2026 ACM Awards: Complete Winners and Nominees Recap
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards brought country music back to Las Vegas for a major night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with Shania Twain hosting and some of the genre’s biggest names up for awards.
This year’s nominations were led by Megan Moroney, who earned nine nominations, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight, and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven nominations each. But by the end of the night, the story belonged to Ella Langley, who led all winners with seven total ACM Awards, and Cody Johnson, who took home the night’s biggest honor: Entertainer of the Year.
2026 ACM Awards Winners and Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Cody Johnson
Nominees: Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Winner: Ella Langley
Nominees: Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Winner: Cody Johnson
Nominees: Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top
Duo of the Year
Winner: Brooks & Dunn
Nominees: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Muscadine Bloodline, Thelma & James
Group of the Year
Winner: The Red Clay Strays
Nominees: 49 Winchester, Flatland Cavalry, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, The Red Clay Strays
New Female Artist of the Year
Winner: Avery Anna
Nominees: Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Caroline Jones, Emily Ann Roberts
New Male Artist of the Year
Winner: Tucker Wetmore
Nominees: Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason, Shaboozey, Hudson Westbrook, Tucker Wetmore
Album of the Year
Winner: Parker McCollum — Parker McCollum
Nominees: 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; Parker McCollum — Parker McCollum
Song of the Year
Winner: Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley
Nominees: A Song To Sing — Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Am I Okay? — Megan Moroney; Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley; I Never Lie — Zach Top; Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
Winner: Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley
Nominees: 6 Months Later — Megan Moroney; Choosin’ Texas — Ella Langley; I Never Lie — Zach Top; Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson; The Fall — Cody Johnson
Music Event of the Year
Winner: Don’t Mind If I Do — Riley Green featuring Ella Langley
Nominees: A Song To Sing — Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Amen — Shaboozey & Jelly Roll; Don’t Mind If I Do — Riley Green featuring Ella Langley; Trailblazer — Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson; You Had To Be There — Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Visual Media of the Year
Winner: Cuckoo — Stephen Wilson Jr.
Nominees: 6 Months Later — Megan Moroney; A Song To Sing — Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Cuckoo — Stephen Wilson Jr.; Somewhere Over Laredo — Lainey Wilson; The Fall — Cody Johnson
Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Jessie Jo Dillon
Nominees: Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Chase McGill, Blake Pendergrass
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Ella Langley
Nominees: Luke Combs, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen
Overall, the 2026 ACM Awards felt like a perfect snapshot of where country music is right now: legends still holding their ground, new artists breaking through, songwriters getting their flowers, and a whole lot of Texas energy taking over the room. Between Ella Langley’s record-setting night, Cody Johnson’s Entertainer of the Year win, and breakout wins for artists like Avery Anna, Tucker Wetmore, and The Red Clay Strays, this year’s ACM Awards gave country fans plenty to talk about.