The 60th Annual CMA Awards Nashville: Where to Stay
The 60th annual CMA Awards Nashville ceremony takes place Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway. Lainey Wilson hosts, and the show airs live on ABC and Disney+ from 8:00 to 11:00 PM Eastern. Groups who want to stay close should book a Nashville home roughly 5 to 10 minutes from downtown.
Key Takeaways
The 60th CMA Awards are set for November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena, with a 7:00 PM event start and an 8:00 to 11:00 PM Eastern broadcast.
Lainey Wilson hosts for the third consecutive year; Ella Langley leads the nominations with nine.
Tickets were announced to go on sale Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central; confirm availability at the official ticket page.
Davidson County drew 17.4 million visitors in 2026, so event-week lodging fills quickly; book once your dates are firm.
Underwood Manor sleeps up to 10 and sits roughly 5 to 10 minutes by car from Broadway and Bridgestone Arena.
Larger crews can use Ultimate Bach Pad (24 guests) or pair the Fern homes (12 guests each).
Introduction: Planning an Awards Week in Music City
At Underwood Manor, we have hosted bachelorette groups and family reunions in Nashville, and the same planning mistake repeats: people lock in tickets first and scramble for beds second. For a milestone anniversary show, do it in the other order, or at least do both on the same day.
This guide covers the date, venue, broadcast, host, nominees, tickets, getting to the arena on show night, and where a group can base itself in 2026. The CMA Awards began in 1967, so this ceremony marks 60 years of country music's biggest night. We wrote it from the perspective of a local host who watches awards week fill the calendar every year.
Tourism context helps set expectations. According to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Davidson County received 17.4 million daily and overnight visitors in 2026 and visitors spent a record $11.6 billion. Awards week lands inside that demand, and you will feel it in restaurant waits, rideshare times, and lodging availability.
When and Where Are the 60th CMA Awards in Nashville?
The 60th CMA Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. Bridgestone Arena's event listing shows a 7:00 PM start, and the CMA lists the broadcast at 8:00 to 11:00 PM Eastern. The arena address is 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.
Bridgestone Arena sits at the foot of Lower Broadway, a short walk from the Ryman Auditorium and the honky tonk strip. The Nashville Visitor Center operates inside the arena at the same address, which makes it a handy first stop for maps and event-week questions.
The arena is the home of the Nashville Predators and hosts major touring concerts year-round, so the neighborhood handles big crowds well. Even so, expect Broadway sidewalks to be packed on awards night, with foot traffic spilling into the surrounding blocks well before doors open. If you are staying outside the core, plan your route with that crowd in mind.
Insider tip: the 7:00 PM start is earlier than the broadcast. Plan to be in your seat well before air time, because arena entry lines on awards night move slowly.
VA - The 59th Annual CMA Awards * Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, US * Aired on ABC (Nov 19, 2025)
Where Can You Watch the 60th Annual CMA Awards?
The 60th CMA Awards air live on ABC and Disney+, with next-day availability on Hulu, according to the Country Music Association. You can watch the broadcast on ABC from 8:00 to 11:00 PM Eastern, which is 7:00 to 10:00 PM Central in Nashville.
If your group is not in the arena, a Nashville rental makes a strong watch-party base. The 65-inch smart TV at Underwood Manor handles the broadcast, and the whiskey barrel bar in the garage game room gives you somewhere to settle in during commercial breaks. Anyone who misses the live show can catch it on Hulu the next day.
A watch party works best with a plan: assign someone to the snacks, set the TV before 7:00 PM Central, and pick a winner-prediction game so everyone has a stake. Our guests often pair the broadcast with the fire pit during the long stretches between big categories.
Who Is Hosting and Who Is Nominated?
Lainey Wilson hosts the 60th CMA Awards, her third consecutive year as host and second as solo host, per the CMA. Ella Langley leads the nominations with nine. Miranda Lambert has seven nominations. Kacey Musgraves and Ben West have five each.
Entertainer of the Year nominees are Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Stephen Wilson Jr. each hold four nominations, and Dave Clauss, Luke Combs, and Lainey Wilson hold three each.
The CMA says its 7,083 voting-eligible Professional members determine nominees, with final-round voting deciding winners. Final Ballot voting closes Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM Central. The CMA announces performers closer to the show, so check the official site for the lineup instead of relying on rumor.
How Do You Get Tickets, and What Do They Cost?
