The Choctaw Grand Theater was named the Academy of Country Music’s “Casino of the Year – Theater”on Tuesday. This is the fourth time the venue has earned this honor.
The Choctaw Grand Theater has been eligible three times in the past – each time eligible based on the Academy of Country Music’s guidelines – and has taken home the award at each opportunity. The theater’s last win was in 2024, and it also won in 2021 and 2018.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Academy of Country Music for the effort that goes into making the Choctaw Grand Theater a venue that both fans and artists love coming back to time and time again,” said Jeff Penz, senior director of casino operations at Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Durant. “The theater has grown into a can’t-miss entertainment destination, and we’re excited to continue raising the bar and finding new ways to elevate the experience for fans and artists alike.”
The award-winning Grand Theater is a 3,000-seat venue that draws crowds from across the country for top-notch performances from big names and exciting up-and-comers. No matter where fans sit, they’re less than 50 yards from their favorite performer, meaning there are no bad seats.
The Choctaw Grand Theater is also home to the Choctaw Music Fest, which was launched in 2024 and has featured mega stars Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley and many more. The four-day event in the fall highlights dozens of acts across multiple stages and has quickly become a must-attend event. The 2026 lineup for the Choctaw Music Fest will be announced later this summer.
Exciting acts coming to the Choctaw Grand Theater stage later this year include Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Matchbox Twenty, Eric Church, Lenny Kravitz, and Riley Green.
With a sprawling resort right outside the doors, music lovers can enjoy not just a night, but an entire weekend of fun. Choctaw – Durant features the largest non-smoking casino gaming floor in the U.S., more than 20 dining options, luxury guest suites and free, easy-access parking making every show a seamless, stress-free experience.
About Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Okla.
Located an hour north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant is a AAA Four Diamond casino resort, entertainment and convention destination in southeastern Oklahoma. The casino has more than 7,400 slot machines, table games, a poker room, and the largest non-smoking gaming floor in America featuring 5,400 games. The resort offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and seats more than 3,000 at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) award-winning Grand Theater. The resort also includes more than 1,600 luxurious rooms and suites, 20 restaurants, 21 bars and lounges, six retail stores, two fitness centers, a spa, and two outdoor pools and a water park. The family-friendly District offers guests 20 bowling lanes, a 6-screen premier movie theater, 70 arcade games and dining options. Additionally, guests can enjoy the Choctaw RV Park located across from the casino. For more information, visit choctawcasinos.com.
