CMA Awards 2026: Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Taylor Swift and more stars to watch

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The 2026 CMA Awards are almost here! Lainey Wilson is returning as host of Country Music's Biggest Night and this year, it's the ladies leading the way. Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift are just a few of the big names who could make big news at Wednesday night's award show.

On The Red Carpet is getting you ready with a special new episode from Nashville.

Watch our CMA Awards preview special in the video player above for an interview with two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan backstage at the historic Grand Ole Opry and hear from Lady A about their upcoming new music and singer Charles Kelley's health following a recent blood cancer diagnosis.

Plus, you'll see how the CMA Awards will honor the legacy of Dolly Parton and get a special tour inside the new Dolly Parton museum in Nashville, with Dolly's niece serving as our tour guide.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 CMA Awards.

When are the Country Music Awards?

The 60th annual CMA Awards will broadcast live on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Where to watch the 2026 CMA Awards

You can watch the show on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+, and the next day on Hulu.

Our live coverage from the CMA Awards red carpet starts at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, streaming on OnTheRedCarpet.com and Disney+.

Ella Langley is this year's most nominated artist

With her smash hit "Choosin' Texas" breaking records on the charts, it's no surprise Ella Langley is the year's most nominated artist.

Ella has nine nominations, including her first for Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, and two of her songs, "Choosin' Texas" and "Be Her," are both nominees for Song of the Year and Single of the Year.

Ella had a big CMA Awards last year, too. Her hit "You Look Like You Love Me" with Riley Green won for Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year.

"Actually, being here feels a little surreal," Langley told us on last year's CMA Awards red carpet. "It's just so cool to be on this side of the camera and experience what these awards are like in real life."

Miranda Lambert co-wrote "Be Her" and "Choosin' Texas" with Ella Langley, helping haul in seven nominations of her own, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year nods for both "Horses and Divorces" with Kacey Musgraves and "A Song to Sing" with Chris Stapleton.

Kacey Musgraves breaks CMA Awards dry spell

It had been a CMA Awards dry spell for Kacey Musgraves, with her last wins coming in 2019.

But Kacey's back in a big way with five nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year, plus a Song of the Year nomination for "Dry Spell."

Lainey Wilson could make Entertainer of the Year history

Lainey Wilson isn't only hosting the show. The reigning Entertainer of the Year also has three nominations and could become the first woman ever to win Entertainer of the Year three times.

"The ladies are whooping butt," Wilson told us at last year's CMA Awards. "And I don't think it's slowing down anytime soon, y'all. I love to see it."

Taylor Swift returns to her country roots

There's one more leading lady back at the CMA party!

Taylor Swift returned to her country roots with "I Knew It, I Knew You" from "Toy Story 5." Now she's nominated for Single of the Year, a category she never won during her country era, though she was named CMA Entertainer of the Year twice.

Taylor posted on Instagram, "Looks like I haven't yee'd my last haw! See you there Nov. 18!"

It was also announced that Swift will perform at the 2026 CMA Awards, her first performance at the annual awards ceremony in over a decade.

The superstar singer-songwriter, who married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in July, last sang at the CMAs in 2013, when she performed an acoustic version of "Red" alongside Alison Krauss and Vince Gill.

Who's performing at the CMA Awards?

Performers include Taylor Swift, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, The Red Clay Strays, Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore, Vince Gill and Zach Top.

Special collaborations have been announced between Mumford & Sons with Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. with Chris Stapleton.

A special performance to celebrate Brooks & Dunn, this year's recipients of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, will be performed by Brothers Osborne, HARDY, Luke Bryan, Marcus King and Halestorm.

And performers have not been named yet, but the CMA Awards will have a special tribute to Dolly Parton, to honor the country music icon.

Watch "On The Red Carpet: CMA Awards Preview" in the video player above.

The 60th CMA Awards are live Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.

And don't miss our live coverage from the CMA Awards red carpet starting at 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, streaming on OnTheRedCarpet.com and Disney+.

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