Only one show into his 2026 Evangeline vs. The Machine tour, Eric Church is already leaving audiences in suspense.
On Jan. 22, Church kicked off the new year with an intimate underplay at Washington, D.C.’s The Anthem, launching leg two of his Free the Machine Tour. On the official opening night, Friday, Jan. 23, at The Anthem, the “Hands of Time” singer dropped a major tease about something big happening within the next week.
“On January 30, something’s gonna happen. And you’re gonna f***in’ love it. It’s all I can say. That’s it,” Church told concertgoers on Friday, before playfully adding, “They leave me up here another two minutes, I’ll tell you all my secrets.”
Reports vary on to what the news may be. Some of the online sleuths have guessed that Church may be setting up a residency at Las Vegas’ famed Sphere, while others are thinking a return to Red Rocks for three nights in 2025. Either way,
The Free the Machine Tour returns following its landmark 2025 run that reaffirmed Church’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of the live concert experience. The 2026 dates carry that same spirit forward, pairing large-scale ambition with moments of raw immediacy.
Church has cemented his place among country music’s elite, with seven ACM Awards, four CMA Awards—capped by 2020’s Entertainer of the Year—and 11 GRAMMY nominations, including four for Best Country Album. In October 2024, with one of his most recent tracks, “Darkest Hour,” Church signed over all publishing royalties to aid his home state of North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Offstage, Church is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, co-owns Field & Stream, helms “Eric Church Outsiders Radio” on SiriusXM, leads Whiskey JYPSI, and operates Chief’s on Lower Broadway.
Earlier last week, he hosted a special screening for members of his Church Choir in Nashville, previewing a limited theatrical release that showcases him performing his GRAMMY-nominated eighth studio album front to back before transitioning into select catalog hits. It was filmed over two nights at Nashville’s famed The Pinnacle.
For more information, visit EricChurch.com or on Instagram: @ericchurchmusic
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Eric Church 2026 Free the Machine Tour Official Dates
Jan. 23: Washington, DC (The Anthem)
with special guest Caylee Hammack
Feb. 5: Omaha, NE (CHI Health Center)
with special guest Ella Langley
Feb. 6: Sioux Falls, SD (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center)
with special guest Ella Langley
Feb. 7: St. Paul, MN (Grand Casino Arena)
with special guest Ella Langley
Feb. 12: Toronto, ON (Scotiabank Arena)
with special guest Ella Langley
Feb. 13: Buffalo, NY (KeyBank Center)
with special guest Ella Langley
Feb. 14: Albany, NY (MVP Arena)
with special guest Ella Langley
Feb. 19: North Little Rock, AR (Simmons Bank Arena)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Feb. 20: Kansas City, MO (T-Mobile Center)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Feb. 21: St. Louis, MO (Enterprise Center)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Feb. 26: Tulsa, OK (BOK Center)
with special guest Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 27: Fort Worth, TX (Dickies Arena)
with special guest Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 28: Austin, TX (Moody Center)
with special guest Stephen Wilson Jr.
Mar. 5: Knoxville, TN (Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Mar. 6: Greensboro, NC (First Horizon Coliseum)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Mar. 7: North Charleston, SC (North Charleston Coliseum)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Mar. 19: Birmingham, AL (Legacy Arena at the BJCC)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Mar. 20: Atlanta, GA (State Farm Arena)
with special guest 49 Winchester
Mar. 27: Hollywood, FL (Hard Rock Live)
with special guest Kashus Culpepper
Apr. 3: Greenville, SC (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)
with special guest Ashley McBryde
Apr. 4: Charlotte, NC (Spectrum Center)
with special guest Ashley McBryde
Apr. 10: Jacksonville, FL (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena)
with special guest Ashley McBryde
Apr. 11: Tampa, FL (Benchmark International Arena)
with special guest Ashley McBryde