Planning your trip to CMA Awards 2026: Part 1 —How Not to Break the Bank if you want to Attend
Essential information
When: Wed., Nov. 18, 2026 at 8/7C
Where: Bridgestone Arena at 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Tickets: Go on sale 9/18 at 9/10C on SeatGeek
BlueShoe Hotel/Ticket Packages: On sale now and featuring 200 level seating with two nights at the Hyatt Centric downtown or 300 level seating with two nights at AC Hotel downtown
Three ways to experience the 60th CMA Awards Show without breaking the bank
1) Watch it live on ABC on Wed., Nov. 18, 2026 at 8/7C
2) Buy your tickets yourself when they go on sale Sept. 18 at 9/10C on SeatGeek and then book your hotel online
3) Book a BlueShoe hotel/ticket package that feature two nights hotel (Nov. 17 & 18, 2026) at the Hyatt Centric downtown or AC Hotel downtown.
Hints on ways to attend the live show — in the most economical way possible
The CMA Awards Show is a gala event (featuring black tie & formal wear) and the tickets, when they go on sale, are not cheap. Depending on the precise location, the seats (and this is on the official ticket site, not the secondary market where prices are even higher) may be as much as $2000 USD per person. The most economical way to take in the show is to watch it on television where it will be aired live on Nov. 18 on ABC.
However, if you want to experience the excitement and glamour in person and watching it from your sofa just won't get you there, the next most economical way is to purchase 300 level tickets when they go on sale on Sept. 18 and book your own hotel that is located away from downtown. The hotels in downtown Nashville that are within walking distance to Bridgestone Arena will be expensive for the nights of Nov. 17 & 18, 2026 because, well, they know they have the real estate and it's location, location, location. If cost is your most important consideration, we recommend booking a hotel in the fashionable midtown area that is near Vanderbilt University. You'll be just a couple of miles from downtown but the savings in hotel rates will be significant. In particular, we recommend the Fairfield Inn by Marriott near Vanderbilt (a hotel we've had quite a bit of experience with in our partnership over the years during CMA Fest and that we can recommend from our own onsite tests and our BlueShoe clients' reviews). Of course, you'll need to either have your own car for transportation downtown or arrange for rideshare or a taxi to get you to and from Bridgestone Arena.
Finally, if you do want to experience the excitement of being right downtown and within walking distance of Bridgestone Arena, a third economical option is to book a BlueShoe CMA Awards Show 2026 package.
Our most economical offering is at the stylish AC Hotel and features two nights (Nov. 17 & 18, 2026) and 300 level seating. Price is an affordable $1399 USD per person, based on double occupancy. You'll be only a couple of blocks from Bridgestone:
A second BlueShoe package option features 200 level seating and two nights (Nov. 17 & 18, 2026) at the high-end Hyatt Centric — and also located within an easy distance of Bridgestone Arena. Price is $2189 USD per person, based on double occupancy.
