AceShowbiz - Shania Twain is set to make her debut as the host of the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will take place on May 17, 2026, in Las Vegas.

The event will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, located on the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, and will be broadcast live on Prime Video starting at 8 p.m. ET. This marks the first time Shania Twain will serve as emcee for the ACM Awards, although she is familiar with hosting country music events, having led the People's Choice Country Awards in 2024.

Shania Twain has a strong connection to Las Vegas, having performed three separate residencies on the Strip over the past 14 years. She expressed excitement about returning to the city in her new role, stating, "I'm thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home." She added that it is an honor to participate in a night celebrating country music’s biggest stars, especially highlighting the prominence of women among this year’s nominees.

This year’s nominations indeed showcase a significant female presence. Leading the pack is Megan Moroney with nine nominations, followed closely by Miranda Lambert with eight, Ella Langley with seven, and Lainey Wilson also with seven. The top male nominee is Chris Stapleton, who received six nods. Despite the strong female representation in nominations, a recent episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast discussed how this does not necessarily correlate with increased country radio airplay for women.

The 2026 ACM Awards will be a notable event, not only for Shania Twain’s hosting debut but also for celebrating the achievements of country music’s top artists in a city that has been a significant part of her career.