Women dominate the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards nominations, with Megan Moroney and Miranda Lambert leading the field. Moroney tops the list with nine nods, including her first-ever nomination for entertainer of the year, while Lambert lands eight, including a record 17th female artist of the year nomination. The ACM announced the full slate on Thursday (April 9), with the show set to stream live from Las Vegas on May 17.
Per a Billboard breakdown of the nominees, all four of the most-nominated artists this year are women: Moroney with nine, followed by Lambert with eight, and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with seven apiece. The next highest tally belongs to Chris Stapleton, who received six nominations. Variety Music and Pollstar both confirmed the same top tier, with Stapleton joined by Zach Top (five nods) and Cody Johnson and Riley Green (four each) among the most-recognized artists.
Moroney’s nine nominations include her first entertainer of the year nod, as well as director and artist-songwriter of the year, plus her third consecutive nominations in the female artist and visual media categories. Lambert’s eight include her 17th female artist of the year nomination, which Variety Music notes pushes her ahead of Reba McEntire’s long-standing record in the category.
What Changed and Who’s In the Running
According to the ACM and Dick Clark Productions, as reported by NBC Los Angeles and Variety Music, the 2026 ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17, streaming at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Prime Video, Amazon Music’s Twitch channel, and the Amazon Music app. The ceremony moves to Las Vegas after three straight years in Frisco, Texas.
Billboard first reported that Moroney’s entertainer of the year nomination puts her in a field of seven that includes Wilson (who has won the category the last two years), plus Stapleton, Johnson, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen. Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” is the only work this year to draw nominations for single, song and visual media of the year. The song’s interpolation of “Over the Rainbow” also earned posthumous song of the year nominations for Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg.
Album of the year offers several surprises. Pollstar noted that Carter Faith’s “Cherry Valley” is the first debut album to reach the category since Stapleton’s “Traveller” a decade ago. It faces Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” and albums by Zach Top, Riley Green and Parker McCollum. The ACM quietly dropped the new duo/group of the year category this year because not enough entries qualified.
The SoCal Connection
For Southern California fans, the nomination surge lines up with a busy season of country shows in the region. The SoCalNomad calendar shows Megan Moroney with two Los Angeles dates at Crypto.com Arena on August 7 and 8, 2026. Miranda Lambert is scheduled to headline at Yaamava’ Theater in Highland on November 12, 2026.
They won’t be the only ACM nominees in town. Chris Stapleton has two nights at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on July 10 and 11, 2026, plus a Central Coast date at California Mid-State Fair on July 14, while Lainey Wilson plays the same fairgrounds on July 17. That cluster of July shows gives fans a chance to see multiple ACM headliners in quick succession.
Looking ahead, the ACM Awards on May 17 will likely set the tone for the summer touring season. If Moroney or Lambert take home major trophies, expect their SoCal dates later this year to feel even more celebratory, with set lists that could lean heavily on their nominated songs and albums.
Last updated April 12, 2026.
Sources: Billboard, Pollstar, Variety Music, Exclaim, NBC LA Entertainment
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