2026 CMA Awards Predictions: Who Will Make the Nominee List?

The 60th CMA Awards are officially on the horizon, which means it’s time to make some predictions.

The nominations will be announced Sept. 10, and if this year’s eligibility period is any indication, there’s going to be a lot to talk about.

Ella Langley has continued her massive 2026 run, while established stars like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton are still firmly in the mix. And with several of the CMA’s biggest categories looking especially competitive, nomination morning could bring a few surprises.

Could this finally be the year three solo women land in the Entertainer of the Year race? Will Morgan Wallen return to the EOTY conversation? And which newcomers will break through in New Artist of the Year?

Before the CMA reveals the official nominations, here’s who we think will make the cut.

Entertainer of the Year

Our Predictions:

• Luke Combs

• Ella Langley

• Megan Moroney

• Morgan Wallen

• Lainey Wilson

  
  

This could be one of the most interesting Entertainer of the Year races in recent history!

Ella Langley feels like a near-lock after the year she’s had. Between the massive success of “Choosin’ Texas,” her chart dominance and her growing profile as a headliner, 2026 has firmly established Langley as one of country music’s biggest names.

Megan Moroney has another major year under her belt, while Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs remain two of the genre’s biggest stadium acts.

And then there’s Lainey Wilson, who is coming off another huge year as the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year.

If Langley, Moroney and Wilson all make the final five, the category could make CMA history with three solo women nominated for Entertainer of the Year in the same year.

Male Vocalist of the Year

Our Predictions:

• Luke Combs

• Riley Green

• Cody Johnson

• Chris Stapleton

• Zach Top

This category is stacked.

Luke Combs, Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton have become regulars in this race, while Riley Green has spent the last couple of years taking his career to another level.

And after winning New Artist of the Year last year, Zach Top could be looking at his second consecutive CMA nomination, this time in a major category.

Female Vocalist of the Year

Our Predictions:

• Kelsea Ballerini

• Miranda Lambert

• Ella Langley

• Megan Moroney

• Lainey Wilson

  
  

If this list looks familiar, that's because we wouldn't be surprised to see the CMA repeat last year's nominees.

Lainey Wilson remains one of the genre's defining voices, while Ella Langley and Megan Moroney are coming off career-defining years.

Miranda Lambert is still very much part of the conversation, especially after her continued work with Langley, including co-writing “Choosin’ Texas” and appearing on “Butterfly Season.”

And Kelsea Ballerini continues to have the kind of consistency that keeps her in the mix year after year.

New Artist of the Year

Our Predictions:

• Carter Faith

• Stella Lefty

• Hudson Westbrook

• Tucker Wetmore

• Stephen Wilson Jr.

This might be the hardest category to predict.

There are a lot of artists who could make a legitimate case for a nomination this year, which makes the eventual five especially interesting.

Tucker Wetmore feels like a strong contender after taking home New Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards earlier this year. Hudson Westbrook has continued building momentum, while Carter Faith, Stella Lefty and Stephen Wilson Jr. have all emerged as artists worth keeping an eye on.

This is one category where we genuinely wouldn't be shocked to see a surprise.

Vocal Group of the Year

Our Predictions:

• Flatland Cavalry

• Little Big Town

• Old Dominion

• Parmalee

• The Red Clay Strays

Vocal Duo of the Year

Our Predictions:

• Brooks & Dunn

• Brothers Osborne

• Dan + Shay

• The Castellows

• The War and Treaty

Song of the Year

Our Predictions:

• “Be By You” — Luke Combs

• “The Fall” — Cody Johnson

• “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley

• “I Knew You, I Loved You” — Taylor Swift

• “Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson

Let's be honest: “Choosin’ Texas” is going to be very difficult to beat.

The song has become one of the biggest country hits of the year and has completely changed the trajectory of Langley’s already massive breakout.

Taylor Swift could also return to the CMA ballot with “I Knew You, I Loved You,” while Luke Combs, Cody Johnson and Lainey Wilson all have strong contenders of their own.

Album of the Year

Our Predictions:

• The Way I Am — Luke Combs

• Banks of the Trinity — Cody Johnson

• Dandelion — Ella Langley

• Cloud 9 — Megan Moroney

• Middle of Nowhere — Kacey Musgraves

This category is packed with albums that helped define the past year in country music.

Both Ella Langley and Megan Moroney earned their first No. 1 albums on the all-genre Billboard 200 with Dandelion and Cloud 9, respectively, making both projects tough to leave off the ballot.

Luke Combs and Cody Johnson are both perennial CMA contenders, while Kacey Musgraves could return to the category with Middle of Nowhere.

The official nominations arrive Sept. 10. Until then, these are our picks.

Who did we get wrong? Who are you expecting to see on the list?