Critics Choice Awards 2026 Nominations Spark Major Awards Season Buzz
So, the nominations for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards have just been announced, and the industry is buzzing because this year’s lineup feels like a true heavyweight showdown across both film and television. The Critics Choice Association has once again combined both formats into one big celebration, and the energy around these nominations is already setting the tone for the rest of awards season.
On the film side, the clear frontrunner is Warner Bros.’ Sinners , which has been nominated a staggering 17 times. It’s been placed in virtually every major category—Best Picture, Best Director for Ryan Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan—making it one of those films that’s hard to ignore going into the bigger ceremonies like the Oscars. Right behind it is Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another , which picked up 14 nominations and has Leonardo DiCaprio back in awards conversations yet again. And yes, this film already has momentum after scoring at the Gothams and landing on the AFI Top 10 list, so plenty of eyes are on its trajectory.
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Netflix is having a strong year too. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and the beautifully atmospheric Hamnet from Focus Features earned 11 nominations each. Both are competing for Best Picture, along with titles like Bugonia , Jay Kelly , Sentimental Value , and Universal’s Wicked: For Good . It’s one of those rare years when the Best Picture race feels genuinely wide open.
The ceremony itself will be held on January 4 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, with Chelsea Handler hosting again. It’s going to air live on both E! and USA Network, so the broadcast aims to feel bigger and more accessible than ever.
Television categories are equally stacked. Netflix’s Adolescence leads the TV side with strong performances and ensemble recognition, while drama series like Severance , The Diplomat , Andor , and The Pitt are all back in the spotlight. Comedy favorites such as Abbott Elementary , Hacks , Ghosts , and Only Murders in the Building also returned with multiple nominations, showing how consistently strong those shows have been.
With early-season markers like the Gotham Awards, NYFCC picks, and AFI honorees already signaling which titles are heating up, the Critics Choice Awards have now added their own spark to what’s shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable awards season. The full list is massive, covering everything from cinematography and editing to stunts, costumes, and international categories, but overall the message is clear: this year’s race is packed, competitive, and full of standout achievements across the industry.
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