Taylor Swift Returns to CMA Awards Stage After 13 Years: Date, Time & How to Watch
Taylor Swift will perform at the 60th CMA Awards on November 18, her first performance at the show in 13 years, live from Nashville on ABC and Disney+.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Paolo Villanueva
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Taylor Swift will perform at the 60th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 18, ending a 13-year absence from the ceremony's stage, the Country Music Association and ABC announced on Friday, November 13. The 36-year-old singer returns to the Bridgestone Arena stage for the first time since 2013, when she sang "Red" with Alison Krauss and Vince Gill.
Swift is also a nominee at this year's ceremony. Her song "I Knew It, I Knew You," written for Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5, is nominated for Single of the Year — her 26th career nomination and her first since 2022. It reached No. 1 on United States country radio, her first there in 13 years.
Key Takeaways
- Swift performs at the 60th CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 18, live 8:00–11:00 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, next day on Hulu.
- Her first performance at the ceremony since 2013, when she sang "Red" and received the Pinnacle Award.
- Nominated for Single of the Year for "I Knew It, I Knew You," her 26th nomination; the song topped United States country radio for the first time in 13 years.
When Is Taylor Swift Performing at the CMA Awards 2026?
The ceremony is at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The association announced Swift's performance on November 13, five days before the broadcast. The show runs for three hours, and the association has not said at what point in the show she will appear. Presenters will be named in the coming days. First held in 1967, it is the longest-running annual music awards program on network television in the United States.
How to Watch the 2026 CMA Awards Live on TV and Streaming
The ceremony airs live on ABC and Disney+ from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 18, which is 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. CT in Nashville. It will be available to stream the following day on Hulu. The Country Music Association's official website lists viewing details, international broadcast information and tickets. The 2026 awards season has already produced major nights in music and books, including the Latin Grammy Awards and the Booker Prize.
| Detail | 60th Annual CMA Awards |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, November 18, 2026 |
| Time | 8:00–11:00 p.m. ET (7:00–10:00 p.m. CT) |
| Venue | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Broadcast | Live on ABC and Disney+; next day on Hulu |
| Host | Lainey Wilson, third consecutive year |
| Swift's nomination | Single of the Year, "I Knew It, I Knew You" |
Taylor Swift's CMA Awards History: Wins, Nominations and the 2013 Farewell
Swift first attended in 2006 and won her first award in 2007, the Horizon Award, now the New Artist of the Year Award. In 2009, at 19, she became the youngest Entertainer of the Year winner, a record she still holds, and won again in 2011. She has won 12 CMA Awards, and this nomination is her 26th. Her last appearance was in 2016, presenting Entertainer of the Year to Garth Brooks.
The 2013 night closed her country chapter in style. She sang "Red" with Krauss and Gill and received the Pinnacle Award, only the second ever given after Brooks. Her comeback song, written with Jack Antonoff for Toy Story 5, returned her to the top of country radio. In the Single of the Year race she faces two Ella Langley tracks, "Be Her" and "Choosin' Texas," as well as Lainey Wilson's "Somewhere Over Laredo" and Cody Johnson's "The Fall." The show also features a tribute to Dolly Parton and one to Brooks & Dunn, this year's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Taylor Swift perform at the CMA Awards 2026?
The show airs live 8:00–11:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 18, on ABC and Disney+. The association has not announced the exact time of her performance.
What song will Taylor Swift sing at the CMA Awards?
The association has not said what Swift will sing. Her nominated song is "I Knew It, I Knew You," from Toy Story 5, but no setlist has been confirmed.
How many CMA Awards has Taylor Swift won?
Swift has won 12 CMA Awards, including two Entertainer of the Year wins in 2009 and 2011. Her 2026 nomination is her 26th, and a win would give her a 13th award.
Presenters will be announced in the coming days, and the Single of the Year winner will be revealed live on November 18. Viewing details are on the association's site at cmaawards.com, with international broadcasts at cmaawards.com/watch.
