, Snoop Dogg, The Smashing Pumpkins, WeezerandZara Larsson, plus a special performance by Stella Lefty. Check back with iHeartRadio throughout the weekend for photos, backstage moments you won't see anywhere else, performance highlights and more.

Fans can tune in to the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival as the event will be broadcast live each night via iHeartMedia radio stations throughout the country across more than 150 markets. Disney + and Hulu will be the Official Streaming Destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed each night exclusively to all Disney + and Hulu subscribers.

Scroll below to watch some of of the best moments from Chesney's performance.