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Golden Globes 2026: Key films and stars in the running
The 2026 Golden Globe Awards will take place this Sunday in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment in the film awards season with Oscar nominations just 11 days away. This year's ceremony introduces a new category for best podcast, while films like One Battle After Another, Sinners and Marty Supreme lead the competition.
Top contenders and new additions
One Battle After Another, a drama about a former revolutionary whose daughter is kidnapped, tops the nominations after earning widespread critical acclaim in 2025. It faces stiff competition from Sentimental Value, a Norwegian film about two sisters reconnecting with their estranged father following their mother's death, and Sinners, a vampire horror-drama set in 1930s Mississippi that became an early Oscar frontrunner.
Other notable nominees include Hamnet, an adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel exploring Shakespeare's personal tragedy; Frankenstein, a fresh emotional take on Mary Shelley's classic; and Wicked: For Good, the conclusion to the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The Cannes Film Festival's top prize winner, It Was Just an Accident, a kidnapping drama about revenge, is also in the running.
New podcast category
For the first time, the Golden Globes will award a trophy for best podcast, expanding beyond traditional film and television categories. On the TV side, series like Adolescence, The Pitt and The Studio are among the nominees.
Acting races and predictions
Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) and Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) are set for a high-stakes showdown in the best actor in a musical or comedy category, with Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) as a potential wildcard. In the drama actor race, Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) is a strong contender, though Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), last year's Cannes winner, could disrupt expectations given the Globes' recent embrace of international talent.
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) is the clear favorite for best drama actress, while the musical or comedy actress category features a mix of veterans like Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You) and Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue) alongside rising star Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another). Supporting categories include Amy Madigan (Weapons), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) and Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor (all for One Battle After Another).
Host and ceremony details
Comedian Nikki Glaser returns as host after her well-received performance last year, where her opening monologue drew comparisons to past Globe greats like Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey. Glaser, who described the experience as the "most fun" of her career, admitted to feeling intimidated by the star-studded audience but plans to "blur [her] eyes" on stage to ease nerves.
The ceremony begins at 01:00 GMT on Monday (8:00 PM ET Sunday) and will air live on CBS in the U.S., with streaming available on Paramount+. UK viewers won't have a legal live option but can follow updates on BBC News. The event typically runs three to four hours and will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Lifetime achievement awards
The Globes presented their lifetime achievement honors early this year at the inaugural Globes Eve ceremony. Sarah Jessica Parker received the Carol Burnett Award for her contributions to television, while Dame Helen Mirren was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her film career. Mirren reflected on the award as recognition of "a life lived, a life survived, a life enjoyed," while Parker thanked her supporters for making her career "an inconceivable life."
Impact on the Oscars
While a Golden Globe win doesn't guarantee an Oscar, it can significantly boost a film or actor's momentum. Last year, Sebastian Stan, Demi Moore and Fernanda Torres earned Oscar nominations after their Globe victories, though Stan's nod was for a different project. Films like Flow and I'm Still Here used early Globe wins to propel their campaigns, ultimately triumphing in the animated and international categories at the Oscars.
Known for its relaxed, irreverent tone-often called the "drunk uncle" of awards season-the Golden Globes offer a contrast to the formality of the Oscars. With Glaser at the helm, expect celebrities to embrace the fun, even if they're first subjected to her signature roasts.
