MGM Grand Garden Arena Hosts 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas

ACM Awards Week Brings Country's Biggest Names to Vegas

Let me tell you, Vegas is about to get a serious country music makeover next month, and I'm not mad about it. The 61st ACM Awards are rolling into town May 17th at MGM Grand Garden Arena, but that’s just the grand finale. The real action starts May 14th with a whole week of events that’ll have country fans losing their minds across the Strip.

Keith Urban is headlining “ACM Next Wave: Country's Beach Bash” at Mandalay Bay Beach on May 16th, and honestly? That’s a perfect match. The 2025 ACM Triple Crown Award winner performing on Vegas’ only sand beach feels like the kind of over-the-top Vegas magic we live for. He's joining a lineup that includes Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, and Tucker Wetmore, plus some rising stars from the Opry NextStage Class of 2026. Tickets start at $75 for general admission and $150 for VIP - not terrible for a Vegas beach concert with Urban.

Tonight Queen Selena 7:00 PM · Pegasus Showroom, Alexis Park Get tickets

Free Party at Ole Red Gets the Week Started Right

Real talk, the smartest move ACM made was partnering with Whiskey Jam for a free welcome party at Ole Red Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14th. I've been to plenty of industry events in this city, and free anything on the Strip is worth your time. Avery Anna, The Band Perry, Jenna Paulette, and Caroline Jones are confirmed performers, with more to be announced.

Ole Red already knows how to throw a party - their Lower Broadway Nashville location has been doing it for years - so bringing that energy to Vegas makes perfect sense. The party runs from 8-11 p.m. and it’s open to both fans and industry folks, which means it’ll have that authentic Nashville vibe without the usual Vegas velvet rope nonsense.

Riley Green Takes Over Topgolf for a Good Cause

The May 15th event at Topgolf Las Vegas is where things get interesting. Riley Green headlines with Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser, and proceeds benefit ACM Lifting Lives. I absolutely love when Vegas events give back - it shows these aren't just cash grabs.

Tickets are $150 for general admission and $200 for VIP early access, which is reasonable for what you're getting. An intimate concert experience at Topgolf with four solid country acts? Sign me up. The ACM Lifting Lives organization focuses on improving lives through music and providing aid during emergencies, so your ticket money actually does some good beyond entertainment.

Related: Stoney's North Forty Hosts Riley Green Look-Alike Contest May 2

The Main Event Streams Worldwide

The 61st ACM Awards ceremony on May 17th streams exclusively on Prime Video across 240+ countries, which is honestly brilliant. No cable required, just your Prime membership. The show returns to its Sunday night slot at 8 p.m. ET from the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena.

I'm not gonna lie - having the ACMs back in Vegas feels right. This city knows how to handle big award shows, and MGM Grand Garden Arena has hosted everyone from Floyd Mayweather fights to Lady Gaga concerts. The venue can handle 16,800 people with excellent sightlines, so even the cheap seats won't leave you squinting at tiny figures on stage. Vegas does spectacle better than anywhere else, and country music's biggest night deserves nothing less.