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Golden Globes kick off 2026 awards season
The first major Hollywood honors of the year will reveal their nominations on Monday, marking the official start of a months-long awards season culminating in the Oscars in March. Actors Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall will announce the nominees at 13:15 GMT.
Film categories packed with blockbusters and biopics
High-profile releases like Wicked: For Good, the conclusion to the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, are expected to dominate multiple categories. Last year's installment won the box office achievement prize at the Globes. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest in James Cameron's franchise, is also poised for recognition ahead of its holiday season release.
Other likely contenders include One Battle After Another, a drama about the kidnapping of a former revolutionary's daughter; Sinners, a 1930s-set vampire film; and Hamnet, an adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel about Shakespeare's son.
Sports biopics are also in the running, with Marty Supreme (table tennis), Christy (boxing), and The Smashing Machine (MMA) vying for attention. Additional contenders include conspiracy thriller Bugonia, a new Frankenstein adaptation, Hollywood satire Jay Kelly, and the Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.
A-listers vie for acting honors
The Golden Globes' expanded acting categories-36 slots compared to the Oscars' 20-allow for a broader range of nominees. Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) and Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) are among the stars expected to contend. Wicked: For Good leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande could repeat their nominations from the first film, while Sydney Sweeney (Christy) has drawn praise for her portrayal of boxer Christy Martin.
Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine) could earn his first major awards recognition, while George Clooney and Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly) are also in the mix. Irish actress Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) is a frontrunner for best actress, alongside Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia). Other potential nominees include Julia Roberts (After The Hunt), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere).
Television and new podcast category draw attention
The Globes uniquely honor both film and television, with this year's limited series category expected to spotlight British drama Adolescence, which dominated the Emmys in September. Other contenders include The Pitt, Severance, Slow Horses, and The White Lotus in drama, while The Studio, Hacks, and Abbott Elementary lead the comedy race.
A new category for best podcast debuts this year, reflecting the growing influence of the medium in entertainment.
Globes set the tone for Oscars race
Known for its relaxed atmosphere, the Golden Globes often feature unscripted moments and lively acceptance speeches. Host Nikki Glaser, who returned this year after a well-received 2025 monologue, will helm the ceremony in Los Angeles on January 11. The event's broadcast reach gives winners a platform to sway Academy voters, as past Globes victors like I'm Still Here and Flow have gone on to Oscar success.
The Globes have rebounded from a 2021 corruption scandal, re-establishing themselves as a key stop on the awards circuit. This year's ceremony promises star power, sharp humor, and a glimpse of the films and shows that will define the season.
