The 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards took place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas [1, 2, 3, 4]. The ceremony was hosted by Shania Twain, who took over from longtime host Reba McEntire. Twain said, “I’m especially excited because it’s in Las Vegas. So I feel like I’m hosting the world audience from my stage hometown, my live hometown, Las Vegas. So it’s really great” [1].
The event aired live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music app beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The official red carpet livestream started earlier at 6:30 p.m. ET via the Amazon Music app [1, 2]. Coverage of the red carpet featured celebrity fashion from stars including Twain, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, and Ella Langley [3, 4].
Female artists dominated the nominations. Megan Moroney led with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each earned seven nominations [1, 2]. Several country stars performed including Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves—who made her ACM performance debut—along with Carter Faith, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Zach Top, Cody Johnson, Tucker Wetmore, Avery Anna, The Red Clay Strays, Little Big Town, Dan + Shay, and Lee Ann Womack [2].
Presenters at the ceremony included Andrew Whitworth, Ashley McBryde, Carl Edwards, Corey LaJoie, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Shaboozey, The War and Treaty, and TJ Osborne [1, 2].
The awards show marked a major night in country music with a packed lineup of performers and presenters celebrating the genre’s leading artists. The ACM ceremony and red carpet livestream brought the event to audiences worldwide via Prime Video and the Amazon Music app [1, 2].