CMA Awards tickets were announced to go on sale Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central. Official information lives at CMAawards.com/tickets. Prices vary by seat location, and the CMA sets them, so read the figures on the official page before you budget.
Three practical points. First, buy only through the official channel linked from the CMA's own site. Second, check seating, accessibility, and age policies before checkout, since those details differ by event. Third, line up lodging the same day, because awards-night weekends are among the first to book.
Demand for a 60th-anniversary show may exceed supply, and no listing can promise a seat. Having a house with a big TV and a fire pit is a solid plan B.
Where Should You Stay for the CMA Awards in Nashville?
The best base for a CMA Awards group is a private home 5 to 10 minutes from downtown. Underwood Manor sleeps up to 10 across 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, with a 7-person hot tub and a garage game room. Larger crews can book Ultimate Bach Pad or the Fern pair.
Privately Managed Vacation Rentals: Space, Privacy, and a Local Host
Underwood Manor is a rustic modern farmhouse with exposed beams, hardwood floors, and Nashville-themed decor. Its Nashville-listed attractions include Bridgestone Arena at about 1.9 miles (roughly 8 minutes by car), Broadway at about 1.8 miles, the Ryman Auditorium at about 1.8 miles, and the Country Music Hall of Fame at about 2 miles. Traffic on awards night will stretch those times, so leave early.
The house has an 8-foot slate pool table, darts, a custom whiskey barrel bar, a smokeless SoloStove fire pit with unlimited firewood, a Nespresso Virtuo bar, karaoke, a Pac-Man arcade game, and a record player stocked with country vinyl. The king suite has a Saatva mattress and a rainfall shower with dual sinks. Guests have left 163 five-star reviews, and one wrote that the home looked exactly like the listing.
The garage game room is where most groups spend awards night when they skip the arena. The pool table and whiskey barrel bar sit a few steps from the TV, so you can follow the show and keep playing. Karaoke after the broadcast tends to run late, and the vinyl collection covers the classic country you will hear honored during the ceremony.
Booking direct can reduce service fees by up to 15% compared with third-party platforms; confirm current totals and your date range on the booking page. Check direct availability before you commit to flights.
Bigger Groups: Ultimate Bach Pad and the Fern Homes
If your crew tops 10, the side-by-side duplexes that sleep 24 offer 8 bedrooms, 7 baths, 2 hot tubs, 3 game rooms, and 2 rooftop decks. The Ryman Auditorium is about 2.4 miles away, roughly 10 minutes by car.
Fern Unit A sleeps 12 across 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, with a 7-person hot tub, a rooftop deck with a Nashvegas mural, and a game room. Fern Unit B also sleeps 12 and adds a get-ready station with 4 vanity mirrors. Booked together, the Fern homes sleep 24. Locals must inquire before booking either one, and Fern Unit B requires a signed agreement and ID verification.
For a big awards-week party, the Fern pair works well because two kitchens and two living rooms keep a 24-person group from crowding one space. Ultimate Bach Pad suits a group that wants everyone under one roof with its two rooftop decks and three game rooms.
Hotels and Other Options
Downtown hotels near Bridgestone Arena suit solo travelers and couples who want to walk to the venue and skip the shared-bathroom math. The tradeoffs are per-room pricing that multiplies for groups and no private kitchen. Space to gather is also limited. Other lodging categories include extended-stay suites and rentals farther from the core.
Is a Vacation Rental Cheaper Than a Hotel for a CMA Awards Group?
Vacation rentals are often cheaper per person than hotels once a group fills four or more beds, because one nightly rate and one kitchen cover everyone. AirDNA reports Nashville short-term rentals average a $353 daily rate across active listings, so compare totals, not headlines.
Factor | Group Rental | Hotel Rooms |
Cost structure | One nightly rate split across the group | Per-room rate multiplied by rooms |
Shared space | Living room, game room, backyard | Lobby or bar |
Kitchen and coffee | Full kitchen, Nespresso bar | Typically limited |
Walk to arena | Short rideshare or drive | Often walkable |
Parking | Free, 2 cars in the driveway plus street | Often paid |
Hotels win on walkability. The group house wins on bed count and getting ready together. It also gives you an after-show hangout. Both vary by date, so confirm pricing for November 18, 2026, directly.
How Do You Get to Bridgestone Arena on Show Night?
