Inland Marine Expo 2026

The Music City Center is Nashville's flagship convention facility, situated in the vibrant SoBro (South of Broadway) neighborhood in the heart of downtown, on a 16-acre site between 5th and 8th Avenues, adjacent to Bridgestone Arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The 2.1 million square foot building opened in May 2013 and is LEED Gold certified.

Key spaces include:

• A 353,143 sq. ft. contiguous exhibit hall with 32 loading docks for easy convention access
• The 57,500 sq. ft. Karl F. Dean Grand Ballroom — the largest grand ballroom in Tennessee, with theater-style seating for up to 7,453 and acoustics modeled after the interior of a guitar
• An 18,000 sq. ft. Davidson Ballroom
• 90,000 sq. ft. of meeting and breakout space across 60 rooms
• Over 145,000 sq. ft. of pre-function areas for networking, registration, and gathering

The facility offers building-wide Wi-Fi and fiber connectivity, digital advertising options, full-service in-house catering, and more than 100 pieces of public art by regional artists reflecting Nashville's musical heritage. The building stands 150 feet tall at its highest point.

The Music City Center Garage (701 Demonbreun St.) is Nashville's largest covered parking facility, offering approximately 1,800 spaces across three connected levels with 24-hour roving security. The garage is open 24/7 and accepts debit and credit cards only at automated exit lanes.

Current rates (effective June 2025):

• 0–5 hours: $15
• 5–9 hours: $20
• 9–12 hours: $25
• 12–18 hours: $30
• Overnight: $45
• Lost ticket: $45

No in/out privileges on the same ticket. Note that special event rates may be posted upon garage entry. Primary access (P3) is at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Demonbreun Street; auxiliary access (P1 and P2) is along 6th Avenue. Twelve EV charging stations (ChargePoint) are distributed across all three levels at standard parking rates. ADA-accessible spaces (29 designated handicap spots) are located adjacent to elevators on each level and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

By air: The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport (BNA), approximately 8 miles east of downtown Nashville. Southwest Airlines offers FMX 2026 attendees discounted fares for travel October 14–27, 2026; book through the SWABIZ® portal (Company ID 90051754) to access available savings, which vary by fare type.

Airport to downtown: Rideshare services (Uber and Lyft) are widely available from BNA to downtown Nashville. Nashville's WeGo Public Transit bus network also serves the airport-to-downtown corridor.

Within Nashville: Music City Center is located in highly walkable downtown Nashville, within easy walking distance of most SoBro and Broadway-area hotels. The free Music City Circuit bus (Green and Blue routes) provides service near the venue along Demonbreun Street, connecting the convention center to other downtown destinations at no charge. Rideshare is also convenient for travel throughout the city.

The AAFP has negotiated exclusive discounted hotel rates for FMX 2026 attendees. Hotel options can be browsed and booked directly during the online registration process. The hotel discount reservation deadline is September 20, 2026. Attendees are encouraged to book early, as FMX hotel blocks fill quickly.

Several hotels are within easy walking distance of Music City Center:

• Omni Nashville Hotel — approximately 0.2 miles from Music City Center, directly adjacent to the Country Music Hall of Fame
• Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Downtown/Convention Center — steps from the venue along 8th Avenue South
• Embassy Suites Nashville Downtown — located on Demonbreun Street, immediately adjacent to the convention center
• Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville — in the SoBro neighborhood, two blocks south of Broadway and close to Music City Center

Numerous additional hotels are available within 1 mile in downtown Nashville and the SoBro district, with a wide range of rates and brand options.