The 60th Annual CMA Awards take place on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, live on ABC at 8/7c, with Lainey Wilson returning as host, according to the CMA Awards and its ticket information page. The show also streams on Disney+, with a next-day replay on Hulu. Country music's biggest awards night brings nominees, artist teams, label and publishing executives, sponsors and ticket-holding fans to the arena on Broadway, in black tie or formal wear.
For a live television show, the timetable is strict, and the arena sits on the busiest few blocks in downtown Nashville. Elly8.net books the evening at fixed, all-in Nashville prices: a fixed transfer from Nashville International (BNA) to downtown from US$125 in a business sedan, and the 5-hour evening out and event night package from US$475, with the chauffeur waiting through the show and the parties after.
What is the best way to get to the CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena?
Book a chauffeur for the evening, from US$475 in a business sedan to US$950 in an Executive Sprinter for 5 hours, and plan to be dropped near the main entrance at Broadway and 5th Avenue before 6:30 p.m. CT. Doors open by 5:30 p.m. and guests must be seated by 6:45 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. live start.
The CMA says that anyone not seated by 6:45 p.m. waits on the concourse until the first commercial break, around 7:15 p.m. On an awards night that means the drop-off time is the one part of the evening that cannot slip. The desk times the pickup from your hotel backwards from the doors, not forwards from a guess.
See Nashville prices and reserve
The geography of awards night
Bridgestone Arena is on Broadway in downtown Nashville, home of the Predators and arena tours, a short walk from the Lower Broadway honky-tonks, the SoBro hotels and Music City Center. Many guests stay within walking distance; for anyone in formal wear, in heels, with a group, or staying in the Gulch, Midtown, Music Row or out near Opryland, a car to the door is the better choice.
| Route | Distance | Clear-road time | Elly8.net fixed fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville International (BNA) to downtown and Broadway | about 8 mi (14 km) | about 16 min | from US$125 to US$325 |
| BNA round trip | from US$240 to US$620 | ||
| Evening out and event night | 5 hours | from US$475 to US$950 | |
| By the hour, as directed | from US$95 to US$190 an hour, 3-hour minimum |
The arena is downtown, so the BNA run is the same 8 miles or so. On a clear road that is a quarter-hour drive; on a Wednesday evening with the arena filling and the downtown streets busy, allow much more for the last few blocks.
Arriving at BNA
The chauffeur tracks your flight, meets you inside the terminal with a name board and allows complimentary waiting after a tracked landing. Fixed transfers from BNA to downtown and Broadway run from US$125 in a business sedan and US$165 in a business SUV to US$325 in an Executive Sprinter, all-in with chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet. Round trips booked together run from US$240 to US$620. See airport transfers and meet and greet.
Arrive the day before if you can. A flight that lands on the afternoon of the show leaves little margin for a delay, a hotel check-in and a change into black tie. Artists and executives flying privately give the desk the tail number and FBO, and the chauffeur meets the aircraft; see private jet and FBO transfers.
The awards-night plan
Before the show. The chauffeur collects you at the hotel at the time the desk agrees with you, drops you as close to the main entrance at Broadway and 5th Avenue as traffic control allows, and parks nearby. Allow extra time for security screening: the CMA asks guests to allow it, and recommends bringing no bag as the quickest way in. If you carry one, clear bags and wristlets no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches are allowed, one bag per person, all subject to inspection. Tickets are mobile, so keep your phone charged.
During the show. On the evening package, the chauffeur waits for the whole broadcast. Leave anything you will not take inside, such as a coat or a second bag, in the car.
After the show. The hour after an awards broadcast is when downtown is at its busiest: the arena empties onto Broadway, and parties and dinners start across the city. The chauffeur sends you the exact pickup point and vehicle details by message before the show ends, usually a short walk from the arena rather than at the busiest kerb. The 5-hour evening out and event night package covers the drive in, the show and the first after-party; add hours at the hourly rate if the night runs long. Chauffeurs follow local rules on alcohol in vehicles.
Artist teams and labels. Nominees and their teams often move as a group, with stylists, managers and family. An Executive Sprinter carries the group in one vehicle, from US$190 an hour, or several SUVs travel together. For a full day of rehearsals, media, the show and the parties, the 10-hour corporate roadshow day runs from US$855 to US$1,710. See limousine service and concert transportation.
Discretion. The desk handles hotel side-entrance pickups, quiet arrivals and NDAs on request. Elly8.net is a chauffeur service, not a security company; for artists with protection, we coordinate pickup times and points with the security lead.
Fans and groups
Ticket-holding fans make a night of it too. A group of friends in formal wear does better in one SUV or a Sprinter with a fixed price than in three separate ride requests after the show. The evening package is priced per vehicle, not per person, from US$600 in a business SUV and US$950 in an Executive Sprinter for 5 hours. See group transportation.
