Miranda Lambert to headline pre-race concert at 2026 Daytona 500
Country star Miranda Lambert will take the stage at the pre-race concert ahead of the 68th Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15. The concert is scheduled to begin at 12: 30 p. m. ET, with the main event moved up to a 1: 30 p. m. ET start because of a changing weather forecast.
Lambert brings award-winning country firepower to the pre-race bill
Lambert, a three-time Grammy winner and a dominant figure in modern country music, will headline the pre-race festivities at Daytona International Speedway. With a career spanning more than two decades, nine solo albums and high-profile collaborations with the trio Pistol Annies, Lambert’s presence is poised to add a familiar country-rock roar to the build-up before the Great American Race.
Her set at Daytona is part of a tour that continues through the summer, and organizers say her powerhouse vocals and stage energy are well suited to the high-octane atmosphere of race day. Fans can expect a compact, high-energy performance that leans on Lambert’s career highlights as well as selections that fit the festival-style format that precedes the green flag.
Anthem lineup, grand marshal and pace car roles complete pre-race program
The pre-race lineup includes a range of musical and ceremonial elements. Dinah Jane — a platinum-selling vocalist who rose to fame as a member of a chart-topping girl group — will perform "America the Beautiful. " Miss America 2026, Cassie Donegan, is slated to perform the National Anthem.
Comedian Nate Bargatze will serve as grand marshal and will have the ceremonial duty of commanding drivers to start their engines. Actor Kurt Russell is set to serve as the honorary pace car driver and will lead the field toward the green flag for the official start of the race.
Pre-race spectacles will also include a flyover by the U. S. Air Force Thunderbirds and a variety of fan-oriented activations across the infield and fan zones. In addition, comedian Bert Kreischer is hosting the Full Throttle Festival festivities that run alongside the pre-race programming, bringing stand-up and fan engagement to the weekend’s build-up.
Schedule adjustments and what fans should expect
Organizers moved the race start time up one hour to 1: 30 p. m. ET because of the potential for late-day weather in the Daytona Beach area. The pre-race concert will start at 12: 30 p. m. ET to accommodate the shift and ensure the full slate of ceremonies and musical performances can be completed ahead of the on-track action.
Fans attending in person can expect the usual mix of loud engines, live entertainment and ceremonial pomp: a pre-race concert headlined by a major country star, patriotic musical performances, aerial demonstrations and celebrity-driven pageantry on the track. For fans following remotely, television and streaming partners are expected to carry the ceremonies and main event coverage throughout the afternoon.
Daytona’s pre-race programming has expanded in recent years to combine concert production values with traditional race-day rituals, and this year’s lineup leans into that model by pairing a high-profile country headliner with national anthems, flyovers and celebrity appearances. Updates to the schedule or performer lineup will be issued if conditions change.
Filmogaz will provide updates as additional information becomes available.
