ACM Awards 2026: Megan Moroney Leads as Shania Twain Hosts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2026 ACM Awards return Sunday night with Shania Twain hosting for the first time. Megan Moroney leads all nominees with nine nominations as female artists dominate again. The show moves back to Las Vegas and features performances from country music’s biggest stars.

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ACM Awards 2026 Quick Looks

• 61st annual ACM Awards airs Sunday, May 17
• Shania Twain hosts the ceremony for the first time
• Event moves from Texas back to Las Vegas
• Megan Moroney leads nominations with nine nods
• Women dominate nominations for second straight year
• Prime Video and Twitch will stream the show live
• Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton among top nominees
• Major performances include Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton and Jelly Roll nominees

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Deep Look

ACM Awards Return to Las Vegas With Shania Twain as First-Time Host

The Academy of Country Music Awards are set to return Sunday night for their 61st annual ceremony, bringing country music’s biggest stars back to Las Vegas.

This year’s event marks several major changes for the long-running awards show, including:

• A new venue at MGM Grand Garden Arena
• A first-time host in country superstar Shania Twain
• Another year dominated by female nominees

The awards previously spent three years at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just outside Dallas.

Megan Moroney Leads 2026 ACM Nominations

Country breakout star Megan Moroney enters the night as the leading nominee with nine nominations.

She headlines a year in which women once again dominate major ACM categories.

Close behind Moroney are:

• Miranda Lambert — 8 nominations
• Ella Langley — 7 nominations
• Lainey Wilson — 7 nominations
• Chris Stapleton — 6 nominations
• Zach Top — 5 nominations
• Cody Johnson — 4 nominations

Lambert continues to extend her status as the most-awarded artist in ACM history.

Entertainer of the Year Race Features Country’s Biggest Names

Moroney will compete for the night’s top prize — entertainer of the year — against a stacked lineup featuring:

• Lainey Wilson
• Chris Stapleton
• Cody Johnson
• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Morgan Wallen

The category reflects the blend of traditional country stars and newer crossover acts currently shaping the genre.

Album of the Year Battle Highlights Diverse Country Sounds

The ACM album of the year category includes a mix of mainstream stars and rising artists.

Nominees include:

• Morgan Wallen — “I’m the Problem”
• Zach Top — “Ain’t in It for My Health”
• Riley Green — “Don’t Mind If I Do”
• Parker McCollum — “Parker McCollum”
• Carter Faith — “Cherry Valley”

Faith is among the first-time nominees gaining attention heading into the ceremony.

Early ACM Winners Already Announced

Several awards were handed out before Sunday’s live broadcast.

Jessie Jo Dillon won songwriter of the year, making history as the first songwriter to win the honor three consecutive times.

Additional early winners included:

• Stephen Wilson Jr. — Visual Media of the Year for “Cuckoo”
• Avery Anna — New Female Artist of the Year
• Tucker Wetmore — New Male Artist of the Year

Packed Performance Lineup Set for Sunday Night

The ACM Awards will feature performances from many of country music’s top stars.

Scheduled performers include:

• Miranda Lambert
• Ella Langley
• Lainey Wilson
• Cody Johnson
• Kacey Musgraves
• Blake Shelton
• Dan + Shay
• Kane Brown
• Thomas Rhett
• Little Big Town
• Jordan Davis
• Parker McCollum
• Lee Ann Womack

McCollum and Womack are expected to perform “Killin’ Me” from McCollum’s 2025 self-titled album.

All album of the year nominees are scheduled to perform except Morgan Wallen.

Presenters Include Athletes and Entertainment Stars

The show’s presenters will feature both music stars and sports figures.

Presenters include:

• Keith Urban
• Ashley McBryde
• Lauren Alaina
• Michael Bublé
• Shaboozey
• The War and Treaty
• TJ Osborne

Sports personalities appearing include:

• Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick
• Super Bowl champion Andrew Whitworth
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards
• NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie

How to Watch the ACM Awards

The 2026 ACM Awards will stream live:

• Sunday, May 17
• 8 p.m. EDT

Viewers can watch on:

• Prime Video
• Amazon Music’s Twitch channel
• Amazon Music app

The ceremony is expected to blend traditional country performances with major crossover appeal as the genre continues expanding its mainstream audience.

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