2nd Annual Destin Songwriter Festival
October 24-25, 2026
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Florida’s Emerald Coast, where sugar-white sands meet the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf, the Destin Songwriter Festival is quickly becoming the hottest new songwriter festival on the entire Emerald Coast.
This isn’t just another music festival. It’s a weekend-long celebration of storytelling, unforgettable performances, and the incredible songwriters behind the music you love. Join us as acclaimed Nashville hitmakers, rising stars, and talented local artists gather in one of the most beautiful beach towns in the country to share the stories, inspiration, and emotion behind their songs.
From free family-friendly entertainment and waterfront acoustic stages to high-energy main stage performances and exclusive VIP songwriter rounds featuring some of the industry’s best writers, there truly is something for everyone at the Destin Songwriter Festival.
Experience intimate performances overlooking the harbor, discover your next favorite artist, sing along to songs you know by heart, and hear the untold stories behind the hits in a way only a songwriter festival can deliver.
Whether you’re a die-hard country music fan, a lover of live music, a beach vacationer looking for unforgettable entertainment, or someone simply searching for a one-of-a-kind weekend experience, this is the festival you don’t want to miss!
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2026 Headliners
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter whose career has earned 17 Canadian Country Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music's Top New Female Vocalist honor, and the American Music Award for Favorite New Country Artist. As a songwriter, she penned the No. 1 hit "Single White Female" and found success as an artist with her Top 5 hit "Complicated" along with multiple charting singles. Her songs have also been recorded by some of country music's biggest stars, including Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jo Dee Messina, and many more, making her one of Nashville's most accomplished and respected songwriters.
Bridgette Tatum
An award-winning Nashville songwriter, producer, and artist best known as the co-writer of Jason Aldean's multi-platinum No. 1 hit "She's Country," the most-played song on U.S. country radio in 2009. Her songwriting credits also include recordings by Trisha Yearwood, Gretchen Wilson, Randy Houser, Ashley Cooke, The Farm, and many others, while her anthem "Loud" served as the official theme song for the 2010 ACC Football season, reaching more than 27 million households. As the founder of Tatum Town, Bridgette is dedicated to mentoring and developing emerging artists and continues to champion the songwriting community through production, live events, and songwriter festivals.
Jeffrey Steele
Six time Grammy Nominee, Jeffrey Steele has been recognized by BMI for over 65 million airplays for his well-penned for a multitude of artists including Keith Urban, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffett, Montgomery, Gentry, and Lynry Skrynd, Cher, 38 Special, Faith Hill, Tim McGaw, Trace Adkins, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts and Van Zant, Joe Cocker, Little Feat ft. Bob Seger, Joe Bonamassa, Cascada and more.
Among his many accolades over the past few years, Jeffrey Steele has been named to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame as a Poet and Prophet, twice awarded BMI Songwriter of the Year and thrice the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSA) Singer of the Year. CMA has twice awarded him the coveted “Triple Play Award” for three No. 1 songs in a year. His country and A/C mega-hitS include a string of chart toppers including: “Raise ‘Em Up”, “Knee Deep”, “Here”, “My Wish”, “The Cowboy In Me”, “These Days”, “My Town”, “Something to be Proud of”, “Everyday” and the groundbreaking “What Hurts The Most,” nominated for Best Country Song at the Grammy Awards.
Additionally, he has won over 35 BMI Country and Pop awards, was nominated for a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award for Best Original Song “I Thought I Lost You” for the Disney/Pixar animated feature BOLT, performed by Miley Cyrus and John Travolta, been named one of Billboard Magazine’s top 5 writers in a row, as well as Music Row Magazine’s Singer of the Year Award. Steele’s latest full length album features performances with Vince Gill, Ennylouharris, Jamie Johnson, John Rich and others. Steele has a string of collaborations on the horizon including recently released “Who Knows Why” performed with iconic Singer and Composer Steve Dorff, “What Hurts The Most” with Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts and “Hillbillies in Hollywood” and “Like A Man’s Supposed To” with Phil Vasser.
Terri Jo Box
Terri Jo Box is an acclaimed Nashville hit songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Ashley McBryde, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Cody Johnson, Trisha Yearwood, Joe Nichols, and many more. She co-wrote Ashley McBryde's current radio single "What If We Don't," which debuted as the No. 1 Most Added Song at country radio, and has contributed songs to four GRAMMY-nominated albums, including Lainey Wilson's GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Award-winning Bell Bottom Country. Her work has also been featured in Paramount's Landman, earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for co-writing "American Scandal," and she continues to champion Nashville's songwriting community as the founder and host of the acclaimed Music Row Freakshow songwriter rounds.
Giving Back Through Music & Service: Operation Song
At the Destin Songwriter Festival, we believe music has the power to bring people together, tell meaningful stories, and create lasting impact within our communities. That’s why we are incredibly proud to partner with Operation Song, a remarkable non-profit dedicated to helping veterans, active-duty military, and their families heal through the art of songwriting.
We have a deep appreciation and respect for the men and women who have served our country, and giving back to the veteran community is something that means a great deal to us. As a festival built around songwriters, storytelling, and human connection, partnering with Operation Song felt like a natural and meaningful way to support both veterans and the songwriting community we love so much.
A portion of the proceeds from the Destin Songwriter Festival will go directly toward supporting Operation Song’s life-changing programs, helping provide veterans with an outlet to share their experiences, find healing, and turn their stories into music.
Together, we celebrate the power of songwriting, the strength of community, and the incredible people who have sacrificed so much for others.
In Partnership With ENTERSONG Entertainment
We are proud to partner with EnterSong Entertainment as the official entertainment and talent partner for the Destin Songwriter Festival. Through this partnership, EnterSong helps curate and coordinate world-class songwriter talent, artist relations, and live entertainment experiences that elevate the festival’s mission of bringing Nashville-caliber storytelling and performances to the Destin Harbor
