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ACM Awards 2026
Date: May 17th, 2026
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Host: TBC
Leading Nominees: Megan Moroney (9), Miranda Lambert (8), Ella Langley & Lainey Wilson (7)
Performers: Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves and more
Tickets: Here
The Academy of Country Music Awards returns for its 61st instalment on May 17th, 2026. After a spell in Frisco, Texas, the ceremony returns to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Refreshingly, women lead the 2026 list of nominations, with Megan Moroney heading up the roster with a whopping nine nominations, while Miranda Lambert secures eight. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson follow closely behind with seven nods apiece.
As always, Entertainer of the Year will be the most hotly contested category, with country heavyweights Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton battling it out for the biggest award of the night.
There's a welcome nomination for Carter Faith's Cherry Valley, marking the first debut studio album to receive a coveted nod in this category since Stapleton's Traveller a decade ago.
It's a stellar group of nominees, with a couple of curveballs. It's admittedly a little odd to see Wallen nominated for Entertainer of the Year but not Male Artist of the Year, given the ‘Love Somebody’ chart-topper's status as the most popular country artist on the planet. Similarly, we'd expected to see Langley up for Entertainer of the Year, given the momentous milestones she's surpassed over the past 12 months.
The presenter is yet to be officially unveiled, which is a little strange given the nominees and a selection of performers have been confirmed for the event. Last year, it was Reba McEntire, and we'd imagine she's set to come back for the 2026 event.
How to Watch
The ACM Awards continues its longstanding partnership with Amazon, with the 2026 ceremony being broadcast live via both Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. The broadcast begins on Sunday, May 17th at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT.
Performers
A dazzling array of performers have been unveiled for the 2026 ACM Awards, with more expected to follow. So far, Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and Cody Johnson have all been confirmed as performing.
We're looking forward to seeing Musgraves performing a new song from her sixth album, Middle of Nowhere, while Wilson is treating us to the world premiere performance of her latest single, ‘Can't Sit Still’. Green, meanwhile, is due to serenade us with his romantic earworm, ‘Change My Mind’, taken from the ‘Worst Way’ singer-songwriter's Album of the Year-nominated record, Don't Mind If I Do (Deluxe).
Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Group of the Year
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James
Album of the Year
Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Cherry Valley – Carter Faith
Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
Song of the Year
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney
“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Visual Media of the Year
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Music Event of the Year
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
“Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert & Lainey Wilson
“You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Songwriter of the Year
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Charlie Handsome
Chase McGill
Blake Pendergrass
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wallen
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore
New Female Artist of the Year
Avery Anna
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
For more on the ACM Awards, see below:
