Key Takeaways
- Megan Moroney leads the 2026 ACM Awards with nine nominations, including her first entertainer of the year nod.
- Miranda Lambert follows with eight nominations; Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each have seven.
- Chris Stapleton receives six nominations, Zach Top five, and Cody Johnson four.
- The 61st ACM Awards will be held May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, moving from the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.
- Performers include Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Riley Green, and additional artists.
- Moroney competes for entertainer of the year against Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Morgan Wallen.
- Album of the year nominees feature Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem,” Zach Top’s “Ain’t In It For My Health,” Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Parker McCollum’s self‑titled album, and debut nominee Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley.”
- The ceremony will stream live on Prime Video, Amazon Music on Twitch, and the Amazon Music app on May 17 at 8 p.m. EDT.
Megan Moroney leads the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards with a leading nine nominations, marking her first-ever nod for entertainer of the year. She also received nominations for director and artist‑songwriter of the year, extending her streak to three consecutive nods for female artist and visual media of the year. Hot on her heels is Miranda Lambert, the most‑decorated artist in ACM history, who garnered eight nominations. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each received seven nominations, while Chris Stapleton secured six, Zach Top five, and Cody Johnson four. The nominations were announced on Thursday, setting the stage for the 61st annual ACM Awards ceremony scheduled for May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The ceremony will mark a change of venue after three consecutive years at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas. This year’s show moves to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, continuing the ACM’s tradition of rotating venues to showcase different markets. The awards will be broadcast live on Prime Video and simultaneously streamed on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as via the Amazon Music app, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The shift to Las Vegas and the multi‑platform streaming approach reflect the ACM’s effort to reach a broader, digitally‑savvy audience while maintaining the prestige of its flagship event.
Performers slated for the May 17 telecast include Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Riley Green, and additional artists yet to be announced. In the entertainer of the year category—considered the night’s top honor—Moroney will compete against Lainey Wilson, who won the award in both 2024 and 2025, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Morgan Wallen. This lineup reflects a blend of established super‑stars and rising stars, highlighting the genre’s evolving landscape. The entertainer of the year race is expected to be particularly competitive, given Wallen’s commercial dominance, Wilson’s back‑to‑back wins, and Moroney’s rapid ascent fueled by her breakout hits and cross‑genre appeal.
In the album of the year race, Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” goes head‑to‑head with Zach Top’s “Ain’t In It For My Health,” Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Parker McCollum’s self‑titled album, and debut nominee Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley.” The single of the year category pits Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s duet “A Song to Sing” against Moroney’s “Am I Okay?,” Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” Zach Top’s “I Never Lie,” and Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo.” The nominations also welcome a wave of first‑time contenders: 49 Winchester, Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Hudson Westbrook, Stephen Wilson Jr., and several others, underscoring the ACM’s commitment to recognizing emerging talent alongside industry stalwarts.
The 2026 ACM Awards underscore a year in which women continue to dominate the nomination landscape, with Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson occupying the top four spots. This trend mirrors broader shifts in country music toward greater female representation and genre‑blending experimentation. By moving the ceremony to Las Vegas and embracing multi‑platform streaming, the ACM aims to modernize its presentation while honoring its heritage. Fans can anticipate a dynamic show that celebrates both chart‑topping veterans and the next generation of artists, all culminating in a live broadcast on May 17 at 8 p.m. EDT across Prime Video, Amazon Music on Twitch, and the Amazon Music app.