The CW pulled the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants from its lineup one week before their scheduled air date, with the network telling E! News the decision was made after "careful consideration."
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.
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…
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.
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.