ACM Awards Make a Grand Return to Las Vegas for 2026 Celebration
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 17!
ACM Awards; Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
It’s official: the ACM Awards are heading back to Las Vegas!
The Academy of Country Music (ACM), Prime Video, and Dick Clark Productions (DCP) announced that the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
After a three-year run in Texas, the show returns to Sin City, bringing the glitz, glamour, and star-studded performances fans expect.
The awards will stream live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, continuing the ACM Awards’ legacy as the first major awards show to livestream exclusively.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to return to MGM Grand for the 61st ACM Awards next May, a place that holds a lot of history and special memories for the Academy. It truly feels like a homecoming for us,” Damon Whiteside, CEO, Academy of Country Music, shared. “There’s no better place to host an exciting, global Country Music celebration than fabulous Las Vegas!”
“2026 is going to be a very special year for the ACMs, and partnering with MGM Resorts strengthens our deep commitment to delivering world-class entertainment and experiences for Country Music fans and partners alike,” Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions, added.
The announcement comes on the heels of the 60th anniversary ACM Awards in 2025, a historic show hosted by Reba McEntire that featured unforgettable performances from over 40 artists, including Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Wynonna Judd, and more. The broadcast reached viewers in more than 240 countries and territories.
More details will be shared in the coming months. ACM Awards Week will begin in Las Vegas on Friday, May 15, and tickets for the 61st ACM Awards and related events will be available early 2026.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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