If you missed the energy, the reunions, and the surprise sets that defined CMA Fest 2026, you’re about to get a second chance—and you won’t even have to leave your couch.
The festival, which drew an estimated 100,000 people each day from June 4 to 7 in Nashville, is heading to primetime with a three-hour TV special that captures the best moments from the four-day event. Riley Green will cohost alongside Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer, and the lineup reads like a country music hall of fame call list: Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Lainey Wilson are just the headliners. Add in Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Jelly Roll, Florida Georgia Line, and two dozen more artists, and you’re looking at one seriously stacked evening of performances.
What makes this special worth tuning in for? Beyond the A-list roster, there’s actual news to catch. Shaboozey will perform his new single Cowgirl for the first time ever on live television, and the special will showcase the moments that made this year’s festival unmissable—including Florida Georgia Line’s reunion and Jelly Roll’s surprise set. These are the performances people will be talking about, and the TV special gives you front-row access to what went down.
The CMA Fest Presented by SoFi airs on ABC Thursday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET and streams on Hulu the next day. Whether you’re a devoted country fan who was there in person or someone who wants to experience the festival’s magic from home, this is your window into one of country music’s biggest annual celebrations. And with the event already scheduled to return for its 54th annual gathering in June 2027, this special is also a perfect appetizer for next year.
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Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
