ACM Country’s Beach Bash To Spotlight Opry NextStage Artists Including Emily Ann Roberts, Vincent Mason, and Alexandra Kay
The fan-favorite outdoor concert experience will take place at the iconic Mandalay Bay Beach and Wave Pool.
Emily Ann Roberts, Vincent Mason, Alexandra Kay; Photos Provided
The Academy of Country Music is teaming up with the Grand Ole Opry for an exciting pre-ACM Awards event.
Announced today, ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash will showcase several members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026, including Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook.
This reimagined, fan-favorite outdoor concert experience will take place at the iconic Mandalay Bay Beach and Wave Pool, giving rising country stars a one-of-a-kind stage. Country’s Beach Bash is set for Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Las Vegas, just one day before the 61st ACM Awards.
Tickets are now available at AXS.com, with General Admission starting at $75 and VIP packages at $150.
Other previously announced ACM Awards week events include “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends” on Friday, May 15 at Topgolf Las Vegas. The event will transform the venue’s outfield into an intimate live music experience, with Riley Green headlining and additional performers to be revealed. The show kicks off at 8:00 PM (subject to change), with General Admission tickets at $150 and VIP early access at $200.
A portion of proceeds from both events will benefit ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, dedicated to enhancing lives through music and supporting those in need.
The weekend will culminate with the 61st ACM Awards on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This year marks the show’s return to Las Vegas and the Sunday evening time slot.
The ACM Awards will once again be the first major awards show to livestream exclusively, available live on Prime Video.
While the full list of nominees has yet to be revealed, it has already been announced that Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green will perform during the star-studded event. Additional details about the show will be announced in the coming weeks.
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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