See all the Academy of Country Music Awards 2026 winners by category

The 61st Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards takes place on May 17, celebrating this year's biggest stars in country music.

Established in 1966, the ACMs are the longest-running country music awards show.

This year, the night will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where stars will duel it out for the night's top honors, which includes the entertainer, album and song of the year awards.

Megan Moroney tops this year's nominations list with nine nods.

Close behind is Miranda Lambert with eight, further cementing her status as the most decorated artist in ACM history. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson, the reigning entertainer of the year, both follow with seven nods each. Langley won songwriter of the year for 2026, plus "Choosin' Texas" won both song of the year and single of the year.

Plus, her duet with Riley Green, "Don't Mind If I Do," won music event of the year and she also won female artist of the year all by herself. The "Be Her" singer is well on her way, although she'll need a few more dozen to approach Lambert's record.

Chris Stapleton leads all male nominees with six. Meanwhile, breakout artist Zach Top earned five. Cody Johnson and Riley Green had a few nominations each, alongside consistent contenders like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen. Johnson won both male artist of the year for 2026 and entertainer of the year.

Some winners have already been announced. New female artist of the year went to Avery Anna and Tucker Wetmore took home new male artist of the year.

Stephen Wilson Jr. nabbed visual media of the year for his “Cuckoo” music video, and Nashville songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon won songwriter of the year for her third consecutive year.

Here's our full prospective winner's list, updated in real time.

2026 ACM winners list

Entertainer of the Year

• Cody Johnson
• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Megan Moroney
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year

• Ella Langley
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Megan Moroney
• Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year

• Cody Johnson
• Luke Combs
• Riley Green
• Chris Stapleton
• Zach Top

Album of the Year

• Parker McCollum — Parker McCollum
• Ain’t in It for My Health — Zach Top
• Cherry Valley — Carter Faith
• Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) — Riley Green
• I’m the Problem — Morgan Wallen

Song of the Year

• “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley (Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor)
• “A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure)
• “Am I Okay?,” Megan Moroney (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon)
• “I Never Lie,” Zach Top (Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols)
• “Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg)

Single of the Year

• “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley
• “6 Months Later,” Megan Moroney
• “I Never Lie,” Zach Top
• “Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson
• “The Fall,” Cody Johnson

Group of the Year

• The Red Clay Strays
• 49 Winchester
• Flatland Cavalry
• Old Dominion
• Rascal Flatts

Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Muscadine Bloodline
• Thelma & James

New Female Artist of the Year

• Avery Anna
• Mackenzie Carpenter
• Dasha
• Caroline Jones
• Emily Ann Roberts

New Male Artist of the Year

• Tucker Wetmore
• Gavin Adcock
• Vincent Mason
• Shaboozey
• Hudson Westbrook

Music Event of the Year 

• "Don’t Mind If I Do,” Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
• “A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
• “Amen,” Shaboozey and Jelly Roll
• “Trailblazer,” Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
• “You Had to Be There,” Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney 

Visual Media of the Year

• “Cuckoo,” Stephen Wilson Jr.
• “6 Months Later,” Megan Moroney
• “A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
• “Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson
• “The Fall,” Cody Johnson

Artist-Songwriter of the Year 

• Ella Langley 
• Luke Combs 
• Megan Moroney 
• Morgan Wallen 
• Riley Green

Songwriter of the Year

• Jessie Jo Dillon
• Ashley Gorley
• Charlie Handsome
• Chase McGill
• Blake Pendergrass

Audrey Gibbs is a music reporter at The Tennessean. You can reach her at [email protected]. Follower her on Instagram at @audreyraegibbs.

Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.