The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards stream live on Prime Video, Amazon's streaming service, and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, a livestreaming platform, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.12 Shania Twain hosts the ceremony, and the performance lineup includes Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Riley Green.12 The show continues the Awards’ legacy as the first major awards show to livestream exclusively.12
For country fans searching how to watch the 2026 Awards online, the key destination is Prime Video, with another livestream available through the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.12 Billboard, a music publication, also reported that viewers can livestream Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and others performing on Sunday, May 17.1
How to stream
The 2026 Awards stream live on Prime Video.12 The ceremony also streams live on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.12 The livestream format means viewers can watch online rather than relying on a traditional cable broadcast.12
The ceremony is taking place live from Las Vegas.6 The Academy of Country Music Awards return to Las Vegas after three successful years in Texas.12 The venue for the 61st Awards is the Grand Garden Arena.12
Billboard’s viewing guide frames the event around live online access to performances by Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and other artists.1 Variety, an entertainment publication, also identifies the ceremony as a country music awards show that can be watched online.6
Who is hosting
Shania Twain is hosting the 2026 Awards.12 The show marks Shania Twain’s first time hosting the Awards.12 Twain is described by the Academy of Country Music as a legendary songwriter and best-selling female Country artist.12
Billboard’s headline also identifies Shania Twain as the host of the 2026 Awards livestream event.1 Variety likewise reported that Shania Twain hosts the ceremony.6
Who is performing
The Awards experience is set to feature performances by Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Riley Green.12 The Academy of Country Music, the organization behind the awards, described the show as featuring unprecedented performances, exclusive collaborations and unexpected moments from Country Music stars, highlighting what viewers can expect from the ceremony.12
Variety reported that Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town are among the performers for the ceremony.6 Billboard highlighted Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson in its online viewing guide for the 2026 Awards.1
The performer list gives streaming viewers a reason to tune in from the opening moments, because the ceremony is built around live performances as well as awards.12 The lineup also brings together solo artists and groups within the country music field, including Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Riley Green.12
Event basics
- Event: 61st Academy of Country Music Awards.12
- Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026.12
- Location: Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.12
- Host: Shania Twain.12
- Streaming: Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.12
- Performers: Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Riley Green.12
Why it matters
The 2026 Awards continue the ceremony’s streaming-first identity, because the Academy of Country Music describes the Awards as the first-ever major awards show to livestream exclusively.12 That positioning makes the event especially relevant for viewers who want to watch country music awards coverage online.12
The return to Las Vegas is also a central part of this year’s show, because the 61st Awards are returning to the city after three successful years in Texas.12 The Grand Garden Arena is the host venue for the 2026 ceremony.12
The online viewing angle is central to coverage of the event, with Billboard publishing a guide on where to watch the 2026 Awards live online.1 Variety also published a livestream guide focused on how to watch the country music awards show online.6
Streaming checklist
Viewers planning to watch online should look for the 2026 Awards on Prime Video.12 Viewers can also look for the livestream on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.12 The ceremony date to watch for is Sunday, May 17, 2026.12
Fans interested in Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson should know that both artists are included in the Awards performance lineup.12 Fans looking for Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town should also see them among the performers for the ceremony.6
What to watch
The biggest thing to watch is how the livestream presents the Awards’ promised mix of performances, collaborations and unexpected moments.12 Another thing to watch is how Shania Twain handles her first turn as Awards host.12 The performance lineup also makes Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert and Riley Green key names for online viewers to follow during the show.12
After the live broadcast, viewers may also find official Awards clips online, including a Cody Johnson acceptance video posted by the Academy of Country Music after the 61st Awards.10 That official video identifies Cody Johnson as accepting the Entertainer of the Year award at the 61st Awards.10