Country’s Biggest Stars To Gather For The ACM Awards
The 61st ACM Awards will be held on May 17, broadcasting live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s show is expected to deliver “unprecedented performances, exclusive collaborations, and unexpected moments from the biggest Country Music stars.”
Every year, the Academy of Country Music (ACM) gathers some of the genre’s biggest names to honor outstanding achievements in country music. Founded in 1966, it remains the longest-running awards show dedicated to the genre.
In 2022, the ACM Awards broke new ground by becoming the first major awards show to stream exclusively online. That approach continues in 2026, with fans able to watch live on Prime Video, the Amazon Music channel, Twitch, and the Amazon Music app.
Shania Twain was announced as the host of the 2026 ceremony. The full list of nominees can be found here.
First Two Waves Of Performers Announced
As the ceremony nears, details are gradually being revealed for what is sure to be a memorable night. Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, and Cody Johnson were the first performers to be announced. Johnson’s song selection is not yet known, but Wilson will debut her new single “Can’t Sit Still,” and Green will sing “Change My Mind.”
Three weeks later, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Little Big Town were added to the docket.
Additional Artists Added To The ACM Lineup
On May 1st, the ACM Awards performer lineup grew exponentially with the addition of eleven new acts.
Seasoned veterans Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, and Kane Brown will perform, along with Ella Langley, Zach Top, Dan + Shay, and Jordan Davis.
ACM New Male Artist of the Year winner Tucker Wetmore and ACM New Female Artist of the Year winner Avery Anna will both perform in celebration of their early wins.
Rising stars Carter Faith and The Red Clay Strays will round out the lineup.
Watch the ACM Awards live on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.
