Taylor Swift Set for First CMA Awards Performance Since 2013
By Claire Whitman
Swift returns to the CMA stage
Taylor Swift will perform at the 2026 CMA Awards, marking her first performance at the awards show since 2013, according to People.
People updated its report on November 13, 2026, at 10:39 a.m. EST. The update puts Swift among the performers for the 60th annual CMA Awards, which will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
The appearance is notable because of the long gap. Swift has not performed on the CMA Awards stage in 13 years. For viewers who follow award shows closely, that makes this booking one of the more closely watched music moments on the schedule.
A nomination tied to a film soundtrack
Swift is also nominated at the 2026 CMA Awards. According to People, she is up for Single of the Year for “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
The song is an original track Swift wrote for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. That detail gives the nomination a slightly different frame from a standard album single. It places the song at the intersection of film music and country awards recognition, which is part of why the CMA appearance will draw attention beyond the awards audience alone.
The research notes do not say what Swift will perform during the broadcast. What is confirmed is that she is part of the performance lineup and that her return ends a 13-year stretch without a CMA Awards performance.
What viewers should know
The key details are straightforward:
- Taylor Swift will perform at the 2026 CMA Awards.
- It will be her first performance on the show since 2013.
- She is nominated for Single of the Year for “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
- The song was written for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack.
- The 60th annual CMA Awards will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
- Lainey Wilson is hosting the ceremony.
Wilson’s role as host gives the show another major name in the center of the broadcast, while Swift’s performance adds a high-profile return to the evening’s music lineup.
For Talk Radio 107.7 listeners, the takeaway is simple: one of the biggest names in music is returning to the CMA Awards stage after more than a decade away.
Source: PEOPLE