Tennessee Soybean Festival Canceled for 2026

Enjoyers of the Tennessee Soybean Festival were dealt bad news Thursday, May 21, when the City of Martin's Tennessee Soybean Festival Committee announced a one-year hiatus, citing financial challenges facing the city.

The announcement shocked many, as the festival has been a tradition in the City of Martin for more than 30 years.

"We understand how much the Tennessee Soybean Festival means to our community, and this was not an easy decision," the committee shared in a public statement.

The committee unanimously agreed that putting the Tennessee Soybean Festival on pause was the most responsible path forward, given "the budget, manpower and time required to responsibly plan an event of this scale."

The Tennessee Soybean Festival Committee typically organizes the annual festival through a collaboration with the University of Tennessee at Martin, local industries and businesses, agricultural leaders, churches, community organizations and volunteers.

"Our goal is not to take away from the community," the committee said, "but to ensure that the resources we do have are used in the most sustainable and impactful ways possible during a difficult time for our city."

The 2026 festival had already been announced, and the committee was taking vendor applications before its cancellation, according to a Facebook post from Squatch BBQ & Catering.

The Tennessee Soybean Festival has historically occurred during the first week of September and features carnival rides, live music, food vendors and art shows. In 2025, festival-goers enjoyed performances by TLC, The Band Perry and Bizz & Everyday People.