Country music’s biggest names are gearing up for the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards.
The 61st annual awards show is moving from Texas to Las Vegas for the Sunday, May 17, ceremony.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to return to MGM Grand for the 61st ACM Awards next May, a place that holds a lot of history and special memories for the Academy. It truly feels like a homecoming for us,” Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside said in a December 2025 statement. “There’s no better place to host an exciting, global Country Music celebration than fabulous Las Vegas!”
Jay Penske, the CEO of Dick Clark Productions, added in his own statement that 2026 will be “a special year for the ACMs.”
Keep scrolling for more details about the 2026 ACMs:
Who Is Performing at the 2026 ACMs?
The Academy of Country Music Awards will feature performances from the likes of Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves. Blake Shelton, Carter Faith, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Zach Top, Avery Anna, Tucker Wetmore and The Red Clay Strays are also set to take the stage.
2026 ACM Nominations Revealed
Nominations for the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards were announced on April 9,, where Megan Moroney led with nine nominations. Miranda Lambert followed with eight nods, while Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each earned seven.
“Nine seems to be a good number,” Moroney wrote via her Instagram Stories. “Thank yooouuuuuuu sm @acmawards.”
Moroney received nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (as artist and songwriter), Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, Visual Media of the Year (as artist and director) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
Moroney is up for Entertainer of the Year alongside Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Wilson, who won the category during the 2025 ceremony.
“Well good mornin’ @acmawards, nice to see ya?” Wilson wrote via her Instagram Stories.
Wilson is also nominated for Song of the Year (as artist and songwriter), Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, Visual Media of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. Moroney and Wilson are nominated for Female Artist of the Year against Kelsea Ballerini, Langley and Lambert. Riley Green, Zach Top, Combs, Johnson and Stapleton, meanwhile, are up for Male Artist of the Year.
Other ACM nominees include Reba McEntire, Shaboozey, 49 Winchester, Gavin Adcock, Avery Anna, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Mackenzie Carpenter, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Carter Faith, Flatland Cavalry, Caroline Jones, Vincent Mason, Parker McCollum, Muscadine Bloodline, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, the Red Clay Strays, Emily Ann Roberts, Thelma & James, Hudson Westbrook, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr.
Who Is Hosting the 2026 ACMs?
Shania Twain will host the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards.
“I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home,” Twain said in an April 2026 statement. “It’s such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating Country Music’s biggest stars, especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year. I can’t wait to welcome all of the fans and artists out for this unforgettable night.”
How to Watch the 2026 ACMs
The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand on Sunday, May 17, and will concurrently stream on Prime Video beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The show will also be streamed via Amazon Music’s Twitch channel and independent app.
