2026 ACM Awards, also known as the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, are just around the corner!
The show will feature performances from some of country music’s biggest stars, including Ella Langley, Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, and more, along with appearances from a star-studded lineup of presenters such as Michael Bublé, Keith Urban, Carl Edwards, Ashley McBryde, and others.
Hosted by Shania Twain, the 2026 ACM Awards will stream live for free exclusively on Prime Video and Amazon Music on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 P.M. EST from the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with no Prime membership required.
Quick Facts About 2026 ACM Awards
Date: May 17, 2026
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Host: Shania Twain
Performers: Blake Shelton, Carter Faith, Cody Johnson, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Zach Top and more.
Presenters: Andrew Whitworth, Ashley McBryde, Carl Edwards, Corey LaJoie, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Shaboozey, The War And Treaty, T.J. Osborne and more.
Music Mayhem compiled a full list of everything you need to know about the 2026 ACM Awards below.
How To Watch
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards) will stream live exclusively on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, reaching a global audience in more than 240 countries and territories.
A Prime membership is not required to watch the show. Fans can stream the ceremony live on mobile devices, tablets, smart TVs, and other connected devices via Prime Video, as well as through the Amazon Music app and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
For those who miss the live broadcast, the full show will also be available to stream on Prime Video the following day (May 18) at 8/7c.
Who Is The Host Of The 2026 ACM Awards?
Country music legend and best-selling female country artist Shania Twain will take the stage as host of the 2026 ACM Awards for the very first time.
“I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home.” Twain shared in a 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.”
Of Twain hosting, Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside added, “We are honored to welcome global music superstar Shania Twain as our host this year. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect icon to follow our previous iconic hosts, Dolly, Garth, and Reba, blending one of the most important nights in Country Music with the excitement of Las Vegas. Shania has an impressive history on the ACM Awards stage including her win of the coveted ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy and receiving the ACM Poet’s Award honoring her prolific songwriting career.”
Who Is Performing?
The 2026 ACM Awards will feature a powerhouse lineup of performers, including Blake Shelton, Carter Faith, Cody Johnson, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, and Zach Top.
New Artist winners Avery Anna (New Female Artist of the Year) and Tucker Wetmore (New Male Artist of the Year) will also make their ACM performance debuts at the show.
Who Are The Presenters?
The 2026 ACM Awards will feature a star-studded lineup of presenters spanning country music, sports, and entertainment.
Presenters include Super Bowl champion and Thursday Night Football analyst Andrew Whitworth, three-time ACM Award winner Ashley McBryde, NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards, NASCAR driver and Stacking Pennies podcast co-host Corey LaJoie, 2025 ACM Triple Crown Award recipient and 14-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, ACM Award winner Lauren Alaina, five-time GRAMMY Award winner Michael Bublé, former NFL quarterback and Thursday Night Football analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick, ACM Award-nominated artist Shaboozey, Emmy Award-winning and three-time ACM Award-nominated duo The War And Treaty, and T.J. Osborne of seven-time ACM Award-winning duo Brothers Osborne.
List Of Nominees
Megan Moroney leads the pack with nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Am I Okay?”), Single of the Year (“6 Months Later”), Music Event of the Year (“You Had To Be There” with Kenny Chesney), Visual Media of the Year (“6 Months Later”), and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
Miranda Lambert follows Moroney with eight nominations, while Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson are tied with seven each. Chris Stapleton, the most-nominated male artist, follows with six nods, followed by Zach Top with five and Cody Johnson with four.
Full list of nominees.
ACM Awards Red Carpet Pre-Show
Before the main show begins, fans can tune into the official Academy of Country Music Awards Red Carpet Pre-Show, streaming exclusively on the Amazon Music app. Hosted by Country Heat Weekly podcast co-hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, the livestream will feature live interviews and behind-the-scenes moments with some of country music’s biggest stars as they arrive on the red carpet.
The official red carpet pre-show begins at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET live from Las Vegas.
How To Buy Tickets To Attend?
Tickets for the 2026 ACM Awards and coinciding events are available for purchase via AXS.com, giving fans access to a full weekend of celebrations and live performances from some of country music’s biggest stars. Starting at $100, tickets unlock entry into a nonstop slate of ACM Awards Week festivities leading up to country music’s biggest night.
