CMA Awards 2026 Nominees: How to Watch, Learn the Songs and Plan a Watch Party

The 2026 CMA Awards nominations were announced on September 10, and the November 18 ceremony is already shaping up as a milestone night for several country artists. If you follow the genre, you probably want the nominee list, the broadcast details, and a few practical ways to join the conversation before the show. This guide covers what the official announcement included and how to use the weeks between now and the broadcast.

The nominee list at a glance

Ella Langley leads the 60th annual CMA Awards with nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year for both "Be Her" and "Choosin' Texas," and Album of the Year for Dandelion. Miranda Lambert follows with seven nominations, while Kacey Musgraves and Ben West each have five. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. have four each, and Dave Clauss, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson have three each.

The Entertainer of the Year field is Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson. In the Single of the Year category, Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You," from Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5, joins Langley's two singles, Wilson's "Somewhere Over Laredo" and Johnson's "The Fall." Album of the Year includes Zach Top's "Ain't In It For My Health," Kacey Musgraves' "Middle of Nowhere," Parker McCollum's self-titled album and Luke Combs' "The Way I Am."

Song of the Year nominees are "Be Her," Megan Moroney's "Beautiful Things," "Choosin' Texas," Kacey Musgraves' "Dry Spell" and Stephen Wilson Jr.'s "Gary." The Female Vocalist of the Year race is Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves and Lainey Wilson.

Records and first-time nominees

Miranda Lambert's new Female Vocalist nomination is her 19th in that category, the most of any artist, and she already holds the record for most CMA wins by a female with 14. Chris Stapleton, who has won Male Vocalist of the Year eight times, could extend that record to nine. Lainey Wilson could become the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year three times, and she could also follow Lambert as the second woman to win Female Vocalist five years in a row.

The association also recognized 13 first-time nominees: Smith Ahnquist, Avery Anna, Jack Antonoff, Tim Cofield, Carter Faith, Austin Goodloe, Muscadine Bloodline, Emily Ann Roberts, Caylee Robillard, Laura Sisk, Joybeth Taylor, Thelma & James and Ben West. Antonoff earned his first nomination as a producer on Taylor Swift's single, which comes from Toy Story 5. Swift has been nominated 28 times and won 10, most recently Song of the Year for "Better Man" in 2017.

Watching the ceremony and related specials

The 60th Annual CMA Awards broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, November 18, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC, Disney+ and next day on Hulu. Lainey Wilson returns as host for her third consecutive year, and this is her second consecutive year as solo host. If you want to check official ticket information, the CMA's own site is the place to start; tickets go on sale September 18.

Voting is not open to the public: nominees and winners are determined by CMA's 7,083 voting-eligible professional members, and voting ends October 27 at 6 p.m. Central. Once the ceremony is over, you may want a longer country-music watchlist. The CMA Fest concert special, hosted by Riley Green and Lara Spencer, is available on Hulu as a one-episode series with performances from Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley and many others. For film trailers and streaming guides outside the awards broadcast, 123 Movies streaming guides lets you browse by genre and mood.

Planning a watch party and local logistics

For a watch party, the practical details matter as much as the music. The official nominee release focuses on categories and broadcast information rather than city-level watch parties, so you will need to arrange your own gathering or check local ABC stations and venue listings. If you are inviting friends from nearby neighborhoods, a free ZIP code lookup can help you share accurate locations and directions. Free ZIP code lookup covers 41,706 ZIP codes across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories, with search by ZIP or city and tools for radius and distance.

Keep in mind that tickets for the live ceremony go on sale September 18 if you plan to travel to Nashville. The show is at Bridgestone Arena, so if you need to find the venue or nearby hotels, a ZIP search can get you oriented.

Award-season SEO for country music sites

Independent country music blogs, fan-run award trackers and local event pages often compete for search traffic when nomination news breaks. Many of them need recurring link acquisition and niche publisher relationships to stay visible during the award cycle. For SEO professionals and agencies managing those campaigns, a B2B sourcing partner such as Hancorli's link building sourcing offers recurring link opportunities and dedicated support without exclusivity.

What to do between now and November 18

Use the remaining weeks to listen to the nominated albums, learn a few guitar parts, and settle your viewing setup. Chris Stapleton's "White Horse" tutorial, for example, breaks down the song in C-sharp minor with a capo on the fourth fret and four chord shapes, which is enough to get you playing along at a watch party. Check your local ABC availability and Hulu access before the night, because the show airs live and the next-day option may be your easiest fallback. Most importantly, decide early whether you will watch at home, attend the Nashville ceremony, or host a small gathering; that choice shapes everything else you need to prepare.