The Academy of Country Music is saddling up for a full-on country takeover of the Las Vegas Strip. The 61st ACM Awards return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17, with organizers loading the weekend with concerts and festival-style events up and down Las Vegas Boulevard.
In a press release, the Academy of Country Music named Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Riley Green as the first performers locked in for the 61st ACM Awards. The Academy also confirmed the show will stream exclusively on Prime Video (and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch) at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and that tickets for both the ACM Awards and ACM Awards Week events are available through AXS.
ACM Lifting Lives Heads To Topgolf
ACM's charity arm is teeing up "ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends" at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15, mixing an intimate performance with fundraising for music-focused programs. The event page for ACM Lifting Lives details door and show times and notes that proceeds support the organization's relief and wellness work.
Next Wave Brings A Beach Bash To Mandalay Bay
The party rolls into Saturday, May 16, with "ACM Next Wave: Country's Beach Bash" at Mandalay Bay Beach, where the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports a lineup featuring Braxton Keith, Flatland Cavalry, Dasha, Tucker Wetmore and Ashley Cooke, along with the Opry NextStage class of 2026. As the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes, the Next Wave showcase is designed to put a spotlight on emerging and rising country acts during ACM Awards Week.
Tickets, Times And Watching From Home
AXS lists the awards show at MGM Grand Garden Arena with a 5 p.m. PT start time and advises attendees to be in their seats before the live broadcast kicks off. The ceremony will stream live for Prime Video subscribers worldwide, and the festival-style and benefit events require their own tickets separate from the awards telecast, so be sure to check each event's page before heading out.
Why Vegas Matters
Bringing the ACMs back to the Strip puts the show on one of its most familiar stages and injects energy into what is typically a quieter post-spring stretch for Las Vegas entertainment. Local reporting has highlighted the MGM Grand's long history with the ACMs and the expected boost for nearby hotels and restaurants during awards week, as noted in ACM awards stampede back to MGM Grand on the Strip.
The Academy and producers say more performers, presenters and host details will be rolled out in the coming weeks, according to the ACM. Fans can sign up for the ACM A-List or follow the Academy's official channels for pre-sale information and credential updates as awards week approaches.
