The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards are handed out Sunday night.
Three-time ACM Award winner Shania Twain hosts the show for the first time. The concert, which is broadcast live exclusively on Prime Video, takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” took home the top prize of the night, for Song of the Year, and was also named Song of the Year. The Red Clay Strays won Group of the Year, while Brooks & Dunn took home the ACM Duo of the Year award.
Cody Johnson was named Entertainer of the Year. Avery Anna won Best New Artist, and Tucker Whitmore won Best New Artist. “I Don’t Mind If You Do” by Riley Greene. Ella Langley was named Musical Event of the Year.
Jessie Jo Dillon has been named Songwriter of the Year for a record third year in a row.
Wilson opened the show with an energetic performance of “Can’t Sit Still.” The night was filled with performances from the likes of Anna, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Jordan Davis, Zack Tubb, Little Big Town, Riley Green, Red Clay Strays, Kacey Musgraves, Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack.
The awards are voted on by members of the Academy of Country Music, which has a record membership this year of more than 5,000. The eligibility period for submissions for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards was calendar year 2025.
The list of nominees below will be updated with winners when they are announced live. Update to get the latest. (ACM Awards producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge, which also owns Hollywood Reporter.)
Artist of the year
- Luke Combs
- Jelly roll
- Cody Johnson
- Megan Morrone
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lenny Wilson
Artist of the year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella langley
- Megan Morrone
- Lenny Wilson
Artist of the year
- Luke Combs
- Riley green
- Cody Johnson (WINNER)
- Chris Stapleton
- Zack top
General group
- 49 Winchester
- Knights of the Flatlands
- ancient sovereignty
- Bastard Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays (WINNER)
General binary
- Brooks & Dunn (WINNER)
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + tea
- Muscadine breed
- Thelma and James
New artist of the year
- Avery Anna (WINNER)
- Mackenzie Carpenter
- Dasha
- Carolyn Jones
- Emily Ann Roberts
New artist of the year
- Gavin Adcock
- Vincent Mason
- Shabuzi
- Hudson Westbrook
- Tucker Whitmore (WINNER)
Album of the year
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Not in it for my health – Zach Taub
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Recording company-label: Leo33 - Cherry Valley – Carter Faith
Product: Providing Brown
Record company: Gatsby Records / MCA - It’s Okay If You Do (Deluxe) – Riley Greene
Producer: Dan Huff, Michael Knox
Record company: Nashville Harbor Recordings & Entertainment - I’m the problem – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Joey Moy, Charlie Waseem, Jacob Durrett
Record company: Big Loud Records - Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Maas
Recording company – label: MCA
Song of the year
[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- A Song to Sing – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenny Fleenor, Jesse Fraser
Publishers: I wrote these songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs to the music of Munch. Impact songs. Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner Tamerlane Publishing Company - Am I okay? – Megan Morrone
Songwriters: Megan Morrone, Luke Laird, Jesse Jo Dillon
Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big music machine - Texas Choice – Ella Langley (winner)
Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
Publishers: Bada Bing Bada Boom Publishing; Little Louder Songs. Sony Music Publishing; Verse 2 music - I Never Lie – Zach Toub
Songwriters: Zach Tubb, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
Publishers: music publishing and magazines; Rio Bravo Music Inc.; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too broke to quit music. Zack Top Music - Somewhere Up Laredo – Lenny Wilson
Songwriters: Lenny Wilson, Trani Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg
Publishers: Concord Sounds; Daytown Boogie Music; Amy Vest Catalog Inc.; Rising house songs. Wildcat Wheel Music Songs; Sony/ATV Countryside; Farmer’s story; Process music publishing
Single song of the year
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- 6 months later – Megan Morrone
Producers: Christian Busch
Record company: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Recordsz - Texas Choice – Ella Langley (winner)
Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Record company: SAWGOD / Columbia Records - I Never Lie – Zach Toub
Producers: Carson Chamberlain
Recording company-label: Leo33 - Somewhere Up Laredo – Lenny Wilson
Producers: Jay Joyce
Record company: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records - The Fall – Cody Johnson
Producers: Trent Wilmon
Record company: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville
Music event of the year
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- A Song to Sing – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb
Record company: Republic Recordings - Amen – Chabuzi and Jelly Roll
Producers: Danny Magic, Nivin Sastry, Sean Cook
Record company label: Empire - Don’t Mind If I Do – Riley Green feat. Ella langley (winner)
Producers: Dan Huff
Record company: Nashville Harbor Recordings & Entertainment - Trailblazer – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lenny Wilson
Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire
Recording company – label: MCA - You had to be there – Megan Morrone and Kenny Chesney
Producers: Christian Busch
Record label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records
Visual Media of the Year
[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- 6 months later – Megan Morrone
Producers: Christine Pinkston and Wesley Stebbins Perry
Director: Sissy Dawson, Megan Morrone - A Song to Sing – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
Producers: James Stratakis
Director: Alexa Kingston, Stephen Kinigopoulos - Cuckoo – Steven Wilson Jr.
Producers: Tim Caufield
Director: Tim Caufield - Somewhere Up Laredo – Lenny Wilson
Producers: Katie Babbage
Director: TK McKamey - The Fall – Cody Johnson
Producers: Christine Pinkston and Wesley Stebbins Perry
Director: Dustin Haney
Songwriter of the Year
- Jesse Joe Dillon (WINNER)
- Ashley gurley
- Charlie is handsome
- Chase McGill
- Blake Pendergrass
Artist and Songwriter of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Riley green
- Ella Langley (Winner)
- Megan Morrone
- Morgan Wallen
