CMA Awards 2026: Date, Nominees and Performers

The CMA Awards are back for their annual celebration of the artists and musicians spearheading country music. This year commemorates 60 years of the awards show, so we’re expecting a monumental evening of applauding the genre’s most profound contributors.

This year’s 2026 celebration will take place at Nashville’s iconic Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 18th.

Lainey Wilson returns as the host for the night for her third consecutive year, with the 2025 Entertainer of the Year celebrating friends - and herself - in the star-studded nominations.

Eligibility for this year’s awards ran from July 1st, 2025 through to June 30th, 2026, so it’s no surprise that Ella Langley continues her monumental, record-breaking run with nine nominations.

Other note-worthy contenders include Miranda Lambert with seven nominations, Kacey Musgraves and Ben West both picking up five and Cody Johnson with four nominations. This year’s awards show also shines a light on 13 new nominees including Avery Anna, Muscadine Bloodline, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts and Thelma & James.

Performers for the evening are yet to be announced, but the CMA Awards line-up never disappoints. With spectacular sets and mesmerising performances last year, the likes of Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney and Luke Combs put on shows that brought the night to life.

The 60th Anniversary show will also likely pay homage to the late Dolly Parton, who sadly passed away in August this year, leaving a legacy worthy of honouring at a prestigious evening such as this.

The 2026 CMA Awards, will air live on Wednesday, November 18  on ABC and Disney+ at 7pm CT. The ceremony will also be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Tickets for the 60th Annual CMA Awards are available to purchase below:

For the full list of 2026 CMA awards and nominees, see below:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Ella Langley
Chris Stapleton
Lainey Wilson

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

“Be Her” – Ella Langley
Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West
Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
Producers: Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Ben West
Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss

“I Knew It, I Knew You” – Taylor Swift
Producers: Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift
Mix Engineer: Laura Sisk

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)

Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey

Dandelion – Ella Langley
Producers: Devin Dawson, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Mix Engineer: Dave Clauss

Middle of Nowhere – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Luke Laird, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
Mix Engineers: Serban Ghenea, Konrad Snyder

Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
Mix Engineer: Eric Masse

The Way I Am – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)

“Be Her” - Ella Langley
Songwriters: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt

“Beautiful Things” - Megan Moroney
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington, Megan Moroney

“Choosin' Texas” - Ella Langley
Songwriters: Luke Dick, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor

“Dry Spell” - Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne

"Gary" - Stephen Wilson Jr.
Songwriter: Stephen Wilson Jr.

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

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert (with Chris Stapleton)
Producer: Dave Cobb

“Horses and Divorces” – Kacey Musgraves (feat. Miranda Lambert)
Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian

“I Can’t Love You Anymore” – Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen
Producers: Austin Goodloe, Ella Langley, Ben West

“If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” – Carly Pearce & Riley Green
Producers: Carly Pearce, Ben West

“McArthur” – HARDY, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw
Producer: Jay Joyce

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac – Guitar
Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Rob McNelley – Guitar
Charlie Worsham – Guitar

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
Directors: Ella Langley, Caylee Robillard, Wales Toney

“Dry Spell” – Kacey Musgraves
Directors: Hannah Lux Davis, Kacey Musgraves

“Gary” – Stephen Wilson Jr.
Directors: Tim Cofield, Stephen Wilson Jr.

“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney

“White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
Director: Running Bear

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Avery Anna
Carter Faith
Emily Ann Roberts
Tucker Wetmore
Stephen Wilson Jr.

At the incredible 2025 CMA Awards, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson all tied at the top for the most nominations, with six categories each, closely followed by Zach Top who had five. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson both took home three awards each, tying them with Riley Green for top winners that night.

Lainey Wilson also made history, not only as Entertainer of the Year, but as the third solo female host the CMA Awards has had, sitting in company with icons Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.

Vince Gill received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, honoured by a surprise appearance from King George Strait and Kenny Chesney cemented his induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame with an unforgettable medley.

For the first time in four years, Male Vocalist of the Year did not go to Chris Stapleton, but instead was awarded to 'Til You Can't' crooner, Cody Johnson. Zach Top claimed New Artist of the Year, while Red Clay Strays ended Old Dominion’s seven year reign, taking home Vocal Group of the Year.

Ella Langley and Riley Green took home multiple awards for their song, ‘You Look Like You Love Me’ including Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year.