Country music's biggest names are gearing up for the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards. The 61st annual awards show is moving from Texas to Las Vegas for the Sunday, May 17, ceremony. "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," Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside said in a December 2025 statement.