The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards, the first major competitive awards show of 2026, takes place Sunday, January 4. Chelsea Handler is back to host the ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The three-hour show will air live on E! and USA Network with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Who’s leading the Critics Choice nominations?
This year’s nominees are led by Sinners, the Warner Bros genre thriller from Ryan Coogler and his double-star Michael B. Jordan. The pic is up for a leading 17 nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Just behind is another Warners pic, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, follows with 14 noms.
The additional Best Picture nominees this year: Bugonia (Focus Features), Frankenstein (Netflix), Hamnet (Focus Features), Jay Kelly (Netflix), Marty Supreme (A24), Sentimental Value (Neon), Train Dreams (Netflix)
and Wicked: For Good (Universal).
On the TV side, Netflix’s Emmy winner Adolescence (six nominations) and Nobody Wants This (five nominations) pace the field.
This year’s show will also feature four new categories: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Sound. Casting, remember, becomes an official Oscar category as of this year’s ceremony, with Stunts to follow in 2027.
Is the Critics Choice red carpet televised?
The LIVE from E!: Critics Choice Awards red carpet special will air live beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT across E! and USA Network. Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight host along with Will Marfuggi and Erin Lim.
Who are this year’s Critics Choice presenters?
This year’s list includes Ali Larter, Alicia Silverstone, Allison Janney, Arden Cho, Ava DuVernay, Bradley Whitford, Billy Bob Thornton, Colman Domingo, Diego Luna, EJAE, Hannah Einbinder, Jeff Goldblum, Jessica Williams, Justin Hartley, Justin Sylvester, Kaley Cuoco, Keltie Knight, Marcello Hernández, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Noah Schnapp, Owen Cooper, Quinta Brunson, Regina Hall, Rhea Seehorn, Sebastian Maniscalco and William H. Macy.
Can you watch this year’s Critics Choice Awards online?
Organizer the Critics Choice Association says content will be available on Instagram and X @CriticsChoice, on TikTok @OfficialCriticsChoice, and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards, with the hashtag #CriticsChoiceAwards. Additionally, @enews and @eentertainment will have live red carpet and awards coverage.
