Entertainment
Country Music Association announces finalists for 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards
Radio personalities and stations across North America receive nominations ahead of the 60th Annual CMA Awards ceremony in November.
The short version
- The Country Music Association revealed its slate of nominees for the 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards, covering full-time radio hosts and stations in the U.S. and Canada.
- Winners will be disclosed prior to the 60th Annual CMA Awards and honored during the pre-telecast ceremony on November 18, 2026.
- Nominees were evaluated by a panel of industry professionals across categories delineated by Nielsen market sizes.
Key facts
- The Country Music Association released the finalists for the 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards, honoring on-air personalities and radio stations across the United States and Canada.[Billboard]
- Eligibility was open to all full-time on-air personalities and stations regardless of CMA membership, though 2025 winners were barred from competing in consecutive years.[Billboard]
- Award categories are classified according to Nielsen population market rankings, with entries evaluated by broadcast professionals on aircheck quality, ratings, community involvement, and impact.[Billboard]
- Winners are scheduled to be announced ahead of the 60th Annual CMA Awards, which will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on November 18, 2026.[Billboard]
What remains uncertain
- The specific dates for when the award winners will be publicly announced ahead of the November 18 ceremony have not been specified.[Billboard]