After three years in Texas, the Academy of Country Music’s centerpiece event sets up shop at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17
The 2026 ACM Awards are returning to their longtime home. After three consecutive years in Frisco, Texas, the Academy of Country Music’s centerpiece event will be held May 17 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show streams live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
The Academy of Country Music, originally a California-based organization, first staged its awards show in Las Vegas in the early 2000s after years in Los Angeles. Since then, Las Vegas venues like the MGM Grand Garden Arena and, most recently in 2022, Allegiant Stadium, have been the primary host of the ACMs throughout the 2000s and 2010s. The ACMs celebrated their 50th show in 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before returning to Vegas the following year.
“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,” Damon Whiteside, CEO, Academy of Country Music, said in a statement. “There’s no better place to host an exciting, global Country Music celebration than fabulous Las Vegas!”
The May 17 date also marks the show’s return to Sunday night. Last year’s ceremonies, hosted by Reba McEntire, were held on a Thursday.
ACM Awards Week in Las Vegas begins Friday, May 15. Nominees, host, and performers for the awards will be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the ACM Awards go on sale in early 2026.
In 2023 Rolling Stone’s parent company, Penske Media, acquired Dick Clark Productions, which produces the ACM Awards.
