Full Breakdown
CMA Fest 2026 Concert Special Broadcast on ABC: Lineup, Hosts, and How to Watch
6/26/2026, 2:06:38 PM
Event Overview
- ABC will air a three-hour “CMA Fest Presented by SoFi” concert special on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT). The program is hosted by country singer Riley Green and “Good Morning America” co-anchor Lara Spencer and showcases performances recorded June 4-7 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.
Background
- The Country Music Association’s Festival, the longest-running summer country event since the 1970s, draws roughly 90,000 fans to downtown Nashville each June. The 53rd edition was filmed June 4-7, 2026.
Timeline
- June 4-7, 2026 – live performances recorded; June 25, 2026 – ABC broadcast; June 26, 2026 – re-air on Hulu.
Performers & Highlights
- The special features A-list acts including Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Bailey Zimmerman, Ella Langley, and a surprise Florida Georgia Line reunion. A standout moment is Lainey Wilson joining Tim McGraw for “I Like It, I Love It,” a duet that fulfilled Wilson’s childhood wish. Shaboozey debuted his new single “Cowgirl,” while Fetty Wap and Jelly Roll added cross-genre flair.
Why It Matters
- By televising the festival, ABC extends the experience to fans unable to attend the 90,000-person event, reinforcing the network’s partnership with SoFi and highlighting country music’s broad cultural reach.
Official Statements
- CMA Fest organizers described the broadcast as a “destination viewing” event that “captures the energy and community of the world’s biggest country backyard party,” while ABC called it a “first-ever prime-time concert experience” for country audiences.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I like it. It’s fun. It’s nice to, you know, I’ve got a big part in the CMA Fest this year. It feels like I’m important.” — Riley Green, Country Singer & Host
- “ Lara Spencer: “Riley Green is like an Adonis and also just one of my favorite musical performers.” — Lara Spencer, GMA Co-anchor
- “My first appearance at the CMA Fest was 2001, and so 25 years later, to still be doing this is like, I know how lucky I am.” — Blake Shelton, Country Star
- “My gosh, you know, I feel like the more energy I bring, the more energy the people bring. And for me, it’s a little bit of an energy exchange.” — Lainey Wilson, CMA Entertainer of the Year
How to Watch
- Cable viewers can tune to ABC; cord-cutters may stream the special via live-TV services that carry ABC, such as DirecTV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV, many of which offer free trials.
What’s Next
- The 54th CMA Fest is slated for June 10-13, 2027, with plans to move nighttime shows to the NFL’s new stadium once construction is complete.
