Country music’s biggest stars are headed to Las Vegas as the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after three years in Frisco, Texas. Hosted by Shania Twain, the ceremony will celebrate the genre’s biggest artists, songs and albums of the past year and stream live on Prime Video on Sunday night.
Ahead of the ceremony, this year’s nominations have already sparked conversation across the country music world, with women dominating many of the show’s biggest categories. Meanwhile, a new generation of genre-blending stars continues to reshape the sound of mainstream country.
Leading this year’s nominees is Megan Moroney with nine nods, following a massive year that cemented her as one of the genre’s defining new voices. Miranda Lambert follows closely behind with eight nominations, and breakout star Ella Langley and reigning Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson each earned seven. Chris Stapleton leads all male artists with six nominations, while neo-traditional standout Zach Top earned five nominations in a breakout showing for the rising star.
The standouts among emerging talent, however, are Moroney, who scored her first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination, and Langley, who is continuing her breakout rise with recognition in both artist and songwriting categories.
The nominations also delivered a few surprises. Morgan Wallen received major nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, but is absent from the Male Artist of the Year category — one of the most notable omissions on this year’s ballot. Elsewhere, Top’s strong showing signals continued demand for traditional country sounds amid the genre’s current wave of crossover and pop-influenced stars.
Fan-favorite collaborations are also heavily represented this year, including Langley and Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s “You Had to Be There,” and “Trailblazer,” the multigenerational collaboration from Reba McEntire, Lambert and Wilson.
The full list of 2026 ACM Awards nominees is available on the official ACM website. Take a look at some of the major categories and nominees below before tuning into the awards show at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 17, to see who takes home a trophy.
Entertainer of the Year
Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Group of the Year
Duo of the Year
New Female Artist of the Year
New Male Artist of the Year
Album of the Year
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Zach Top, Ain’t In It For My Health
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Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
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Riley Green, Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)
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Morgan Wallen, I’m The Problem
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Parker McCollum, Parker McCollum
Song of the Year
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Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
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Megan Moroney, Am I Okay?
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Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas
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Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Single of the Year
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Megan Moroney, 6 Months Later
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Ella Langley, Choosin’ Texas
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Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Music Event of the Year
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Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
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Shaboozey & Jelly Roll, Amen
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Riley Green feat. Ella Langley, Don’t Mind If I Do
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Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Trailblazer
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Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney, You Had To Be There
Visual Media of the Year
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Megan Moroney, 6 Months Later
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Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, A Song To Sing
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Stephen Wilson, Jr., Cuckoo
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Lainey Wilson, Somewhere Over Laredo
Songwriter of the Year
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
