2026 ACM Awards: The Complete Winners List
From Entertainer of the Year to the New Artist categories
The Academy of Country Music hosts its 61st annual awards on May 17 in Las Vegas, but the organization is slowly rolling out winners in some non-televised categories.
The ACM announced Ella Langley as the winner in the Artist-Songwriter of the Year field. Langley, whose single “Choosin’ Texas” continues to be a country-pop crossover juggernaut, was nominated for seven awards this year. Jessie Jo Dillon was named Songwriter of the Year.
Other announced winners include Avery Anna, who was named New Female Artist of the Year, and Tucker Wetmore, the New Male Artist of the Year. Last year’s winner for New Female Artist of the Year is now country’s biggest star: Langley. The 2024 New Female winner, Megan Moroney, is this year’s leading nominee with nine.
In the Visual Media of the Year category, Stephen Wilson Jr. won for the music video for his song “Cuckoo.” Wilson co-directed the clip with Tim Cofield.
The 2026 ACM Awards, hosted by Shania Twain, get underway at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas on May 17 at 8 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on Prime Video. Tickets for the ceremony-slash-concert, which features performances by Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, and Miranda Lambert, are on sale now at axs.com.
Here are the winners, in bold, for the 61st annual ACM Awards.
Entertainer of the YearLuke CombsJelly RollCody JohnsonMegan MoroneyChris StapletonMorgan WallenLainey Wilson
Female Artist of the YearKelsea BalleriniMiranda LambertElla LangleyMegan MoroneyLainey Wilson
Male Artist of the YearLuke CombsRiley GreenCody JohnsonChris StapletonZach Top
Group of the Year49 WinchesterFlatland CavalryOld DominionRascal FlattsThe Red Clay Strays
Duo of the YearBrooks & DunnBrothers OsborneDan + ShayMuscadine BloodlineThelma & James
New Female Artist of the YearAvery AnnaMackenzie CarpenterDashaCaroline JonesEmily Ann Roberts
New Male Artist of the YearGavin AdcockVincent MasonShaboozeyHudson WestbrookTucker Wetmore
Album of the YearAin’t in It for My Health, Zach TopCherry Valley, Carter FaithDon’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe), Riley GreenI’m the Problem, Morgan WallenParker McCollum, Parker McCollum
Song of the Year“A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure)“Am I Okay?,” Megan Moroney (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon)“Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley (Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor)“I Never Lie,” Zach Top (Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols)“Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg)
Single of the Year“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“A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton“Amen,” Shaboozey & Jelly Roll“Don’t Mind If I Do,” Riley Green feat. Ella Langley“Trailblazer,” Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson“You Had to Be There,” Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney”
Visual Media of the Year“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 YearJessie Jo DillonAshley GorleyCharlie HandsomeChase McGillBlake Pendergrass Trending Stories 'SNL' Cold Open: Jeffrey Epstein's Ghost Gives 'Dear Friend' Trump Some Bad News ‘Let’s Go to Canada’: World Cup Nations Worry About Traveling to Trump’s America Paul McCartney on New Song ‘Salesman Saint,’ How Wartime Resilience Shaped the Beatles 2026 ACM Awards: The Complete Winners List
Artist-Songwriter of the YearLuke CombsRiley GreenElla LangleyMegan MoroneyMorgan Wallen
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Corp., the parent company of Rolling Stone.
