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Golden Globes open with political jabs and celebrity banter
The 2026 Golden Globes launched Hollywood's awards season Sunday night, blending biting humor, emotional acceptance speeches, and playful industry critiques. Host Nikki Glaser set the tone with rapid-fire jokes targeting everything from U.S. politics to the entertainment industry's quirks.
Glaser's opening monologue mixes satire and controversy
The comedian opened the ceremony by roasting the U.S. Department of Justice, CBS (the broadcaster airing the event), and even Hollywood's own production drought in Los Angeles. She quipped that the room was filled with A-list stars from a "heavily redacted" list before handing out a mock "Best Editing" award to the DOJ for its handling of the Epstein files.
Glaser later parodied Nicole Kidman's viral AMC theaters PSA and performed a K-pop parody of Demon Hunter's hit Golden, though her rendition was cut short by former SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, who deemed her singing "annoying."
Historic wins and heartfelt speeches define the night
The first major award of the evening went to the star of One Battle After Another, who used her acceptance speech to deliver a powerful message to young women of color. "Our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much," she said, emphasizing that "we belong in every room we walk into."
A first-time category for podcasts also made its debut, with Amy Poehler winning for Good Hang with Amy Poehler. She gushed over presenter Snoop Dogg, joking that she hoped he was a fan of her show, before naming Meryl Streep as her "dream listener."
Timothée Chalamet took home the top male acting prize for his role in Marty Supreme, thanking co-star Kevin O'Leary-better known as "Mr. Wonderful" from Shark Tank-in a lighthearted nod to their unexpected collaboration in an A24 ping-pong film.
Animated film triumphs and industry critiques steal the spotlight
The animated juggernaut The Studio won two major awards, including Best Animated Film and Best Song for Golden. Creators celebrated the film's unapologetic embrace of "women who are strong, bold, really silly, weird, hungry for food, and sometimes a little thirsty." Backstage, writer Chris Appelhans admitted uncertainty about replicating the film's success for its Netflix sequel, calling it a "lightning in a bottle" moment.
Director Judd Apatow, who revealed he had boycotted the Globes for a decade, used his presenting moment to skewer the ceremony's category definitions. He mocked the grouping of comedies and musicals, recalling his frustration when The Martian (a sci-fi film) beat his 2015 comedy Trainwreck. "That was 10 years ago," he deadpanned. "Since then, we've had COVID. I believe we're a dictatorship now."
Onstage chemistry and gender-flipped humor entertain the crowd
Breakout stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams of the erotic ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry brought their onscreen chemistry to the Globes while presenting the award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series. Their playful banter-including Williams' suggestion that Storrie imagine the audience in their underwear-drew laughter and cheers, especially when they confirmed that "trainers, daughters, and moms" had all seen their film.
Melissa McCarthy and Kathryn Hahn delivered a sharp gender-flipped bit while presenting a male acting award, joking about men finally getting "a seat at the table" in Hollywood. The routine echoed the iconic hosting style of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, culminating in a playful curtsy when they accepted an award on behalf of absent winner Michelle Williams.
Awards race heats up as Oscars loom
With wins for One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Adolescence, and The Studio, the Golden Globes have set the stage for the upcoming Oscars. The night's mix of humor, heartfelt speeches, and industry introspection underscored the ceremony's role as both a celebration and a mirror for Hollywood's evolving landscape.
