61st Academy of Country Music Awards
| 61st Academy of Country Music Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 17, 2026 |
| Location | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Hosted by | Shania Twain |
| Most wins | Ella Langley (5) |
| Most nominations | Megan Moroney (8) |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | Prime Video |
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards was held on May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] Shania Twain hosted the ceremony.[2]
Background
On May 15, 2025, the Academy of Country Music and Prime Video announced that they were extending the partnership through 2028.[3] It was later announced that the show would be returning to Las Vegas for the first time since 2022, with the ceremony to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the first time since the 2019 ceremony.
On April 22, it was announced that Shania Twain would host the ceremony. This is Twain's first time hosting the ceremony, having previously won three ACM awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 2000, as well as the ACM's Poet's Award.[4]
Winners and nominees
The nominations for the awards were revealed on April 9, 2026.[5][6] The eligibility period for submissions ran from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.[7] Winners for several categories were announced in the weeks before the ceremony.
Performers
Announced performers for the ceremony include: [8][9][10][11]
| Performer(s) | Song |
|---|---|
| Lainey Wilson | "Can't Sit Still" |
| Miranda Lambert | "Crisco" |
| Thomas Rhett Jordan Davis |
"Ain't A Bad Life" |
| Avery Anna | "Blood Runs Thicker" |
| Riley Green | "Change My Mind" |
| Zach Top | "Honky Tonk Till It Hurts" |
| Little Big Town | "Hey There Sunshine" |
| The Red Clay Strays | "Demons In Your Choir" |
| Tucker Wetmore | "Brunette" |
| Parker McCollum Lee Ann Womack |
"Killin' Me" |
| Kacey Musgraves | "Dry Spell" |
| Ella Langley | "Be Her" |
| Carter Faith | "If I Had Never Lost My Mind..." |
| Cody Johnson | "Travelin' Soldier" |
| Kane Brown | "Woman" |
| Dan + Shay | "Say So" |
| Blake Shelton | In memory of Don Schlitz "The Gambler" |
Presenters
- Michael Bublé — presented Song of the Year
- Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick — presented Group of the Year
- Carl Edwards and Corey LaJoie — presented Duo of the Year
- Shaboozey — presented Single of the Year
- The War and Treaty — presented Music Event of the Year
- Ashley McBryde — presented Male Artist of the Year
- TJ Osborne — presented Female Artist of the Year
- Keith Urban — presented Album of the Year
- Lauren Alaina — introduced Dan + Shay
- Shania Twain — presented Entertainer of the Year
Milestones
- Miranda Lambert received her fourth win for Song of the Year, as a songwriter on "Choosin' Texas", making her the most decorated artist in the category; it is her thirty-second win overall, extending her record as the ACM's most decorated artist.
- Brooks & Dunn received their eighteenth win and twenty-second nomination for Duo of the Year, extending their record as the most decorated artists in the category.
- Carter Faith's Cherry Valley is the first debut album, since Chris Stapleton's Traveller, to receive a nomination.
- Megan Moroney received her first nomination for Entertainer of the Year.
- Miranda Lambert received her seventeenth nomination for Female Artist of the Year, extending her record in the category.
References
- ↑ Hudak, Joseph (2025-12-01). "The 2026 ACM Awards Are Returning to Las Vegas". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ Hudak, Joseph (2026-04-22). "Shania Twain to Host the 2026 ACM Awards". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2026-04-23. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
- ↑ "The Academy of Country Music Awards Returns to Prime Video in 2026 with New Multi-Year Deal". www.acmcountry.com. 2025-05-12. Archived from the original on 2026-01-29. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ Tinoco, Armando (2026-04-22). "Shania Twain Set As Host Of Academy Of Country Music Awards 2026 On Prime Video". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2026-04-23. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
- ↑ Grow, Kory (2026-04-07). "Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert Slated to Perform at 2026 ACM Awards". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2026-04-08. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- ↑ "Megan Moroney & More Women Lead 2026 ACM Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. April 9, 2026. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ "ACM Awards & Voting Criteria and Policy". www.acmcountry.com. Archived from the original on 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- ↑ "CODY JOHNSON, LAINEY WILSON, AND RILEY GREEN TO PERFORM AT THE 61ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS". www.acmcountry.com. 2026-03-19. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ Willman, Chris (2026-03-19). "ACM Awards Set Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Riley Green as Performers". Variety. Archived from the original on 2026-03-20. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ "KACEY MUSGRAVES, LITTLE BIG TOWN, AND MIRANDA LAMBERT ADDED TO PERFORMANCE LINEUP FOR THE 61ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS". www.acmcountry.com. 2026-04-07. Archived from the original on 2026-04-20. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- ↑ "AVERY ANNA, BLAKE SHELTON, CARTER FAITH, DAN + SHAY, ELLA LANGLEY, JORDAN DAVIS, KANE BROWN, THE RED CLAY STRAYS, THOMAS RHETT, TUCKER WETMORE, AND ZACH TOP ADDED TO 61ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS PERFORMANCE LINEUP". www.acmcountry.com. 2026-05-01. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-06.