Country Music Association names its 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards finalists

The Country Music Association has published the finalists for the 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards, the radio side of its annual honours. MusicRow reported the list on September 1.

The categories are grouped by market size, ranked by Nielsen population data, so a small-market morning show is not weighed against a national countdown. Broadcast Personality of the Year entries are judged on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and biographical and impact information.

Radio Station of the Year finalists are assessed on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and impact information, with a panel of broadcast professionals drawn from every market size and region making the calls.

The weekly national field includes "American Country Countdown with Ryan Fox", "The Country Top 40 with Fitz", the "Crook & Chase Countdown" hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase, "The Highway Hot 30 Countdown with Buzz Brainard" on SiriusXM, and the "Steve Harmon Show". Daily national finalists include "The Bobby Bones Show", "The Angie Ward Show", "Backstage Country with Elaina Smith", "Big D & Bubba" and "Katie & Company".

Major market nominees include "The Andie Summers Show" at WXTU in Philadelphia and "Hawkeye and Michelle" at KSCS in Dallas-Fort Worth. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks and recognised at the pre-telecast ceremony.

The 60th Annual CMA Awards air live on November 18 on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu, and the show is tracked on award watch. The trade group's other recent announcements are covered in the CMA Women's Leadership Academy class and, on the Canadian side, the CCMA board directors for 2026 and 2027, both part of the wider country industry calendar.