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Miss USA, Miss Teen USA Pageants Pulled From The CW One Week Before Airing
The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions will not be airing on The CW this year.
The 2026 pageants have been pulled from the network's schedule one week before their scheduled air dates on Aug. 27 and 26, respectively.
"After careful consideration and conversations with the Miss USA Organization, The CW Network has decided to forego next week’s broadcasts of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants," The CW said in an Aug. 21 statement to E! News. "We wish the organization and all of this year’s contestants well in the competition."
A reason for the canceled telecasts was not given, though a statement posted on the Miss USA Instagram Story Aug. 20 cited a "contractual issue with our production arrangements that could not be resolved within the necessary time frame."
“Since then, our team has worked diligently to explore options that would allow us to continue with a live broadcast on The CW,” the statement read, per Variety. “Unfortunately, we were unable to reach mutually agreeable terms for this year’s event."
The organization added, "While The CW will not be carrying a live broadcast of Miss USA this year, we are grateful for our relationship with the network and remain open to opportunities to work together in the future."
This will be the second year The CW has opted not to air the Miss USA pageant. Last year, Miss USA 2025—which saw Audrey Eckert of Nebraska crowned as the winner—was only broadcasted on Queen Beauty Network, a subscription streaming platform centered around beauty, fashion and pageants.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
The platform will be streaming both the 2026 Miss USA and 2026 Miss Teen USA in place of The CW.
"The Queen Beauty Network is proud to step in and support Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, bringing the glamour, excitement, and unforgettable moments of the historic celebration live to fans everywhere," read an Aug. 21 statement shared to its Instagram. "Just like last year, QBN is ready to serve the pageant community and bring you closer to every moment."
When reached for comment on Aug. 21, a rep for the Miss USA reiterated that the pageants will be streamed on QBN, adding, “We are so excited for this partnership."
For a closer look into the pageant world, keep reading...
Miss America
1. Age isn't just a number when it comes to the storied Miss America pageant, first launched as a type of swimsuit competition on New Jersey's Atlantic City boardwalk back in 1921. Hopefuls for the 2026 event must be no older than 28 on Sept. 30, 2026, and no younger than 18 on Sept. 1, 2026, the day before the preliminary events kick off.
Tom Briglia/ WireImage
2. As for those that would be exactly 18 years old when they'd slip into their evening gowns and, ideally, that winning tiara, they enjoy what's called a "pivot year" in which they decide if they'd rather compete in the Teen or the Miss division. (The age requirement for teens: They must be no younger than 14 on Sept. 1, 2026; no older than 18 on Sept. 30.)
However, once the teens have chosen their adventure, they cannot change divisions until the next application cycle.
Donald Kravitz/Getty Images
3. There's a reason the words are, "There she is, Miss America!" Hopefuls cannot be married at the time of competition (though they can be divorced). They also must certify that they're not pregnant and have no children.
Miss America Organization/Bruce V. Boyajian
4. As for all those state titleholders, they must stay in their lanes, so to speak. In order to compete for a state title, delegates must provide proof that they've lived in the state at least 120 consecutive days before they took the stage.
Other options: Proving that they've worked in the state a minimum of 40 hours a week for at least 120 days or are enrolled full-time at one of the state's accredited colleges or universities.
ABC/Ida Mae Astute
5. They've got talent, yes they do. Because the contestant's 90-second performance in the talent portion—singing, instrumental performances and dance are among the most popular, though Miss Vermont 2015 Alayna Westcom provided a chemistry lesson and that year's winner Kira Kazantsev played the cups Pitch Perfect-style—counts for 20 percent of the scoring in each round.
Not a part of the tally: The swimsuit competition, which was washed away in 2018.
ABC/Ida Mae Astute
6. Contestants know how to keep score. In both the prelims and the final rounds, those coveting the crown are judged on their private interview (worth 30 percent of their total score), a fitness category (20 percent), the talent portion (another 20 percent), the evening wear portion (their 20 percent is tallied based on confidence and composure) and the stage question segment (worth 10 percent).
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