CMA Awards 2026: Date, Host, Nominees and How to Watch

Wednesday, November 18, 2026. The 60th Annual CMA Awards take place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The show runs from 8 to 11 p.m. ET (7 to 10 p.m. CT). Sources: TV Insider, WSMV.

8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT, which is 5 p.m. PT. The broadcast is scheduled for three hours, until 11 p.m. ET. Sources: TV Insider, Good Morning America (PT conversion ours).

In the US, the ceremony airs live on ABC and streams live on Disney+. If you miss it, it is available on Hulu the next day. We have not found a confirmed broadcaster outside the US in the sources we checked. Sources: TV Insider, Good Morning America.

Lainey Wilson, for the third year in a row and the second time as solo host. She is also a nominee herself, including for Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. Sources: TV Insider, Holler.

[Ella Langley](/en/people/ella-langley/), with nine. She is followed by Miranda Lambert with seven and Kacey Musgraves with five. Langley is in the running for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist, Album (*Dandelion*), and twice each in Single and Song of the Year with "Be Her" and "Choosin' Texas". Nominations were announced on September 10, 2026. Sources: Holler, WSMV.

Five acts: Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson. Wilson is the reigning winner, having taken the award in 2025. Sources: TV Insider, Holler.

Yes, once. [Taylor Swift](/en/people/taylor-swift/)'s "I Knew It, I Knew You" is up for Single of the Year, a category that also honors producers; the track was produced by Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift. It competes with two Ella Langley singles, Lainey Wilson's "Somewhere Over Laredo" and Cody Johnson's "The Fall". Sources: Holler, Entertainment Now.

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. Cody Johnson won Male Vocalist in 2025. Sources: TV Insider, Holler.

*Ain't in It for My Health* (Zach Top), *Dandelion* (Ella Langley), *Middle of Nowhere* (Kacey Musgraves), *Parker McCollum* (Parker McCollum) and *The Way I Am* (Luke Combs). Source: Holler.

Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr. Wilson Jr. is the only one also nominated in the major vocalist race (Male Vocalist) and in Song of the Year for "Gary". The 2025 winner was Zach Top. Sources: Holler, TV Insider.

Only in Musical Event of the Year, twice: "I Can't Love You Anymore" with Ella Langley and "McArthur" with HARDY, Eric Church and Tim McGraw. He is not among the Entertainer or Male Vocalist nominees. Source: Holler.

Lainey Wilson was named Entertainer of the Year, Cody Johnson won Male Vocalist and Zach Top won New Artist. Vince Gill received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Sources: WSMV, TV Insider.

Not announced yet. As of October 31, the CMA had not released its list of performers. Lineups are usually revealed in the weeks before the show, and this page will be updated when names are confirmed. Sources: TV Insider, WSMV.

Winners are voted by members of the Country Music Association, the industry body behind the show, over several ballot rounds. According to one source, final voting ran from October 1 to October 27. Results stay sealed until they are announced live on November 18. Source: Entertainment Now.

Not officially confirmed. [Dolly Parton](/en/people/dolly-parton/) died on August 25, 2026, at age 80, and country media widely expect the 60th CMA Awards to honor her during the broadcast. As of October 31, the CMA had not announced a tribute or who would take part. Sources: WSMV, Holler.