George Strait to Perform at Texas Tech Stadium in 2026, Prompting Football Schedule Change

George Strait to Perform at Texas Tech Stadium in 2026 Amid Spring Football Schedule Adjustment

Country music legend George Strait will perform two concerts at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on April 24 and 25, 2026, prompting Texas Tech football to reschedule its annual spring game to April 17, a Friday night instead of the usual Saturday.

George Strait, known as the “King of Country,” will headline a brief tour featuring multiple Texas dates, including shows at the Moody Center in Austin on April 9, April 11, May 15, and May 16, 2026. His appearances at Texas Tech come just after his Austin concerts, leading the Red Raiders football team to adjust their spring practice schedule and spring game accordingly to accommodate the concert setup.

Key Points

• George Strait is scheduled to perform at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock on April 24 and 25, 2026.
• Texas Tech football's annual spring game will be held Friday night, April 17, instead of Saturday, to prepare for Strait’s concerts.
• Strait’s 2026 spring tour includes seven shows, mostly in Texas, with special guests such as Miranda Lambert and Cody Johnson.
• Strait will also perform four shows at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, in April and May 2026.
• A Change.org petition with over 126,000 signatures called for Strait to replace Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime act, though the petition has no official influence.

George Strait’s 2026 Spring Tour and Concert Details

Starting April 9, 2026, George Strait will embark on a seven-show tour, with six concerts in Texas, including two dates at Texas Tech University’s Jones AT&T Stadium. His spring tour will feature special guests like Zach Top, Cody Johnson, Wyatt Flores, Miranda Lambert, and Dylan Gosset on select dates. Ticket prices for the shows range from approximately $114 to $372, depending on the venue and date.

Prior to his Texas Tech shows, Strait will perform four concerts at Austin’s Moody Center: April 9, April 11, May 15, and May 16. These intimate "in-the-round" concerts will feature hits from his 31st studio album, “Cowboys and Dreamers,” released in September 2024, alongside fan favorites. The album revisits classic country themes such as family, friendship, and nostalgia.

Newcomers William Beckham and Carter Faith are slated to open his April and May Austin shows, respectively. Strait’s April 24 and 25 stadium concerts in Lubbock follow directly after the Austin shows.

Impact on Texas Tech Football Schedule

Texas Tech’s football program adjusted its spring 2026 schedule to accommodate Strait’s concert setup at Jones AT&T Stadium. Practices will begin on March 10 and 12, pause for spring break (March 14-22), and continue through late March and April. The annual spring game, traditionally held on a Saturday, will take place Friday night, April 17, 2026.

Coach Joey McGuire explained the change: “We’ll have a spring game on Friday night because the king of country is coming that next week. I am a country fan, so we figured we'd get off the field faster to let them start getting set up for the concert, so we’re going to have a Friday night lights spring game.”

Texas Tech’s football team had a historic 2025 season with 12 wins, the Big 12 championship, and a College Football Playoff appearance culminating in an Orange Bowl game.

Super Bowl Halftime Show Petition and Public Response

A widely circulated Change.org petition with over 126,000 signatures urged NFL officials to replace the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny with George Strait. The petition cited Strait’s 60 No. 1 hits, 40-plus years in the music industry, and role as a traditional American music icon.

The petition described Strait as embodying “unity, tradition, and the timeless American music that truly deserves the 2026 Super Bowl spotlight,” contrasting him with Bad Bunny’s style, which it called divisive and “opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”

Despite the petition’s visibility on social media, the NFL confirmed no changes to the 2026 halftime show, which will feature Bad Bunny.

George Strait’s Legacy and Recent Performances

At 73 years old, George Strait is a Country Music Hall of Famer recognized for his flawless execution and consistent catalog of hits. His live shows generally center on delivering classic songs straight to the audience without pyrotechnics or theatrics, focusing on the purity of country music.

Strait last performed in July 2025 at SoFi Stadium, where he delivered a 28-song set featuring staples like “Amarillo by Morning,” “Check Yes or No,” “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” and “Give It Away.”

His 31st album, “Cowboys and Dreamers,” maintains the traditional country sound and themes. Songs like the title track, “MIA in MIA,” “Wish I Could Say,” and “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” (a duet with Chris Stapleton) have been especially well received.

Conclusion

George Strait’s 2026 spring tour, including his two stadium shows at Texas Tech University, fortifies his status as the “King of Country” and one of the most consistent and beloved artists in American music history. Meanwhile, Texas Tech football’s schedule adjustment underscores Strait’s cultural prominence in Lubbock and the wider Texas region. Despite public petitions, Strait will not replace Bad Bunny at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, reaffirming his focus on concert tours and album promotion next year.