The 2026 CMA Awards Will Celebrate 60 Years Of Country Music
The CMA Awards are reaching a major milestone.
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place Wednesday, November 18, live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, celebrating six decades of country music’s biggest night. The ceremony will air live on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
And there’s more exciting news: Lainey Wilson is returning as host for the third consecutive year and her second straight year hosting solo.
With performances, tributes and plenty of surprises still to come, the full night is being kept largely under wraps. But the nominees have officially been announced.
The nominations were revealed on September 10, beginning on Good Morning America before the remaining categories were announced during the CMA’s livestream from Nashville.
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
- Tom Bukovac
- Jenee Fleenor
- Paul Franklin
- Rob McNelley
- Charlie Worsham
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Avery Anna
- Carter Faith
- Emily Ann Roberts
- Tucker Wetmore
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine Bloodline
- Thelma & James
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
- The Red Clay Strays
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
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
- “A Song to Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
- “Horses And Divorces” – Kacey Musgraves feat. Miranda Lambert
- “I Can’t Love You Anymore” – Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen
- “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” – Carly Pearce & Riley Green
- “McArthur” – Hardy, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen & Tim McGraw
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “Be Her” – Ella Langley
- “Beautiful Things” – Megan Moroney
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
- “Dry Spell” – Kacey Musgraves
- “Gary” – Stephen Wilson Jr.
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
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
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
- Stephen Wilson Jr.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Kacey Musgraves
- Lainey Wilson
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Ella Langley
- Chris Stapleton
- Lainey Wilson
The 2026 ceremony will mark six decades of the CMA Awards, with the winners determined by the Country Music Association’s professional voting membership.
And one more major honor has already been announced: Brooks & Dunn will receive the 2026 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony.
November 18 is shaping up to be a major night for country music.