FRISCO, Texas — A major country music awards show won’t be held in North Texas next year for the first time in three years.
The Academy of Country Music Awards is leaving the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco after three years and the 61st-annual event will be held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, 2026. It will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel.
Our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal report the 2025 awards in Frisco, which was hosted by Reba McEntire and featured performances from the likes of Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, and more, drew 14,000 fans and generated more than $28 million in economic impact.
“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,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO, Academy of Country Music. “There’s no better place to host an exciting, global Country Music celebration than fabulous Las Vegas!”
The Academy of Country Music said in a press release that more details will be announced in the coming months, and tickets for the 2026 event will go on sale early next year.
“2026 is going to be a very special year for the ACMs, and partnering with MGM Resorts strengthens our deep commitment to delivering world-class entertainment and experiences for Country Music fans and partners alike,” said Dick Clark Productions CEO Jay Penske.
Established in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards is the longest-running Country Music awards show and made history in 2022 as the first major awards ceremony to exclusively livestream, in collaboration with Prime Video, a press release states.
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