Many fans build a long weekend around the awards, with a night at the Ryman Auditorium or the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry House is out at Opryland near the airport rather than downtown, so it makes a natural second evening booking on the same package. Tell the desk all your evenings at once and we keep the same chauffeur where we can, which also means one person who already knows your hotel, your group and your timing.
Corporate and label accounts
Labels, publishers, sponsors and agencies booking cars for artists and clients can open a corporate account: every ride on one monthly invoice, itemised by passenger, with one contact at the desk on the night. Travel agencies and management companies can use a travel agent account, and downtown hotels can book cars for their guests through a hotel account.
Elly8.net vs walking, the bus, taxis and apps
Be honest about the options. If your hotel is a few blocks from the arena and you are comfortable walking in formal wear, walk. From the airport, WeGo Public Transit runs Route 18 between BNA and WeGo Central downtown, and the adult fare is US$2 per WeGo's fare page. Taxis and app rides serve the airport and downtown at short notice.
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking from a downtown hotel | free | guests staying a few blocks away |
| WeGo Route 18 from BNA | US$2 | solo travellers with light bags, daytime |
| Taxi or app ride | metered or demand-priced | short notice, flexible plans |
| Elly8.net evening package | from US$475 for 5 hours, fixed and all-in | black-tie guests, groups, after-parties |
| Elly8.net BNA transfer | from US$125, fixed and all-in | arriving on show day, executives, families |
App rides work well on a quiet night. After an arena show lets out, demand spikes across downtown, prices rise and pickups are slow on the closed or crowded blocks around Broadway. A pre-booked car with an agreed pickup point and a fixed price avoids that. See chauffeur vs Uber and Lyft, Uber Black vs a chauffeur and black car vs limousine.
Prices in Nashville
Nashville prices are fixed, all-in per vehicle, and include chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and airport meet and greet. Tolls and parking are billed at cost, and the price list does not change for the CMA Awards.
- BNA to downtown and Broadway: from US$125 to US$325; round trip from US$240 to US$620.
- By the hour: from US$95 to US$190 an hour, 3-hour minimum.
- Evening out and event night (5 hours): from US$475 to US$950.
- Full-day chauffeur (8 hours): from US$700 to US$1,400.
- Corporate roadshow day (10 hours): from US$855 to US$1,710.
Awards week fills Nashville's hotels and partner diaries well ahead. Reserve as soon as your tickets or invitations are confirmed.
How to book
- Enter your pickup and drop-off, with your flight number for airport pickups. Downtown fares are on the Nashville page; for after-party venues, homes or hotels outside downtown, use the web booker.
- Choose the vehicle: business or First Class sedan, SUV, or an Executive Sprinter for groups.
- Select Reserve now and pay by card, or book on account. Confirmation comes by email, and chauffeur details follow before pickup.
Rides in Nashville are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. Elly8.net is a member of LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory. For flights and hotels, our travel partner is BookingWorldwide.net.
Before or after the awards
With a free day, the signature Nashville day trip is an 8-hour visit to the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, from US$700 in a business sedan to US$1,400 in an Executive Sprinter, and the private city highlights tour runs from US$380 to US$760. Travelling on, Elly8.net also covers Atlanta, Louisville, Memphis and Indianapolis with the same desk.
Frequently asked questions
When and where are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 60th Annual CMA Awards are on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, live on ABC at 8/7c and streaming on Disney+. Doors open by 5:30 p.m. CT, guests must be seated by 6:45 p.m. and the live show starts at 7:00 p.m.
What time should my car drop me at Bridgestone Arena?
Plan to arrive near the main entrance at Broadway and 5th Avenue by about 6:30 p.m., earlier if you want to settle in, to allow for security screening before the 6:45 p.m. seating deadline. The desk sets the hotel pickup time from there.
How much is a car for the CMA Awards evening?
The 5-hour evening out and event night package runs from US$475 in a business sedan and US$600 in a business SUV to US$950 in an Executive Sprinter, all-in. The chauffeur waits through the show and takes you on to dinner or a party afterwards.
Where do I meet the chauffeur after the show?
At a pickup point the chauffeur sends you by message before the show ends, with the vehicle details. It is usually a short walk from the arena rather than at the busiest kerb on Broadway, which saves time when the arena empties.
How much is a car from BNA to downtown Nashville?
Fixed transfers from BNA to downtown and Broadway run from US$125 in a business sedan and US$165 in a business SUV to US$325 in an Executive Sprinter, all-in with chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet.
Can a label or management company book cars for several artists?
Yes. A corporate or travel agent account puts every ride on one monthly invoice, itemised by passenger, with one contact at the desk on the night. Sprinters suit artist teams, and NDAs are available on request.
What is the cancellation policy?
More than 72 hours before pickup, cancellation is free; 72 hours or less costs 10%; 48 hours or less, 50%; 24 hours or less or a no-show, 100%. Refunds go to the original card.
