Key Takeaways
- Date Announcement: The 60th annual CMA Awards will be held on November 18, 2026.
- Voting Details: Voting for the awards will occur in three rounds, starting with a nomination ballot.
- Final Show: This will be Sarah Trahern’s last show as CMA CEO before her retirement.
- Awards Overview: The CMA recognizes excellence across various categories including broadcasting and touring.
The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the date of the 60th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (April 29). The show will air live on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and be available the next day on Hulu. The show has been held at Bridgestone every year since 2006 (except for the pandemic-year show in 2020). The show has also aired on ABC every year since 2006. The host of this year’s show has not yet been named. (Lainey Wilson hosted last year’s show, and co-hosted the 2024 show.)
The CMA also announced the full ballot schedule for the 60th annual CMA Awards, as well as key dates for the CMA Broadcast Awards, Touring Awards, International Awards and Industry Honors.
Related
“Country Music is shaped by the people who dedicate their lives to it, whether on stage, in the studio, on the road, or behind the scenes,” Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, said in a statement. “At CMA, celebrating that work is at the heart of everything we do. Across our awards and honors, it is this community that determines what excellence looks like, and in our 60th year, I hope every member of this industry truly understands the significance of that. Their participation is how country music recognizes itself, and how it shapes its future.”
This will be Trahern’s final show as CMA’s CEO. On Jan. 14, she announced her intention to retire at the end of the year. She has held the post since 2014.
Here is a summary of key dates, eligibility requirements and voting processes across CMA’s annual awards cycle.
Balloting Timeline — 60th Annual CMA Awards
Eligibility Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Voting Process: All CMA professional voting members may vote in three rounds. As of today, 6,678 professional members are eligible to vote.
Nomination Ballot: The nomination ballot will be emailed to eligible CMA members on Monday, July 6. Voting closes on Thursday, July 16, at 6:00 p.m. CT. Voters write in any artist or project they think deserves a nomination. If it fits the criteria for that category, it counts.
Second Ballot: The top 20 vote-getters from the first round move forward (only the top 15 for entertainer of the year). Members may vote for up to five candidates in each category. The second ballot will be emailed on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Voting closes on Monday, Aug. 17, at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Final Ballot: The top five from the second round become the official nominees. CMA members vote one last time to choose the winners. Members may vote for one nominee in each category. The final ballot will be emailed on Thursday, Oct. 1. Voting closes on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:00 p.m. CT. The final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced later this summer.
All three rounds of voting will be conducted online by Election Services Corp. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte.
Membership Deadline & Information: To vote in all three rounds, prospective CMA members must apply for membership by Monday, June 1, at CMAmember.com. Only CMA professional voting members receive voting privileges. The professional voting tier is offered to industry professionals who primarily work within country music.
CMA Broadcast Awards
The CMA Broadcast Awards recognize excellence in country broadcasting.
Eligibility Period: Performances and events between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026
Submission Process: Apply starting Friday, May 1, at broadcast.CMAawards.com. Guidelines and entry instructions are available on the website. CMA membership is not required to submit.
Eligible Categories: Broadcast Personality of the Year and Radio Station of the Year in four market sizes: Major Market, Large Market, Medium Market and Small Market; National Broadcast Personality of the Year in two formats: Daily and Weekly.
Syndicated, Short-Form, Hub Voice-Tracking, Digital Service Providers and Satellite personalities with livestream broadcasts are eligible to apply for National Broadcast Personality of the Year.
Submission Period: Open Friday, May 1 through Tuesday, June 30, at 5:00 p.m. CT
Judging Process & Information: Entries will be reviewed and evaluated online by a panel of radio and industry professionals. CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be notified in October and recognized at the 60th annual CMA Awards ceremony. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte.
CMA Touring Awards
The CMA Touring Awards honor excellence in country music touring, recognizing behind-the-scenes professionals across 20 categories for their contributions to the industry.
Eligibility Period: Oct. 1, 2025 – Sept. 30, 2026
Nomination Process & Information:
Nomination Ballot: A nomination ballot will be sent to current CMA Professional voting members in the following member categories: Affiliated, Artist, Composer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Company, Talent Agent, Advertising/Marketing/Communications, Venue, Talent Buyer/Promoter and Touring Personnel. Each member is eligible to submit one nomination for each award category. The nomination ballot opens on Monday, July 20 and closes on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Second Ballot: Any candidate that meets the eligibility criteria and receives a minimum of three nominations will be placed on the second ballot. Eligible CMA members may vote for up to five candidates in each category. The second ballot opens on Tuesday Aug.25 and closes on Thursday Sept.10 at six o’clock p.m.C.T.
Selection of Final Nominees:The top twenty vote recipients from thesecondballotwillbe presentedtoCMA TouringAwardsTaskForce to developaslateofatleastfivebutnomorethaneightpotentialnomineesforeachoftheCMATouringAwardscategories.
Final Ballot:The finalballotconsistingoftheapprovednomineesissenttoeligibleCMAmembersforvoting.eachmembermayvoteforonenomineeineachcategory.AllballotingistabulatedbytheprofessionalservicesorganizationDeloitte.ThefinalballotopensonTuesdayDec .1andclosesonWednesdayDec .16at6 :00 p.m.C.T
CMAInternationalAwards
CMInternationalAwardsrecognizeoutstandingachievementsandcontributionstocountrymusicworldwidecelebratingindividualsacrosssixcategorieswhochampionthegenreandexpanditsglobalreach.
NominationProcess&Information:AllCMAProfessionalvotingmembersmaysubmitnominations.ACMAInternationalAwardsTaskForcereviewsthenominationsandmakesfinalistsandwinnerrecommendationstotheCMAAwards&RecognitionCommitteewhichapprovestherecipients.
TherearesixCMAInternationalAwardcategories:JoWalkerMeadorInternationalAward,RobPottsInternationalLiveMusicAdvancementAward,WesleyRoseInternationalMediaAchievementAward,
InternationalCountryBroadcasterAward,
InternationalArtistAchievementAwardandJeffWalkerGlobalCountryArtistAward.Nominateathttps://CMAmember.lnk.to/IntNoms26PR.The nominationballotopensonFridayMay1.VotingrunsthroughSundayMay31.
CMAIndustryHonors
CMAIndustryHonorsrecognizeartistsexecutivesandotherprofessionalswhohavemadeexceptionalcontributionstothecountrymusicindustryandcommunity.
NominationProcess&Information:CMAprofessionalmembersmaysubmitnominationsforthefollowingCMAIndustryHonors:CMAFoundationHumanitarianAward,
IrvingWaughAwardofExcellence,
JoeTalbotAward,
CMATouringLifetimeAchievementAward,
CMASongwriterAdvocateAwardandCMAAwardforRecordingExcellence.
Nominateathttps://CMAmember.lnk.to/IndustryHonorsNoms26PR.ThenominationballotisopennowthroughSundayAugust16.FinalrecipientsareselectedandapprovedbytheCMABoardofDirectors.
Forquestionsregardingawardseligibilityorvotingandnominationprocesses,CMAmembersmaycontactBrendenOliver,CM***********************************@**********om.ForinquiriesrelatedtoCMAmembership,re**************************************@*******er.com.
AllballotingistabulatedbytheprofessionalservicesorganizationDeloitte.
