2026 ACM Awards Winners & Nominees: Complete Results, Host & Performers
Complete 2026 ACM Awards winners and nominees, plus host Shania Twain, performers, presenters, and other details from the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Published: February 17, 2026
Last Updated: September 7, 2026
The 61st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards took place Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hosted by Shania Twain, the 2026 ACM Awards saw Cody Johnson win Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year, while Ella Langley led all artists with seven awards.
Megan Moroney led the 2026 ACM Awards nominations with nine, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven each.
The complete list of 2026 ACM Awards winners and nominees is below, along with the performers, presenters, host, and details on where to watch the show.
Looking ahead? Visit our 2027 ACM Awards guide for the latest information on the next Academy of Country Music Awards.
2026 ACM Awards Quick Facts
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Host: Shania Twain
Entertainer of the Year: Cody Johnson
Female Artist of the Year: Ella Langley
Male Artist of the Year: Cody Johnson
Album of the Year: Parker McCollum — Parker McCollum
Song of the Year: “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley
Most Nominations: Megan Moroney — nine
Most Wins: Ella Langley — seven
Streaming: Prime Video
2026 ACM Award Winners and Nominees
The eligibility period for submissions for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards was January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Cody Johnson
Luke Combs
Megan Moroney
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Winner: Ella Langley
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Winner: Cody Johnson
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Group of the Year
Winner: The Red Clay Strays
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Duo of the Year
Winner: Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James
New Female Artist of the Year
Winner: Avery Anna
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
New Male Artist of the Year
Winner: Tucker Wetmore
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Album of the Year
Winner: Parker McCollum — Parker McCollum
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
Song of the Year
Winner: “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley
“A Song To Sing” — Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Am I Okay?” — Megan Moroney
“I Never Lie” — Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
Winner: “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley
“6 Months Later” — Megan Moroney
“I Never Lie” — Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” — Cody Johnson
Music Event of the Year
Winner: “Don’t Mind If I Do” — Riley Green featuring Ella Langley
“A Song To Sing” — Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Amen” — Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
“Trailblazer” — Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson
“You Had To Be There” — Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Visual Media of the Year
Winner: “Cuckoo” — Stephen Wilson Jr.
“6 Months Later” — Megan Moroney
“A Song To Sing” — Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” — Cody Johnson
Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Charlie Handsome
Chase McGill
Blake Pendergrass
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Ella Langley
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wallen
Who Hosted the 2026 ACM Awards?
Shania Twain hosted the 2026 ACM Awards, marking her first time hosting the Academy of Country Music’s annual awards show.
Twain has a long history with the ACM Awards as both a performer and winner. She previously won ACM Entertainer of the Year and has also received the ACM Poet’s Award for her songwriting career.
Who Performed at the 2026 ACM Awards?
The 2026 ACM Awards featured 17 performances from 19 artists.
The performances included:
Lainey Wilson — “Can’t Sit Still”
Miranda Lambert — “Crisco”
Thomas Rhett & Jordan Davis — “Ain’t A Bad Life”
Avery Anna — “Bang Bang” / “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 and 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 — “The Gambler,” a tribute to songwriter Don Schlitz
Who Presented at the 2026 ACM Awards?
The ACM Awards presenters included artists as well as figures from professional sports.
Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick — Group of the Year
Ashley McBryde — Male Artist of the Year
Carl Edwards and Corey LaJoie — Duo of the Year
Keith Urban — Album of the Year
Lauren Alaina — ACM Lifting Lives performance
Michael Bublé — Song of the Year
Shaboozey — Single of the Year
The War and Treaty — Music Event of the Year
TJ Osborne — Female Artist of the Year
Where Were the 2026 ACM Awards Held?
The 2026 ACM Awards were held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The ceremony marked the ACM Awards’ return to Las Vegas after three consecutive years in Texas. MGM Grand Garden Arena has hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards multiple times throughout the show’s history.
