Country Thunder Saskatchewan welcomes rock group Creed ‘With Arms Wide Open’

Singer Scott Stapp of the band Creed performs solo in concert at Soundstage on Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Baltimore. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) (Owen Sweeney/The Associated Press)

Continuing with the multi-year trend of featuring a non-country musical act, Country Thunder Saskatchewan in 2026 will include the legendary rock band Creed as one of its headline attractions.

The post-grunge rockers from Tallahassee, Fla. made their mark in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s by selling three consecutive multi-platinum albums. The band is best known for their tracks “With Arms Wide Open,” “Higher,” and “One Last Breath.”

Organizers made the announcement during an event at Regina’s Railyard Saloon Thursday evening.

“We have now found a way where we are going to have something for everybody. It’s not just a country music festival anymore, it’s a music festival,” said Troy Vollhoffer, the CEO of Country Thunder.

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The lineup for Country Thunder Saskatchewan 2026 will be rounded out by country music stars Lainey Wilson and Riley Green.

Wilson is a Grammy award-winning artist with five studio albums. She gained broader recognition after several of her songs were featured on the popular TV series Yellowstone. In 2022, she would join Yellowstone’s cast in a recurring role.

Riley Green, the singer/songwriter from Jackson, Ala. has enjoyed mainstream success since his debut in 2019. Since then, he’s released three studio albums including Different ‘Round Here (2019), Ain’t My Last Rodeo (2023), and Don’t Mind If I Do (2024).

His best-known tracks include “There Was This Girl,” “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” “Half Of Me” with Thomas Rhett, and the title-track of his debut album “Different ‘Round Here” with Luke Combs.

“I think that a diverse lineup appeals to a more of an audience. The professionals are getting it right, they are making sure they are appealing to a wide range of folks,” Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski said.

Another new addition to this year’s music festival is the inclusion of a rodeo. It will be scheduled during the day.

Country Thunder Saskatchewan 2026 is set to run from July 9 to July 12.

The past two iterations of the country music festival have featured popular acts outside of the country music genre.

In 2025, Jason Aldean, Baily Zimmerman and 1980’s rock icon Def Leppard headlined the event, while 2024 saw Dallas Smith, Luke Combs and Nickelback receive top billing.

-With files from Mick Favel

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