The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards are nearly here, with first-time host Shania Twain taking the reins. Megan Moroney leads the nominees with nine nods, marking a second consecutive year of women dominating the nominations.
Event Details
The 61st annual ACM Awards will take place on Sunday, May 17, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, moving from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, after three years. The show will stream live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as the Amazon Music app, at 8 p.m. EDT.
Pre-Show Winners
Prior to the main ceremony, several trophies were awarded. Jessie Jo Dillon was named songwriter of the year, becoming the first artist to win three times in a row. Stephen Wilson Jr. earned visual media of the year for "Cuckoo." Avery Anna and Tucker Wetmore received new female and new male artist of the year, respectively.
Nominees
Women lead the nominations for the second year in a row. Megan Moroney tops the list with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert (the most-decorated artist in ACM history) with eight, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven each, Chris Stapleton with six, Zach Top with five, and Cody Johnson with four.
For entertainer of the year, nominees include Moroney, Wilson, Stapleton, Johnson, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Morgan Wallen. In the album of the year category, Wallen's "I'm the Problem" competes against Top's "Ain't in It for My Health," Riley Green's "Don't Mind If I Do," Parker McCollum's "Parker McCollum," and first-time nominee Carter Faith's "Cherry Valley."
Performers and Presenters
Performers include Lambert, Langley, Top, Wilson, Johnson, Green, Faith, Anna, Wetmore, McCollum, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, and Lee Ann Womack. McCollum and Womack will perform "Killin' Me" from his 2025 self-titled album. All album of the year nominees except Wallen will perform.
Presenters include Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Shaboozey, The War and Treaty, and TJ Osborne, as well as non-musicians: Super Bowl champion Andrew Whitworth, NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards, NASCAR driver and podcast host Corey LaJoie, and former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
