You're sitting on the couch, maybe you've got a drink ready, and you're wondering: is the CMA on tonight? It’s a fair question. Every year, country music fans get caught in this weird limbo where they know the awards are "sometime in November," but the exact Wednesday always seems to sneak up. Honestly, searching for the broadcast schedule can be a massive headache because of how networks shuffle live events around sports schedules and election cycles.
If you are looking for the 59th Annual CMA Awards, they are typically held on a Wednesday in mid-November. For the 2025-2026 season, the main event traditionally airs on ABC. However, checking your local listings is a must because "tonight" depends entirely on which Wednesday of the month we're currently sitting in. If it’s not the second or third Wednesday of November, you’re likely looking for a re-run or perhaps the CMA Fest special, which is a totally different beast that usually airs in the summer.
The confusion behind is the CMA on tonight and where to watch
The CMA Awards aren't like the Super Bowl; the date moves. ABC usually keeps the rights locked down, and the show almost always starts at 8:00 PM Eastern. But if you’re on the West Coast, you’re often dealing with a tape delay unless you’re using a streaming service that provides a live New York feed. It’s annoying. You’ve probably seen "CMA" trending on Twitter or TikTok and assumed you were missing the big show. Half the time, people are just talking about the nominations or a specific performance that went viral from three years ago.
To be crystal clear: The 2025 CMAs happened in November 2025. If you are asking is the CMA on tonight in early 2026, the answer is technically no for the main awards show. You’re likely seeing promos for the "CMA Fest" taping or perhaps the "CMA Country Christmas" specials if it’s around the holidays. The actual 60th Anniversary show won't be until late 2026.
Streaming has made this even more complicated. In the old days, you just turned on Channel 7. Now? You might be looking at Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV. If you don’t have cable, you can’t just go to the standard Hulu app and watch it live; you usually have to wait until the next day. That is the quickest way to get the entire show spoiled by a Chris Stapleton or Lainey Wilson Instagram post before you've even seen the first verse.
Why the schedule keeps changing for country music's biggest night
The Country Music Association has to play nice with the networks. They avoid Monday nights because of football. They avoid Tuesdays because of election coverage or established sitcom blocks. That leaves Wednesday. But even then, the CMA Awards have to dodge the World Series. If the MLB season runs long, the CMAs get pushed.
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There’s also the "CMA Fest" factor. People get these two things mixed up constantly. CMA Fest is a four-day concert in Nashville in June. The TV special for that usually airs in July or August. If you’re asking is the CMA on tonight during the summer, you’re looking for the stadium concert highlights, not the trophies. The trophies—the real-deal "Entertainer of the Year" stuff—stay firmly planted in the autumn.
How to verify the broadcast in 30 seconds
- Check the ABC Live site: They always have a countdown clock once the date is finalized.
- Look at the Bridgestone Arena schedule: The show is almost always in Nashville. If the Predators are playing a home game at Bridgestone, the CMAs aren't happening that night.
- Twitter (X) Trends: Search the hashtag #CMAwards. If the red carpet hasn't started by 6:00 PM ET, the show isn't tonight.
What to expect when the show actually airs
When the night finally arrives, the structure is pretty predictable but the performances are where the chaos lives. We’ve seen everything from Beyoncé performing with The Chicks to unexpected tributes for legends like Loretta Lynn or George Jones. The "Entertainer of the Year" category is the one everyone fights over. Lately, it’s been a battle between the traditionalists and the new-school "stadium country" acts.
Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson have basically lived in the top tiers of the ballot for the last few years. If the show is on tonight, you can bet the farm that there will be at least three "collaboration" performances that have absolutely nothing to do with country music, designed specifically to get people talking on social media. It’s a strategy. It works.
The hosts have stayed relatively stable lately, too. After the long run of Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, the CMAs experimented a bit before landing on the Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan duo. It’s a bit "dad joke" heavy, sure, but it keeps the energy light. If you’re tuned in tonight and you see them, you’re in the right place.
Common misconceptions about the CMA broadcast
A lot of people think the CMAs and the ACMs are the same thing. They aren't. Not even close. The ACMs (Academy of Country Music) usually happen in the spring and have recently moved primarily to Amazon Prime Video. If you're looking for a show on network TV, you're looking for the CMAs.
Another big one: "The CMAs are rigged." Well, sort of? It’s a trade organization. It’s not a popular vote. It’s thousands of people within the music industry—producers, songwriters, executives—casting ballots. It’s a "who you know" game as much as a "who sold the most records" game. That’s why you’ll sometimes see a massive radio hit get completely snubbed in favor of a critically acclaimed artist who isn't even on the charts.
Practical steps for the next time you're searching
Stop relying on Google's "snippet" box for live TV times. It’s often wrong or pulling from an article written in 2022.
First, go directly to the source. The official CMA website (CMAawards.com) is the only place that won't lie to you. Second, if you're a cord-cutter, make sure your digital antenna is actually plugged in. You’d be surprised how many people realize five minutes before kickoff that their signal is blocked by a new apartment building next door.
Third, if you missed the live window, don’t bother searching for the full episode on YouTube. You won't find it. The CMA legal team is faster than a Nashville session guitarist when it comes to pulling down copyright material. Your best bet is Hulu the following morning or individual performance clips on the official Vevo channels.
To wrap this up and get you moving, here is the reality: If it is currently November 2026, you better start checking your ABC app right now. If it’s any other time of year, you’re likely looking for a rebroadcast or the summer festival highlights. Set a calendar alert for the first Wednesday of November every year. It’ll save you the frantic "is the CMA on tonight" search every single time.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Verify your timezone: Remember that 8/7c means 8:00 PM Eastern and 7:00 PM Central.
- Check the Hulu schedule: If you don't see the "Upcoming" banner for the CMAs on your Hulu dashboard, you’re likely a week early or a day late.
- Follow the CMA on Instagram: They post the "Day Of" schedule including red carpet times which usually start two hours before the actual broadcast.