Getting to Bridgestone Arena on show night means expecting road closures and heavy rideshare demand. Downtown traffic will also be slow. From Underwood Manor, the drive to downtown is roughly 5 minutes and Broadway roughly 7 to 10 minutes, but awards-night traffic can double that.
Decide your pickup point in advance and send the pin to the whole group chat.
Request rideshare early; surge pricing is common around big events, so budget above the usual $5 to $10 fare range quoted for the Fern homes.
Arrive well ahead of the 7:00 PM start to clear security.
Set a post-show meeting spot a block or two from the arena rather than the front door.
Never drive after drinking; use a designated driver or rideshare.
Parking near the arena is limited and pricing changes by event, so verify it before you go. Underwood Manor has free parking for 2 cars in the driveway plus street parking, which makes leaving the car at home an easy choice.
What Should Your Group Do Around the Ceremony?
A smart awards-week plan fills the days around the show with food and music history. Rest gets a place too. The Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame sit within about 2 miles of Underwood Manor, and Broadway is about 1.8 miles. Our things to do in Nashville page has more ideas.
Lunch: Hattie B's Hot Chicken is about 5 minutes from the Fern homes; pick a heat level below your bravado.
Breakfast: Biscuit Love in The Gulch draws weekend lines; go on a weekday morning.
Pre-show: One lap of Lower Broadway is worth it. The side streets have shorter lines and better cocktails.
Post-show: Head back for the hot tub and fire pit, or play pool in the garage lounge.
Drinks and cover charges vary by venue and night, and awards week will not be a quiet one, so ask at the door before you queue.
When Should You Book a Nashville Stay for the 60th CMA Awards?
Book your Nashville stay as soon as your dates are firm, ideally the same day you secure tickets. The Metro Tourism and Convention Commission minutes cite a 2026 forecast of 17.8 million Nashville visitors, and popular weekends fill quickly. No availability is guaranteed.
Two cautions. Check each home's cancellation terms before paying; Ultimate Bach Pad, for example, offers a full refund at 30 or more days before check-in. And respect occupancy and neighbors: house rules limit overnight guests to the booked count, and exterior cameras monitor compliance.
Conclusion: A Home Base for the 60th Annual CMA Awards Nashville
The 60th annual CMA Awards Nashville broadcast is set for November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena, with Lainey Wilson hosting. Secure your tickets through the official channel, line up lodging the same day, and plan a smooth ride to Broadway. A home with space to gather will make the rest of the week easier. When you are ready, we would love to host you at Underwood Manor.
If you are heading downtown for the show, Underwood Manor puts a 7-person hot tub within roughly 5 to 10 minutes of Broadway, backed by 163 five-star reviews. Explore dates and rates. Booking direct can reduce service fees by up to 15%.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 CMA Awards in Nashville?
The 60th annual CMA Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena. The event listing shows a 7:00 PM start, and the broadcast runs 8:00 to 11:00 PM Eastern.
Where can I watch the 60th annual CMA Awards?
The ceremony airs live on ABC and Disney+, with next-day availability on Hulu, according to the CMA. Check your local ABC listing for Central time.
How much do tickets for the 2026 CMA Awards cost?
Prices vary by seat. Tickets were announced to go on sale September 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central, and the official CMAawards.com ticket page lists current prices.
Who is hosting the 2026 CMA Awards?
Lainey Wilson hosts for the third consecutive year and the second as solo host, per the CMA. Ella Langley leads the nominations with nine.
Where is Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville?
Bridgestone Arena is at 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, at the foot of Lower Broadway. Underwood Manor lists it at about 1.9 miles, roughly 8 minutes by car.
Which is the best place to stay for a group at the CMA Awards?
Underwood Manor is a Nashville farmhouse that sleeps up to 10 with a 7-person hot tub, a garage game room, and free parking, roughly 5 to 10 minutes from downtown. Compare bed count and parking before choosing. Distance matters as well. Groups over 10 can look at Ultimate Bach Pad or the Fern homes.
Are vacation rentals cheaper than hotels in Nashville?
For groups, often yes, because one rate covers many beds. Compare final totals including fees for your dates, and note that booking direct can reduce service fees by up to 15%.
How far ahead should I book for a Nashville group trip?
Book as soon as your dates are firm, especially for event weekends like awards week. Availability is never guaranteed, so check the booking page early.
Written by Chase Gillmore, Owner at Underwood Manor
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