The 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards brought together some of the biggest names in country music for an evening filled with major wins, emotional tributes and standout red carpet fashion moments in Las Vegas.
Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and hosted by Shania Twain, the awards ceremony celebrated the year’s top country artists while also delivering memorable live performances and glamorous celebrity appearances.
Ella Langley Emerges As The Biggest Winner
Singer-songwriter Ella Langley became the standout artist of the night after winning all seven of her nominations across five categories.
Among her biggest victories were Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Single of the Year for her hit track Choosin’ Texas. The Academy of Country Music separately recognises songwriting and recording contributions, allowing Langley to receive multiple trophies for the same song.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleHer strong performance at the awards ceremony positioned her as one of the leading rising stars in modern country music.
Cody Johnson Wins Entertainer Of The Year
Cody Johnson secured one of the evening’s top honours by winning Entertainer of the Year.
The category included several major names in country music, including Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
Johnson’s win marked one of the most celebrated moments of the ceremony.
Parker McCollum Wins Album Of The Year
Parker McCollum took home Album of the Year for his self-titled project Parker McCollum.
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Other nominees in the category included Morgan Wallen, Riley Green, Carter Faith and Zach Top.
Red Carpet Fashion Takes Spotlight
Apart from the awards, the ACM Awards 2026 also generated attention for celebrity fashion and red carpet appearances.
Artists including Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, Jordan Davis, Dan + Shay, Blake Shelton and Zach Top were among the stars photographed during the event.
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Host Shania Twain especially drew attention for her multiple outfit changes throughout the night. One of her most discussed looks featured a sheer black gown with floral embellishments layered over a corseted bodysuit.
Emotional Tribute To Ben Vaughn
One of the most emotional moments of the ceremony came during Dan + Shay’s performance of their song Say So, dedicated to late music executive Ben Vaughn.
Before the performance, singer Lauren Alaina delivered an emotional speech highlighting the importance of mental health awareness and encouraging individuals facing emotional struggles to seek help and support.
Following the tribute performance, a message appeared on screen honouring Vaughn’s memory.
Blake Shelton Leads Tribute Performance
Blake Shelton closed the ACM Awards 2026 with a tribute performance of Kenny Rogers’ classic song The Gambler in honour of legendary songwriter Don Schlitz.
The performance turned into a large audience singalong, with many artists and attendees joining in from the crowd.
Major Stars Attend ACM Awards 2026
The event featured appearances and performances from several leading country music artists including:
- Kacey Musgraves
- Miranda Lambert
- Lainey Wilson
- Parker McCollum
- Riley Green
- Cody Johnson
- Dan + Shay
- Thomas Rhett
- Jordan Davis
- Blake Shelton
- Ella Langley
The awards ceremony will also be available for streaming on demand through Prime Video.
