The awards season always kicks off with one ceremony after another, and this year, the Critics Choice Awards are leading the way with their 2026 nominations for film and TV. Erin Lim Rhodes and Keltie Knight announced the lucky nominees on December 5th, and the excitement was palpable. (Find the full list here.)
Leading the pack were movies like Sinners, One Battle After Another, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme, with nods for actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Michael B. Jordan, Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, and Timothée Chalamet. Wicked: For Good also earned a number of nods, including for star Ariana Grande as Best Supporting Actress.
On the TV side of things, the Critics Choice Awards followed in line with the Emmys, with The Pitt, Severance, and Hacks among the nominees for the best of the small screen. Actors like Adam Scott, Jean Smart, Katherine LaNasa, and Noah Wyle also found themselves nominated alongside their series.
The stars in question were over the moon with their nominations. Ariana couldn't contain her excitement over her Wicked: For Good nomination. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she wrote on her Instagram Story, "@criticschoice for this acknowledgement and for including me in this magnificent group of performances. I loved these films, I love these women. I am deeply honored." Teyana gushed over her nomination with a string of heart, mind blown, happy tear, and rose emojis. Another star feeling the happy tears was Chase Infiniti from One Battle After Another, who wrote alongside the emoji on her Story, "OH MY GOD. So incredibly grateful."
Hosting this year's ceremony—which airs live on E! and USA Network on January 4th—for the fourth year in a row is comedian Chelsea Handler, who is more than ready to reprise her role. "Kicking off the year with the Critics Choice Awards feels right," she said in a November 17th announcement. "Nothing says 'new beginnings' like a room full of critics ready to tell you how you did last year."
While the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards will continue its format of honoring all that TV, film, and streaming have to offer in one night, there are also four exciting new categories joining next year's list: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting/Ensemble, and Best Sound. So don't miss the Critics Choice Awards 2026 broadcasting live on E! and USA on Sunday, January 4th at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
