The 2026 awards season officially kicks off with the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
Often seen as a bellwether for winners at the Golden Globes and the Oscars, the Critics’ Choice Awards celebrates the best performances in film and TV of the year, as voted on by over 600 reporters and journalists from the Critics Choice Association.
In 2026, Michael B. Jordan’s horror hit Sinners swept the film categories with 17 total nominations, including Best Picture, a Best Actor nod for Jordan and Wunmi Mosaku being recognized in the Best Supporting Actress category.
On the TV side, Netflix led the nominations with its British crime drama Adolescence and rom-com Nobody Wants This, which received six nods in the drama categories and five for TV comedies, respectively.
Keep scrolling to find out how to watch the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
When Is the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
The 31st Critics’ Choice Awards will be held January 4, 2026, at Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica, California.
Who Is Hosting the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
Chelsea Handler will host the Critics’ Choice Awards for the fourth consecutive year in 2026.
“Kicking off the year with the Critics’ Choice Awards feels right,” Handler said in a statement on November 17, 2025. “Nothing says ‘new beginnings’ like a room full of critics ready to tell you how you did last year.”
Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin described Handler as “the best awards show host in the world” in the November 2025 announcement.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have her back on our stage, mixing her trademark mix of humor and heart in front of hundreds of stars who enjoy her as much as we do,” Berlin added. “Recognizing and celebrating the most deserving achievements in film and television is important, but it’s also great fun and Chelsea is the perfect person to lead the parade.”
Val Boreland, entertainment president of NBCUniversal’s new spinoff Versant — which handles the TV broadcast of the awards show — promised that Handler’s “sharp wit and captivating stage presence will surely make this show an unforgettable kickoff to awards season.”
Who Are the Presenters for the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
On December 21, 2025, the Critics Choice Association announced the first batch of presenters for the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
Five-time Critics Choice Award nominee Colman Domingo, three-time winner Allison Janney and 2025’s Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy recipient Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) will all be on hand to present 2026’s winners. Other presenters confirmed thus far include Tracker’s Justin Hartley, Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson, Diego Luna (Andor), Hollywood legend Jeff Goldblum and acclaimed director Ava Duvernay.
How Can You Watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
The Critics’ Choice Award will air live on E! and the USA Network on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET. The ceremony will be available on demand on Peacock the following day.
Prior to showtime, a LIVE from E!: Critics Choice Awards red carpet special will be hosted by Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight at 5 p.m. ET on both E! and the USA Network.
Who is Nominated for the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
The Critics’ Choice Association will honor excellence in both film and television at the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
Horror blockbusters Sinners leads the 2026 ceremony’s film nominees with 17 total nominations. Leonardo DiCaprio’s political thriller One Battle After Another received 14 nods — including Best Picture and Best Actor for DiCaprio — while director Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Frankenstein and the historical drama Hamnet tied for third place with 11 total nominations.
Timothée Chalamet’s sports comedy-drama Marty Supreme earned eight nominations, including Best Actor for Chalamet himself. Wicked: For Good is up for Best Picture, among its seven total nominations, with Ariana Grande receiving a Best Supporting Actress nod. (Grande’s Wicked: For Good costar Cynthia Erivo was surprisingly snubbed for her portrayal of Elphaba.)
On the TV front, Netflix dominated both the drama and comedy categories with crime thriller Adolescence and romantic comedy Nobody Wants This, which received six and five nominations, respectively. Nobody Wants This’ Adam Brody and Kristen Bell are both nominated in Lead Acting Comedy categories, while their costars Timothy Simons and Justine Lupe each received nods for their supporting performances.
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