How to Tune into the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards: Essential Details You Need to Know
The 2026 awards season officially begins with the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
Recognized as a precursor for winners at the Golden Globes and the Oscars, the Critics’ Choice Awards honors the year’s finest performances in film and television, as determined by over 600 members of the Critics Choice Association.
In 2026, Michael B. Jordan’s horror sensation Sinners dominated the film categories with 17 nominations, including Best Picture, a Best Actor nomination for Jordan, and Wunmi Mosaku being acknowledged in the Best Supporting Actress category.
On the television front, Netflix topped the nominations list with its British crime drama Adolescence and rom-com Nobody Wants This, earning six nods in drama categories and five in comedy categories, 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 take place on 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 stated on November 17, 2025. “Nothing signals ‘new beginnings’ like a room full of critics eager to share how you performed last year.”
Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin referred to Handler as “the best awards show host in the world” in their November 2025 announcement.
“We are excited to have her back on stage, bringing her unique blend of humor and heartfelt moments in front of hundreds of stars who appreciate her as much as we do,” Berlin continued. “Celebrating the most deserving accomplishments in film and television is essential, but it’s also incredibly fun, and Chelsea is the ideal leader for this celebration.”
Val Boreland, president of entertainment at NBCUniversal’s new spinoff Versant — which manages the TV broadcast of the awards show — assured that Handler’s “witty humor and captivating presence will undoubtedly make this show an unforgettable start to awards season.”
Who Are the Presenters for the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
On December 21, 2025, the Critics Choice Association announced the first wave of presenters for the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
Five-time Critics Choice Award nominee Colman Domingo, three-time recipient Allison Janney, and the 2025 Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy winner Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) will all present the 2026 awards. Other confirmed presenters include Tracker’s Justin Hartley, Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson, Diego Luna (Andor), Hollywood icon Jeff Goldblum, and acclaimed director Ava Duvernay.
How Can You Watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
The 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards will air live on E! and USA Network on January 4, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET. The ceremony will also be available on demand on Peacock the following day.
Before the main event, 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 USA Network.
Who is Nominated for the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026?
The Critics’ Choice Association will honor outstanding achievements in both film and television during the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards.
The horror blockbuster Sinners leads the 2026 film nominations with a total of 17 nods. Leonardo DiCaprio’s political thriller One Battle After Another follows closely with 14 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for DiCaprio. Additionally, director Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Frankenstein and the historical drama Hamnet each secured 11 nominations.
Timothée Chalamet’s sports comedy-drama Marty Supreme garnered eight nominations, including Best Actor for Chalamet. Wicked: For Good is also in contention for Best Picture among its seven nominations, with Ariana Grande receiving a nod for Best Supporting Actress. (Notably, Grande’s Wicked: For Good co-star Cynthia Erivo was surprisingly overlooked for her role as Elphaba.)
In the television categories, Netflix ruled both drama and comedy with Adolescence and Nobody Wants This, earning six and five nominations, respectively. Nobody Wants This stars Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, both nominated for Lead Acting Comedy, while their co-stars Timothy Simons and Justine Lupe received recognition for their supporting roles.
