Lainey Wilson at the 60th Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the Ford Center at The Star on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images)
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Country music’s biggest night is almost underway. The 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards is bringing together a star-studded lineup of country hitmakers, award-winning legends and rising stars for an evening of performances.
The 2026 ACM Awards will air tonight, Sunday, May 17, at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video and the Amazon Music app from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Shania Twain is stepping in as host this year, taking over emceeing duties from longtime ACM favorite Reba McEntire. (Find more details on tonight’s nominees, presenters and performers below.)
Megan Moroney tops this year’s ACM nominations with nine nods, while Miranda Lambert follows closely behind with eight. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each picked up seven nominations. On the men’s side, leading nominees include Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Cody Johnson, Riley Green and Luke Combs.
Lainey Wilson at the 60th Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the Ford Center at The Star on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Penske Media via Getty Images
Presenters include Andrew Whitworth, Ashley McBryde, Carl Edwards, Corey LaJoie, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Shaboozey, The War and Treaty and TJ Osborne.
As for the performers, country fans can expect an exciting lineup of artists throughout the night, including Kacey Musgraves’ ACM performance debut. Here’s everything fans need to know.
Who’s Performing At The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards?
FRISCO, TEXAS – MAY 8: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. Ella Langley and Riley Green pose in the press room during the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 8, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards will feature performances from 19 artists throughout the night. Among those taking the stage are some of the evening’s most-nominated stars, including Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson.
Four of the five Album of the Year nominees are also set to perform, including Carter Faith, Parker McCollum, Riley Green and Zach Top. Morgan Wallen is the only nominee in the category not scheduled to perform.
Additional performers include four-time nominee Cody Johnson, along with 2026 New Male Artist of the Year Tucker Wetmore and New Female Artist of the Year Avery Anna, both of whom received their honors ahead of the ceremony.
Kacey Musgraves is also slated to perform a new song from her latest studio album, Middle of Nowhere. Despite winning six ACM Awards throughout her career, this marks her first performance at the show.
Group performances throughout the evening will come from The Red Clay Strays, Little Big Town and duo Dan + Shay. The most recent additions to the lineup were Parker McCollum and Lee Ann Womack.
The Full List of 2026 ACM Awards Performers
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 18: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NOT TO BE LICENSED FOR ANY STANDALONE OR SPECIAL INTEREST BOOK PUBLISHING USE CONCERNING THE COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND/OR STAGECOACH MUSIC FESTIVAL) Kacey Musgraves performs at the Mojave Tent during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 18, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella)
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In no particular order, here are all the artists slated to perform at the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
- Avery Anna
- Blake Shelton
- Carter Faith
- Cody Johnson
- Dan + Shay
- Ella Langley
- Jordan Davis
- Kacey Musgraves
- Kane Brown
- Lainey Wilson
- Lee Ann Womack
- Little Big Town
- Miranda Lambert
- Parker McCollum
- Riley Green
- The Red Clay Strays
- Thomas Rhett
- Tucker Wetmore
- Zach Top