ACM
Honors
The 19th ACM Honors returned on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 to The Pinnacle in Nashville, hosted by Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum.
On stage at The Pinnacle
ACM Honors celebrates the Special Award honorees, off-camera category winners, and the ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards.
Presented by TennPop, Seltzer of the South. Brenda Lee appeared as a special guest and Zach John King presented the ACM Studio Recording and Industry Awards portion of ACM Honors.
Performers included Avery Anna, Big Kenny, Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, Dierks Bentley, Dylan Scott, Gabriella Rose, Gavin Adcock, Kaitlin Butts, Mark Collie, Margo Price, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum and Trisha Yearwood.
Special Award honorees
Dolly Parton was also honored with the ACM Poet's Award, recognizing her extraordinary, decades-long impact as one of Country Music's most gifted and influential songwriters. Hosts Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum kicked off the evening with a special tribute performance to her.
Bill Anderson
ACM Icon Award
Brett James
ACM Poet's Award
C2C: Country to Country
ACM International Award
The Carter Family
ACM Poet's Award
Eric Church
ACM Lifting Lives Award
Kacey Musgraves
ACM Spirit Award
Landman
ACM Film Award
Leslie Fram
ACM Lift Every Voice Award
Mike Curb
ACM Icon Award
Scott Zolke
ACM Service Award
Also celebrated
The ceremony also celebrated the songwriter, Studio Recording Award and Industry Award winners from the 61st ACM Awards cycle.
Songwriter honors
- Artist-Songwriter of the Year: Ella Langley
- Songwriter of the Year: Jessie Jo Dillon
Studio Recording Awards
- Bass Player of the Year: Jimmie Lee Sloas
- Drummer of the Year: Fred Eltringham & Jerry Roe
- Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year: Bryan Sutton
- Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year: Gordon Mote
- Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year: Stuart Duncan
- Electric Guitar Player of the Year: Rob McNelley
- Audio Engineer of the Year: Justin Niebank
- Producer of the Year: Dann Huff
Industry Awards
- Casino of the Year - Theater: Choctaw Grand Theater – Durant, OK
- Casino of the Year - Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
- Festival of the Year: Stagecoach – Indio, CA
- Fair/Rodeo of the Year: Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
- Club of the Year: The Pinnacle – Nashville, TN
- Theater of the Year: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
- Outdoor Venue of the Year: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
- Arena of the Year: Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
- Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year: Ed Warm
- Promoter of the Year: Adam Weiser
The night
Voted on by the ACM Board of Directors
Read about every ACM Special Award, its inspiration and this year's honorees, or search past winners across six decades.