Country Music Stars Announced for 61st ACM Awards

Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green to headline first wave of performances

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:40pm

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The Academy of Country Music has announced the first wave of performers for the 61st ACM Awards, including Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green. The awards show, which is the longest-running country music honors ceremony, will take place on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas and will be livestreamed globally on Prime Video.

Why it matters

The ACM Awards are a major event in the country music industry, recognizing the top artists, songs, and albums of the past year. The announcement of the initial performers generates excitement and anticipation for the ceremony, which will feature exclusive collaborations and unexpected moments from some of the genre's biggest stars.

The details

Cody Johnson, who won Song of the Year in 2025, Lainey Wilson, the current Entertainer of the Year and a 16-time ACM winner, and Riley Green, a four-time ACM recipient, are set to headline the first wave of performances at the 61st ACM Awards. The ceremony will take place on May 17, 2026 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be livestreamed globally on Prime Video, as well as through the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and the Amazon Music app.

  • The 61st ACM Awards will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
  • ACM Awards Week events will run from May 15-17, 2026.

The players

Cody Johnson

A country music artist who won Song of the Year at the 2025 ACM Awards.

Lainey Wilson

The current Entertainer of the Year and a 16-time ACM winner, who will debut a new track at the ceremony.

Riley Green

A four-time ACM recipient who is set to perform his hit song 'Change My Mind'.

Academy of Country Music

The organization that has been hosting the ACM Awards, the longest-running country music honors show, since 1966.

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What’s next

Tickets for the 61st ACM Awards ceremony and related ACM Awards Week events are available at AXS.com. Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The announcement of the initial performers for the 61st ACM Awards, including some of the biggest names in country music, is sure to generate significant buzz and excitement for the upcoming ceremony. The event's global livestream on Prime Video will also make it more accessible to fans around the world.