Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp are among the artists set to perform at this year’s Farm Aid festival, taking place this weekend in Minnesota.
Farm Aid 2025 (also known as Farm Aid 40) marks the 40th consecutive year of the annual food and music festival, which aims to raise funds for local farmers and agricultural initiatives in the U.S. This year’s edition of Farm Aid takes place Saturday, Sept. 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Want to watch Farm Aid on TV and online? Here’s what you need to know.
At a Glance: How to Stream Farm Aid 40
Premiere date: Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11:30 a.m. CT (12:30 p.m. ET)
TV Channel: CNN
Stream online Sling, YouTube
CNN is the exclusive television broadcast partner of Farm Aid 40, so if you want to watch Farm Aid on TV, you’ll need a cable package that includes CNN. Want to watch Farm Aid online without needing cable? Sign up for Sling, a live TV streaming service that carries a live CNN feed on both its Sling Orange and Sling Blue packages.
Sling Orange includes channels like ESPN, TNT, TBS, Lifetime, HGTV and more, in addition to CNN. It’s a great mix of sports and entertainment programming that you can watch online without needing a cable subscription. Sling lets you livestream its channels on your phone, tablet, computer or smart TV (via the Sling app).
This is one of the best streaming deals online right now, as Sling Blue includes 40+ channels across news, live sports and entertainment. Sling Blue has a live CNN feed that you can use to watch Farm Aid 40 online. You also gets channels like Fox News, MSNBC, USA Network, TNT, NFL Network and more.
Sling Blue packages let you stream on up to three devices at a time, say, if one family member wants to watch Farm Aid, while another wants to watch college football or reality TV. Your Sling Blue price goes back to the regular $50.99/month after the promo period is over.
Don’t need an entire month of streaming and just want to watch Farm Aid online? Sling offers a Sling Day Pass for $4.99 which gets you access to Sling Orange (and CNN) for 24 hours. It’s a great option if you just need or want to stream a specific show or event.
Who Is Performing at Farm Aid 40?
In addition to Dylan and Farm Aid board members Nelson, Mellencamp and Young (who will be playing with the Chrome Hearts), other artists expected to perform at Farm Aid 2025 include Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), Margo Price, Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Trampled by Turtles, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and Wisdom Indian Dancers.
It all kicks off at 11:30 am CT (that’s 12:30 p.m. ET) live from Minneapolis, with early acts streaming on Farm Aid’s YouTube channel. CNN’s coverage kicks off at 6 p.m. CT with live performances from Nelson, Young and the Chrome Hearts, Mellencamp, Dave Matthew, Tim Reynolds and Margo Price. CNN’s John Berman and Laura Coates will co-anchor the night, with CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir providing on-the-ground reporting. CNN’s Farm Air show airs from 6-11 p.m. CT.
Farm Aid started in 1985 with a mission to “build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America.” The organization has since raised more than $85 million to date to support farmers and families in need.
