Taylor Swift to Perform at the 2026 CMA Awards

Taylor Swift is making a big return to the CMA Awards. The superstar singer-songwriter, who’d indicated when nominations were announced that she’d attend the country music awards show, is not only attending but performing at the 2026 CMA Awards. Swift previously appeared at the ceremony, known as Country Music’s Biggest Night, a decade ago and last performed there 13 years ago. Swift is a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, becoming the youngest ever winner of that honor in 2009, and in 2013 received the Pinnacle Award. She’s nominated this year for single of the year for her Toy Story 5 song “I Knew It, I Knew You,” which is seen as a top contender for a song of the year Oscar nomination. Swift’s performance at the CMA Awards will take place two days after the 2026 Grammy nominations are announced, where Swift is expected to be a top contender both for “I Knew It, I Knew You” and The Life of a Showgirl, which was released after the end of Grammys eligibility last year. Swift was also recently announced as the recipient of The Hollywood Reporter‘s prestigious Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, which she’ll accept at THR‘s 2026 Women in Entertainment gala. “I Knew It, I Knew You” marks a return to Swift’s country music roots after a number of pop albums in recent years. So it’s fitting she’s also returning to the CMA Awards for this nomination. She first attended the CMA Awards in 2006 and performed “Red” with Vince Gill and Alison Krauss at the 2013 CMA Awards. In 2016, her last appearance at the CMA Awards, she presented Garth Brooks with his Entertainer of the Year honor. When this year’s CMA Awards nominations were announced, Swift posted to her Instagram Stories, “LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN’T YEE’D MY LAST HAW THANK YOU CMA!!!! See you there Nov. 18 🤠.” The 60th annual CMA Awards will be hosted by Lainey Wilson for the third year in a row. The awards show will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+ and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.