Disney, Country Music Association Extend Broadcast & Streaming Deal

Disney and the Country Music Association announced Tuesday that they have extended their agreement for the CMA Awards, as well as CMA broadcast specials CMA Fest and CMA Country Christmas through 2032. ABC and CMA’s agreement was set to expire this year.

The six-year extension builds on CMA’s 20-year collaboration with ABC with an expansion across streaming and digital platforms. As part of the new agreement, the CMA Awards will stream live on Disney+ for the first time ever, alongside its traditional broadcast on ABC, kicking off with The 60th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026.

“We’re grateful to Sarah Trahern and our incredible partners at the Country Music Association and are excited to continue hosting the most iconic night in country music for years to come,” said Debra OConnell, chairman of Disney Entertainment Television. “Disney has long been the home for the very best in live entertainment and now, with the addition of Disney+, we are expanding the show’s reach like never before.”

“For two decades, Disney has been CMA’s partner in celebrating excellence in Country Music and bringing its artists and storytelling to audiences around the world,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer.

“Extending our collaboration with Disney and expanding the show to livestream on Disney+ marks an exciting next step for CMA, allowing us to reach new audiences while continuing our role in elevating and shaping the genre. As I prepare to retire at the end of the year, ensuring CMA is strongly positioned for the future has remained one of my highest priorities, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. As we approach ‘The 60th Annual CMA Awards’ this fall and a new chapter for CMA Fest in the new stadium in 2027, I’m excited for what’s ahead for both CMA and Country Music.

The CMA Awards is part of ABC’s growing slate of live event programming including The Oscars, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, and joining in 2027, The Grammys and Super Bowl LXI. “The CMA Awards” consistently ranks among the Top 10 primetime specials across broadcast television.

Established in 1967, the CMA Awards are the longest-running annual music awards program on broadcast television, having debuted on ABC in 2006. Over the course of the partnership, CMA and

ABC have continued to evolve the franchise across broadcast, streaming and digital platforms, connecting fans around the world to Country Music’s biggest moments.