The 60th Annual CMA Awards air live on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) on ABC and stream live on Disney+, with the replay on Hulu the next day. Lainey Wilson hosts for the third time from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and Ella Langley leads the nominations with nine. This guide has the full list of nominees, the performers announced so far and every way to watch.
Last updated on November 10, 2026. The CMA says more performers and presenters will be announced before the show, and this page is updated when they are.
CMA Awards 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | 2026 CMA Awards |
| Date | Wednesday, November 18, 2026 |
| Start time | 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) |
| Network | ABC |
| Streaming | Live on Disney+, next day on Hulu |
| Host | Lainey Wilson (her third time hosting) |
| Venue | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Edition | 60th Annual CMA Awards |
| Most nominations | Ella Langley, with nine |
| Lifetime honor | Brooks & Dunn, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award |
How to Watch the 2026 CMA Awards
The ceremony airs live from Nashville on ABC. You can watch it several ways, including without a cable subscription:
- ABC: live on your local ABC station on Wednesday, November 18, at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central. ABC is free over the air with a TV antenna.
- Disney+: the show streams live on Disney+ at the same time as the ABC broadcast.
- Hulu: the awards are available to stream the next day.
- Live TV streaming and cable: any live TV service or cable package that carries your local ABC station.
Outside the US, 8 p.m. ET on November 18 is 1 a.m. on Thursday, November 19 in the UK and 6:30 a.m. IST on Thursday in India. Availability of the live stream outside the US depends on your local streaming services.
CMA Awards 2026 Nominees
The nominations were announced on September 10. Ella Langley leads with nine, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven and Kacey Musgraves with five. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. have four each, and Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson have three each. Lainey Wilson won Entertainer of the Year in 2025, so she is both the defending champion and the host.
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Ella Langley
- Chris Stapleton
- Lainey Wilson
| Category | Nominees |
| Album of the Year | Ain’t in It for My Health (Zach Top), Dandelion (Ella Langley), Middle of Nowhere (Kacey Musgraves), Parker McCollum (Parker McCollum), The Way I Am (Luke Combs) |
| Single of the Year | “Be Her” (Ella Langley), “Choosin’ Texas” (Ella Langley), “I Knew It, I Knew You” (Taylor Swift), “Somewhere Over Laredo” (Lainey Wilson), “The Fall” (Cody Johnson) |
| Song of the Year | “Be Her,” “Beautiful Things,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “Dry Spell,” “Gary” |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Stephen Wilson Jr. |
| Vocal Group of the Year | Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays |
| Vocal Duo of the Year | Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline, Thelma & James |
| New Artist of the Year | Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr. |
| Musical Event of the Year | “A Song to Sing” (Miranda Lambert with Chris Stapleton), “Horses and Divorces” (Kacey Musgraves feat. Miranda Lambert), “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen), “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” (Carly Pearce and Riley Green), “McArthur” (HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen and Tim McGraw) |
| Music Video of the Year | “Choosin’ Texas” (Ella Langley), “Dry Spell” (Kacey Musgraves), “Gary” (Stephen Wilson Jr.), “The Fall” (Cody Johnson), “White Horse” (Chris Stapleton) |
Taylor Swift is nominated for Single of the Year for “I Knew It, I Knew You.” Thirteen artists and songwriters are first-time CMA nominees, including Ben West, Jack Antonoff, Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts, Muscadine Bloodline and Thelma & James.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 CMA Awards?
The CMA has announced eight performers so far:
- Cody Johnson
- Ella Langley
- Kacey Musgraves
- Miranda Lambert
- The Red Clay Strays
- Tim McGraw
- Tucker Wetmore
- Zach Top
Presenters and the rest of the performer lineup have not been announced yet, and we will add them here when they are.
Dolly Parton Tribute and the Brooks & Dunn Honor
The show will include a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died in August at age 80. The CMA has not said who will perform in it. The Voice is also honoring her this month with Dolly Parton Night on November 23, which you can follow on our Voice Season 30 live shows schedule.
The CMA also named Brooks & Dunn as this year’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, and the duo will accept the award at the ceremony. They are nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year as well.
What to Watch Next
More country and Thanksgiving-week TV is coming. The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on Thursday, November 26, and our best TV shows to watch in November 2026 covers the rest of the month on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Peacock.
CMA Awards 2026 FAQ
When are the 2026 CMA Awards?
Wednesday, November 18, 2026. It is the 60th Annual CMA Awards.
What time do the CMA Awards start in 2026?
8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central.
What channel are the CMA Awards on?
ABC, with a live stream on Disney+ and a next-day stream on Hulu.
Who is hosting the 2026 CMA Awards?
Lainey Wilson, who is hosting for the third time.
Who leads the 2026 CMA nominations?
Ella Langley, with nine nominations. Miranda Lambert has seven, and Kacey Musgraves has five.
Who is nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 CMAs?
Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
Who is performing at the 2026 CMA Awards?
Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, The Red Clay Strays, Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top have been announced so far.
Where are the 2026 CMA Awards held?
At Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Is there a Dolly Parton tribute at the 2026 CMA Awards?
Yes. The CMA has announced a tribute to Dolly Parton, but it has not said who will perform.
Who is getting the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026?
Brooks & Dunn.
How can I watch the CMA Awards without cable?
Use a TV antenna for ABC, stream live on Disney+, or watch the next day on Hulu.
Sources: broadcast details, nominees, performers and honors are from the Country Music Association’s announcements as reported by ABC News and Good Morning America, TV Insider, ABC7 New York, Taste of Country, Entertainment Now, American Songwriter and WSMV. This page is not affiliated with the CMA or ABC.
