04/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2026 10:22
WHISKEY JAM WELCOME PARTY JOINS 61ST ACM AWARDS WEEK IN LAS VEGAS FEATURING AVERY ANNA, THE BAND PERRY, JENNA PAULETTE, CAROLINE JONES AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Tickets for the 61st ACM Awards and ACM Awards Week Events are Now Available at AXS.COM
ASSETS AVAILABLE HERE
Nashville, TN - April 15, 2026 - Today, the Academy of Country Music (ACM) announced additional performers and new event details for this year's ACM Awards Week lineup, which will take place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 61st ACM Awards on Sunday, May 17th at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
2025 ACM Triple Crown Award recipient and 14-time ACM Award-winning Country superstar Keith Urban will headline "ACM Next Wave: Country's Beach Bash" at Mandalay Bay Beach, Saturday, May 16. Urban joins previously announced performers including Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Braxton Keith, and Tucker Wetmore, as well as members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026 - Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Tickets are available starting at $150 for VIP and $75 for General Admission at AXS.com.
Additionally, Avery Anna, The Band Perry, Jenna Paulette and Caroline Jones were announced today as performers for the "Whiskey Jam Welcome Party." A long-standing Nashville staple for live music, Whiskey Jam is headed to Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14, from 8-11 p.m. for a free ACM Awards welcome party open to both fans and industry alike held at Ole Red Las Vegas. Additional performers to be announced.
"Whiskey Jam Welcome Party" joins the previously announced ACM Awards Week events including the aforementioned "ACM Next Wave: Country's Beach Bash" and "ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends" at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15th. The event will feature an unforgettable, up-close concert experience with headliner Riley Green, alongside Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser. Tickets are available at $200 for VIP Early Access to General Admission doors and $150 for General Admission at AXS.com. Proceeds benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.
The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans will also be able to watch the broadcast on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as in the Amazon Music app.
Additional ACM Awards Week performers, as well as ACM Awards' presenters, performers, and host, will be announced in the coming weeks. The Media Credential Application to cover on-site in Las Vegas, Nevada, is now available HERE.
Returning to the Sunday night timeslot, the 61st ACM Awards promises to build on the momentum of its milestone year, celebrating the artists, collaborations, and moments that continue to shape Country Music. Follow the Academy of Country Music on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, join the conversation with #ACMawards, and sign up for the FREE ACM A-List to be the first to know the latest news and for exclusive pre-sale opportunities. .
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. Since forming its partnership for the 57th ACM Awards, the show has been hosted by legends Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Reba McEntire, featured the biggest collaborations with superstar pairings such as Ed Sheeran and Luke Combs, Dua Lipa and Chris Stapleton, Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys, and became the first Country Music awards show to be nominated for an Emmy® Award.