NASHVILLE, Tennessee, October 21, 2026 â The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place Wednesday, November 18, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Lainey Wilson returning as host and Ella Langley leading the nominations with nine. The anniversary ceremony will air live on ABC and Disney+, celebrating six decades of country music’s biggest honors.
Miranda Lambert follows Langley with seven nominations, while Kacey Musgraves and producer Ben West have five each. Legendary duo Brooks & Dunn will also receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during a special tribute.
CMA Awards 2026 Date, Start Time and Nashville Venue
The 60th Annual CMA Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
The three-hour ABC broadcast begins at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and 7 p.m. Central Time.
- Eastern: 8 p.m. (live)
- Central: 7 p.m. (live)
- Mountain: 7 p.m. local broadcast
- Pacific: 8 p.m. local broadcast
- India: 6:30 a.m. IST, November 19 (US live broadcast equivalent)
The ceremony marks 60 editions of the CMA Awards, which began in 1967 and remain the longest-running annual music awards program on US network television.
How to Watch CMA Awards 2026 Live on ABC and Disney+
US viewers can watch the ceremony on ABC or through the announced Disney+ live stream. The show will also be available on Hulu the following day, November 19.
Streaming access may depend on subscription eligibility and location. International viewers should check regional availability rather than assuming the US broadcast will be accessible worldwide.
The official CMA Awards viewing guide provides the latest local broadcast schedule.
Lainey Wilson Returns as Host for Third Consecutive Year
Lainey Wilson will host the ceremony for the third consecutive year and the second straight year as solo presenter.
The 12-time CMA Award winner is also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for “Somewhere Over Laredo.”
Wilson won Entertainer of the Year in 2025, making her return to the category another major storyline.
Ella Langley Leads CMA Awards 2026 Nominations
Ella Langley enters the ceremony with nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for “Dandelion.”
Her songs “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas” are nominated for both Single and Song of the Year. She also earned recognition for her Morgan Wallen collaboration, “I Can’t Love You Anymore.”
Miranda Lambert has seven nominations, Kacey Musgraves and Ben West have five each, while Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. have four apiece.
CMA Awards 2026 Major Nominees and Categories
Entertainer of the Year: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves and Lainey Wilson.
Male Vocalist: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top and Stephen Wilson Jr.
New Artist: Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr.
Album of the Year: “Ain’t In It For My Health,” “Dandelion,” “Middle of Nowhere,” “Parker McCollum” and “The Way I Am.”
Single of the Year: “Be Her,” “Choosin’ Texas,” Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You,” “Somewhere Over Laredo” and “The Fall.”
Vocal Group: Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion and The Red Clay Strays.
Vocal Duo: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline and Thelma & James.
Thirteen first-time nominees are represented across the ballot, highlighting emerging talent alongside established country stars.
Brooks & Dunn to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Brooks & Dunn will receive the 2026 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing more than three decades of influence on country music.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have earned 20 CMA Awards, including 16 Vocal Duo of the Year victories. Their catalog includes “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “My Maria.”
CMA Awards 2026 Performers and Presenters
As of October 21, the official performance and presenter lineup has not been announced.
Although several major nominees could appear during the broadcast, their participation as performers remains unconfirmed.
The ceremony will recognize achievements in 12 competitive categories, including songwriting, recordings, music videos and instrumental performance.
Fans following other major music ceremonies can also check the 2027 Grammy Awards date, nominations and viewing schedule, with Grammy nominations expected November 16.
2027 Oscars Date and Complete Awards Season Calendar
2026 MTV VMAs Winners: Madonna, Taylor Swift and Major Highlights
CMA Awards 2026 Tickets and Arena Entry Details
Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster. Bridgestone Arena doors are scheduled to open by 5:30 p.m. Central Time, and attendees must be seated by 6:45 p.m.
Late arrivals may need to wait until the first commercial break before entering the seating area. Premium hospitality packages are also available.
CMA Awards Voting Deadline and Broadcast Awards
The eligibility period covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The 7,083 voting-eligible CMA professional members select the nominees and winners.
Final voting closes October 27 at 6 p.m. Central Time, with Deloitte tabulating the ballots.
The separately announced CMA Broadcast Awards recognize achievements in country radio, with entries assessed on broadcasting performance, ratings, community involvement and industry impact.
The November ceremony also precedes Hollywood’s major winter awards events, including the 2027 Golden Globes ceremony and nominations schedule.
With less than a month remaining, the next major developments are expected to include performer announcements, presenters and additional anniversary tributes ahead of November 18.
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