The Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards) returns for its 61st annual celebration, honoring the biggest stars and standout performances in country music. Don’t miss one of country music’s biggest nights of the year, the 2026 ACM Awards, airing live Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Find out how to watch it all live right here.
Stream Awards Shows on DIRECTV
When is the Academy of Country Music Awards?
The ACM Awards will take place on Sunday, May 17 starting at 8 p.m. ET, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
How to Watch the ACM Awards in 2026
Fans can watch country music’s biggest stars compete for one of the genre’s highest honors when the ACM Awards stream live on Prime Video.
To stream the event, you’ll need a Prime Video subscription, which you can easily access through your DIRECTV account. Manage your entertainment in one place with a single bill and a streamlined viewing experience, so you can spend less time switching between apps and more time watching the content you love.
Get started today.
Who Is Hosting the ACM Awards in 2026?
Country music superstar Shania Twain will host the 2026 ACM Awards. While it marks Twain’s first time hosting the ceremony, she has an impressive history on the ACM stage. Over the course of her career, she has earned 16 ACM Award nominations and five wins, including Entertainer of the Year in 2000 and the ACM Poet’s Award in 2022.
Academy of Country Music Awards 2026 Nominations
See all the nominees for this year’s awards show right here. Some award winners were announced ahead of the ceremony, which are designated in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Cody Johnson
- Megan Moroney
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
Album of the Year
- 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
- Parker McCollum — Parker McCollum
Top Female Artist of the Year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson
Top Male Artist of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Riley Green
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
Top Vocal Group of the Year
- 49 Winchester
- Flatland Cavalry
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays
Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine Bloodline
- Thelma & James
Single of the Year
- “6 Months Later” — Megan Moroney
- “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley
- “I Never Lie” — Zach Top
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson
- “The Fall” — Cody Johnson
Song of the Year
- “A Song to Sing” — Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
- “Am I Okay?” — Megan Moroney, Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird
- “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
- “I Never Lie” — Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
New Female Artist of the Year
- Avery Anna
- MacKenzie Carpenter
- Dasha
- Caroline Jones
- Emily Ann Roberts
New Male Artist of the Year
- Tucker Wetmore
- Gavin Adcock
- Vincent Mason
- Shaboozey
- Hudson Westbrook
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Riley Green
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Morgan Wallen
Songwriter of the Year
- Jessie Jo Dillon
- Ashley Gorley
- Charlie Handsome
- Chase McGill
- Blake Pendergrass
Visual Media of the Year
- “Cuckoo” — Stephen Wilson Jr. (Dir. Tim Cofield)
- “6 Months Later” — Megan Moroney (Dir. CeCe Dawson and Megan Moroney)
- “A Song to Sing” — Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton (Dir. Alexa King Stone and Stephen Kinigopoulos)
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson (Dir. TK McKamy)
- “The Fall” — Cody Johnson (Dir. Dustin Haney)
Music Event of the Year
- “A Song to Sing” — Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
- “Amen” — Shaboozey and Jelly Roll
- “Don’t Mind If I Do” — Riley Green and Ella Langley
- “Trailblazer” — Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson
- “You Had to Be There” — Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award
The award recipient for this Lifetime Achievement Award, which was created in 2025 to recognize the country/bluegrass singer-songwriter’s impact on the genre.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 ACM Awards?
Country music fans are in for a top-notch event, with plenty of the genre’s biggest names expected to perform at the ceremony including:
- Riley Green
- Cody Johnson
- Miranda Lambert
- Kacey Musgraves
- Little Big Town
- Lainey Wilson
- Avery Anna
- Carter Faith
- Dan + Shay
- Ella Langley
- Jordan Davis
- Kane Brown
- The Red Clay Strays
- Thomas Rhett
- Tucker Wetmore
- Zach Top
- Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack
Who Is Presenting at the ACM Awards?
The following artists are expected to present awards during the night:
- Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick
- Carl Edwards and Corey LaJoie
- Lauren Alaina
- Michael Bublé
- The War and Treaty
- TJ Osborne
- Ashley McBryde
- Shaboozey
- Keith Urban
Stream Awards Shows on DIRECTV
From the ACM Awards to its Nashville counterpart’s CMA Awards and beyond, you can watch all the biggest awards shows live with DIRECTV.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards?
Where can I watch the ACM Awards?
Who has the most ACM Awards nominations in 2026?
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