CMA Marks 60 Years Of Celebrating Excellence Through The Industry’s Collective Voice

THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION MARKS 60 YEARS OF CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE THROUGH THE INDUSTRY’S COLLECTIVE VOICE

2026 Awards & Honors Ballot Schedule Announced

“The 60th Annual CMA Awards” to Air Wednesday, Nov. 18 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena live on ABC and Next Day on Hulu

Balloting Opens Monday, July 6; Prospective CMA Members Have Until Monday, June 1 to Apply for Full Voting Eligibility

Key Dates Also Announced for CMA Broadcast Awards Submissions, CMA Touring Awards, CMA International Awards and CMA Industry Honors Nominations

The Country Music Association today announced the 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. CMA’s commitment to celebrating excellence across the entire Country Music industry has remained core to its mission for six decades, and 2026 marks another chapter in a legacy that continues to grow and evolve. “The 60^th Annual CMA Awards” airs Wednesday, Nov. 18 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena live on ABC and next day on Hulu.

As the premier trade association for Country Music, CMA serves as the trusted convener that brings the industry together, creating the space where its collective voice determines who and what defines excellence each year. From peer-voted awards to broadcaster recognition, touring honors, and industry achievements, CMA’s annual awards cycle reflects the full breadth of the professionals who power the genre.

“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,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “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.”

Below is a snapshot of key dates, eligibility requirements, and voting processes across CMA’s annual awards cycle.

 

CMA Awards Balloting Timeline — “The 60th Annual CMA Awards”

The CMA Awards celebrate excellence in Country Music across 12 categories, honoring artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, mix engineers, and music video directors who made a significant impact on the genre during the eligibility period. 

• Eligibility Period:
  • July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

• Voting Process:
  • All CMA Professional voting members can vote in three rounds. As of today, 6,678 Professional members are eligible to vote.
    • Nomination Ballot: 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 can vote for up to five candidates in each category.
    • Final Ballot: The top 5 from the second round become the official nominees, and CMA members vote one last time to choose the winners. Members can vote for one nominee in each category.
  • All three rounds of voting will be conducted online by Election Services Corp. (ESC). To ensure ballot delivery, members are encouraged to add [email protected] to their safe senders.
  • All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

• Nomination Ballot:
  • Emailed to eligible CMA members on Monday, July 6
  • Closes Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 PM/CT

• Second Ballot:
  • Emailed on Tuesday, Aug. 4
  • Closes Monday, Aug. 17 at 6:00 PM/CT
  • Final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced later this summer.

• Final Ballot:
  • Emailed on Thursday, Oct. 1
  • Closes Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6:00 PM/CT

• 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 Submissions — 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards

The CMA Broadcast Awards recognize excellence in Country broadcasting, honoring stations and personalities who make a significant impact on the genre and its listeners.

• Eligibility Period:
  • Performances and events between June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026

• Submission Process:
  • Apply starting Friday, May 1 at 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 live-stream 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 PM/CT

• Judging Process & Information:
  • Entries will be reviewed and evaluated online by a panel of distinguished radio and industry professionals.
  • CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be notified in October and recognized at “The 60^thAnnual CMA Awards” ceremony.
  • All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

 

CMA Touring Awards Nominations

​The CMA Touring Awards honor excellence in Country Music touring, recognizing behind-the-scenes professionals across 20 categories for their significant 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.
  • Second Ballot: Any candidate that meets the eligibility criteria and receives a minimum of three (3) nominations will be placed on the Second Ballot. Eligible CMA members may vote for up to five (5) candidates in each category for which they choose to vote.
  • Selection of Final Nominees: The Top 20 vote recipients from the Second Ballot will be presented to a CMA Touring Awards Task Force to develop a slate of at least five (5) but no more than eight (8) potential nominees for each of the CMA Touring Awards categories.
  • Final Ballot: The Final Ballot consisting of the approved nominees are sent to eligible CMA members for voting. Each member may vote for one (1) nominee in each category they choose to vote.
  • All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

• Nomination Ballot:
  • Opens Monday, July 20
  • Closes Tuesday, July 28 at 6:00 PM/CT

• Second Ballot:
  • Opens Tuesday, Aug. 25
  • Closes Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:00 PM/CT

• Final Ballot:
  • Opens Tuesday, Dec. 1
  • Closes Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6:00 PM/CT

 

CMA International Awards

CMA International Awards recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to Country Music worldwide, celebrating individuals across six categories who champion the genre and expand its global reach.

• Nomination Process & Information:
  • All CMA Professional voting members can submit nominations. A CMA International Awards Task Force reviews the nominations and makes finalists and winner recommendations to the CMA Awards & Recognition Committee, which approves the recipients.
  • There are six CMA International Award categories—Jo Walker Meador International Award, Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award, Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, International Country Broadcaster Award, International Artist Achievement Award, and Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award.
  • Nominate now at https://CMAmember.lnk.to/IntNoms26PR.

• Nomination Ballot:
  • Open starting Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 31

 

CMA Industry Honors Nominations

CMA Industry Honors recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to Country Music, celebrating the individuals whose work has made a lasting impact on the genre. 

• Nomination Process & Information:
  • CMA Industry Honors recognize artists, executives, and other professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the Country Music industry and community.
  • CMA Professional members can submit nominations for the following CMA Industry Honors —CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, Irving Waugh Award of Excellence, Joe Talbot Award, CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award, CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, and CMA Award for Recording Excellence.
  • Final recipients are selected and approved by the CMA Board of Directors.
  • Nominate now at https://CMAmember.lnk.to/IndustryHonorsNoms26PR.

• Nomination Ballot:
  • Open now through Sunday, Aug. 16

 

For questions regarding awards eligibility or voting and nomination processes, CMA members can contact Brenden Oliver, CMA Director, Awards Stewardship, at [email protected]. For inquiries related to CMA membership, reach out to the Membership team at [email protected].

All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte & Touche LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of Deloitte’s legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

 

About the Country Music Association

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. Music industry professionals and companies across the U.S. and around the globe are members of CMA. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits the CMA Foundation and music education and is taped for a three-hour network television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” All of CMA’s television properties air on ABC.

 

For more information about CMA membership, visit CMAmember.com.