2026 ACM Awards Week Events
The Academy of Country Music also held several events in Las Vegas leading up to the 2026 ACM Awards.
Whiskey Jam Welcome Party took place May 14 at Ole Red Las Vegas with performances from Avery Anna, Caroline Jones, Jenna Paulette, and The Band Perry.
ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends was held May 15 at Topgolf Las Vegas. Riley Green headlined the event with Lauren Alaina, Randy Houser, and Rodney Atkins also performing. Proceeds benefited ACM Lifting Lives.
ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash took place May 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach. Keith Urban headlined the event, with Ashley Cooke, Braxton Keith, Dasha, Flatland Cavalry, Tucker Wetmore, and additional artists taking part.
What Are the ACM Awards?
Established in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards are the longest-running country music awards show.
The ACM Awards recognize achievements across country music, including artists, songs, albums, songwriters, collaborations, and visual media. The awards are voted on by members of the Academy of Country Music.
In 2022, the ACM Awards became the first major awards show to move exclusively to livestreaming in partnership with Prime Video.
Where Can You Watch the 2026 ACM Awards?
The 2026 ACM Awards streamed live on Prime Video. The broadcast was also available through the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and the Amazon Music app.
The full 61st ACM Awards rebroadcast is available to watch on Prime Video.
Who Hosted the ACM Awards in Previous Years?
Shania Twain joined a long list of artists who have hosted the ACM Awards over the years. Previous hosts have included Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, Clint Black, Faith Hill, Barbara Mandrell, Roger Miller, and Loretta Lynn.
Looking for Other 2026 Country Music Awards?
2026 ACM Honors
The ACM Honors is a separate Academy of Country Music event recognizing special honorees, songwriters, musicians, and industry professionals. The 2026 ACM Honors were held August 19 in Nashville.
Visit our 2026 ACM Honors guide for more coverage.
2026 CMA Awards
The CMA Awards are presented by the Country Music Association and are separate from the ACM Awards. The 60th Annual CMA Awards take place November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Visit our 2026 CMA Awards guide for the latest nominees, performers, host information, and viewing details.
When Are the 2027 ACM Awards?
The 62nd Academy of Country Music Awards will take place Sunday, May 16, 2027, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Visit our 2027 ACM Awards guide for the latest information on tickets, performers, nominees, the host, and how to watch.
2026 ACM Awards FAQ
When were the 2026 ACM Awards?
The 61st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards took place Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Who won Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 ACM Awards?
Cody Johnson won the 2026 ACM Entertainer of the Year award. He also won Male Artist of the Year.
Who won the most awards at the 2026 ACM Awards?
Ella Langley led the 2026 ACM Awards with seven total wins, including Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Single of the Year.
Who had the most nominations at the 2026 ACM Awards?
Megan Moroney led the 2026 ACM Awards nominations with nine. Miranda Lambert received eight nominations, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson received seven each, Chris Stapleton received six, Zach Top received five, and Cody Johnson and Riley Green each received four.
Who hosted the 2026 ACM Awards?
Shania Twain hosted the 2026 ACM Awards.
What channel were the 2026 ACM Awards on?
The 2026 ACM Awards did not air on a traditional broadcast television network. The show streamed on Prime Video and was also available through Amazon Music on Twitch and the Amazon Music app.
Can you still watch the 2026 ACM Awards?
Yes. The 61st ACM Awards are available to watch on Prime Video.
What is the difference between the ACM Awards and ACM Honors?
Both are presented by the Academy of Country Music. The ACM Awards are the organization’s annual major awards show, while ACM Honors recognizes special honorees, songwriters, musicians, industry professionals, and other recipients.
Are the ACM Awards and CMA Awards the same?
No. The ACM Awards are presented by the Academy of Country Music, while the CMA Awards are presented by the Country Music Association.
When are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 2026 CMA Awards take place November 18, 2026, at 8/7c on ABC with a live Disney+ simulcast.
