Disney and Country Music Association Lock in Landmark Broadcast and Streaming Deal Through 2032 — CMA Awards to Livestream on Disney+

The Country Music Association and Disney have cemented their partnership for another six years, ensuring that the CMA Awards, CMA Fest, and CMA Country Christmas will remain on ABC and — for the first time ever — stream live on Disney+. The announcement, made Tuesday, extends an alliance that has defined country music’s primetime presence for two decades and now pushes boldly into the streaming future.

The deal, which runs through 2032, comes just as the current agreement was set to expire. It marks a pivotal moment for both parties: Disney continues to build its live-event muscle, while the CMA secures a multiplatform home for its marquee properties at a time when linear television faces mounting challenges from on-demand viewing.

A New Era for Country Music’s Biggest Night

Headlining the expansion is the exclusive livestream of the CMA Awards on Disney+, beginning with the 60th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026. The broadcast will still air simultaneously on ABC, but the streaming component opens the show to a global audience that has increasingly cut the cord.

“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.”

The CMA Awards has long been a ratings powerhouse, consistently ranking among the top 10 primetime specials across broadcast television. Adding a Disney+ livestream could supercharge that reach, tapping into the platform’s 150 million-plus subscribers worldwide.

Why This Deal Matters for the Industry

The move aligns with a broader industry trend: live events are the last bastion of appointment viewing, and streaming platforms are hungry for them. Disney+ already hosts live sports (including NFL games on ESPN+) and high-profile award shows like the Oscars. By bringing the CMA Awards into its streaming ecosystem, Disney strengthens its live-event portfolio at a time when competitors like Netflix are also investing heavily in live programming — from comedy specials to boxing matches.

For the Country Music Association, the deal represents a strategic hedge. While ABC remains the core broadcast partner, the Disney+ simulcast ensures that younger, streaming-native audiences can discover country music’s biggest night without needing a cable subscription. It also positions the CMA to compete with other music award shows — such as the Grammys (which join ABC in 2027) — in the battle for live-event dominance.

The CMA Awards: A Legacy of Excellence

Established in 1967, the CMA Awards are the longest-running annual music awards program on broadcast television. The show found its permanent home on ABC in 2006, and over the past 20 years, it has become synonymous with country music’s biggest moments: from Garth Brooks’ emotional tributes to Taylor Swift’s early wins, and recent performances by Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, and Chris Stapleton.

The awards have evolved alongside the genre itself, reflecting the rise of country-pop crossover acts and the genre’s increasing global appeal. The 2025 CMA Awards, for instance, featured a mix of traditionalists and boundary-pushing newcomers, underscoring the diversity that now defines modern country music.

Expanding the Reach: CMA Fest and CMA Country Christmas

Beyond the flagship CMA Awards, the renewed deal also covers two beloved specials:

• CMA Fest — The four-day Nashville festival, which draws tens of thousands of fans, will continue its ABC broadcast and streaming expansion. Notably, the festival moves to a new stadium in 2027, promising even larger production value and audience capacity.
• CMA Country Christmas — The holiday special, featuring performances from top country artists, remains a festive staple for ABC’s holiday lineup and will now also be available on Disney+.

Both events benefit from Disney’s promotional machine, which includes cross-platform marketing across ABC, Hulu, ESPN, and Disney+. That scale is hard to replicate, and it gives CMA properties year-round visibility.

Leadership Transition and Future Vision

The deal also comes at a moment of transition for the Country Music Association. CEO Sarah Trahern, who has led the organization for over a decade, announced she will retire at the end of 2026. In a statement, Trahern emphasized that securing the Disney extension was a top priority.

“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,” Trahern said. “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.”

Trahern’s successor will inherit a partnership that is not only stable but growing. The 60th CMA Awards — the first to stream live on Disney+ — will serve as a high-profile launchpad for the next chapter.

Disney, meanwhile, continues to amass an enviable slate of live events. Beyond the CMA properties, ABC now hosts the Oscars, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, and, starting in 2027, the Grammys and Super Bowl LXI. The CMA Awards fits naturally into that roster, giving Disney a key foothold in the country music demographic — a loyal, passionate audience that tends to watch live and engage across social media.

As country music continues to cross over into mainstream pop culture — with artists like Zach Bryan, Beyoncé's country-infused albums, and the global success of Yellowstone’s soundtrack — this Disney+ expansion ensures that the genre’s biggest nights will be seen by millions more, setting the stage for the next decade of storytelling.

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