The 60th CMA Awards take place on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, with Lainey Wilson hosting country music’s biggest night live from Nashville. The three-hour ceremony starts at 8pm Eastern Time in the US, meaning UK viewers will need to stay up late or set an early alarm to catch the action live.
The milestone ceremony celebrates 60 years of the Country Music Association Awards, with performances from some of the biggest names in country music and a special tribute to Dolly Parton.
Here is everything UK viewers need to know about when the CMA Awards 2026 are on, how to watch in different countries and where the ceremony will be streamed.
- Date: Wednesday, 18 November 2026.
- UK start time: 1am on Thursday, 19 November.
- US start time: 8pm ET / 7pm CT on Wednesday, 18 November.
- Host: Lainey Wilson.
- US TV channel: ABC.
- US streaming: Disney+.
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.
What time are the CMA Awards 2026 on in the UK?
The CMA Awards begin at 8pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, 18 November, and are scheduled to run until 11pm.
For viewers in the UK, that means the live ceremony starts at 1am GMT on Thursday, 19 November, and finishes at approximately 4am.
It is an overnight broadcast for British fans who want to watch the ceremony as it happens, rather than catch up the following day.
CMA Awards 2026: International start times
The ceremony is broadcast live from Nashville, with the start time varying depending on your time zone.
The UK and Central European times are calculated from the US Eastern start time, with the ceremony taking place after midnight in Europe.
Where can I watch the CMA Awards 2026 live on TV?
In the United States, the 60th CMA Awards will be broadcast live on ABC, with the ceremony also available to stream on Disney+.
The official CMA announcement confirms the three-hour broadcast from 8pm to 11pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, 18 November. The ceremony will also be available on Hulu the following day in the US. <Cite refs={[“turn298972search1″,”turn298972search6”]}/>
For viewers in the UK, however, there is currently no confirmed British television broadcaster or streaming service for the live ceremony. The CMA’s international viewing information currently lists the US broadcast arrangements and advises international viewers to check back for further details. <Cite refs={[“turn298972search3″,”turn298972search0”]}/>
That means UK fans should not assume that the US Disney+ streaming arrangement automatically applies to a UK subscription. Further international viewing information may be announced closer to the event.
Who is hosting the CMA Awards 2026?
<text>Lainey Wilson returns to host the 60th CMA Awards.</text>
Country star Lainey Wilson will host the ceremony for the third consecutive year, having become one of the event’s most recognisable recent presenters.
The 12-time CMA Award winner will lead the anniversary celebrations from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The 2026 ceremony is particularly significant as it marks six decades of the awards, which first took place in 1967. <Cite refs={[“turn298972search1″,”turn298972search2”]}/>
Who is performing at the CMA Awards 2026?
The performance line-up includes a mixture of established country stars and newer artists.
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Kacey Musgraves
- Tim McGraw
- Cody Johnson
- Zach Top
- The Red Clay Strays
- Tucker Wetmore
- Vince Gill
There will also be a special tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton.
One of the evening’s major collaborations will see Mumford & Sons perform with Chris Stapleton, while Stephen Wilson Jr. will also join Stapleton for a special performance.
Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, HARDY, Marcus King and Halestorm will come together to celebrate Brooks & Dunn, who are receiving this year’s CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. <Cite refs={[“turn298972search5″,”turn298972search6″,”turn298972search7”]}/>
Why are the 2026 CMA Awards special?
This year’s ceremony marks the 60th anniversary of the Country Music Association Awards.
First held in 1967, the event has become one of the most important nights in the country music calendar, recognising the artists, songwriters, musicians and industry professionals shaping the genre.
The winners are decided by the CMA’s professional voting membership, representing different areas of the country music industry.
With Lainey Wilson returning as host, a major tribute to Dolly Parton and performances from some of the genre’s biggest names, the anniversary ceremony promises a particularly celebratory night in Nashville.
Can I watch the CMA Awards 2026 the next day?
In the United States, the ceremony will be available on Hulu the day after its live broadcast on ABC and Disney+.
UK catch-up arrangements have not yet been confirmed. Viewers should check the CMA’s official international broadcast information for updates on availability outside the US.
The 60th CMA Awards air live from Nashville on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, at 8pm ET on ABC and Disney+. For UK viewers, that is 1am on Thursday, 19 November.
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