Golden Globes Launch 2026 Awards Season

Hollywood’s awards season is set to begin with the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, which will take place at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific. The event will be held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, and once again hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, who returns for her second year. This glamorous affair brings together […]

Hollywood’s awards season is set to begin with the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, which will take place at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific. The event will be held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, and once again hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, who returns for her second year. This glamorous affair brings together some of the biggest names in film and television, even though the Golden Globes are not necessarily a predictor of Oscar success.

Nominations and Surprises

One of the most notable films this year, “One Battle After Another,” received the most nominations with nine, closely followed by “Sentimental Value” with eight. However, there were some notable snubs, including “Wicked: For Good,” which was excluded from best picture and best director categories. Other high-profile names like Joe Rogan, Sydney Sweeney, and Gwyneth Paltrow also missed out on nominations, creating room for unexpected winners.

Broadcast and Presenters

The Golden Globe Awards will be broadcast on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+. The list of presenters announced on Thursday includes a mix of Hollywood A-listers such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Queen Latifah, alongside rising stars like Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams from “Heated Rivalry.” Additional presenters include Amanda Seyfried, Ana de Armas, Ayo Edebiri, Charli xcx, Chris Pine, Colman Domingo, and many more.

Political Tensions

In the wake of the tragic killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the political climate may influence the tone of the ceremony. The night’s frontrunner, “One Battle After Another,” opens with a raid on an ICE detention facility, potentially sparking discussions about the current administration’s policies.

TV Categories and New Blood

While the Golden Globes’ TV drama and comedy categories overlap with last year’s Emmys, the limited series category is filled with new talent. Recent buzzworthy shows like “All Her Fault,” “The Beast in Me,” and “The Girlfriend” have all been nominated for best limited series, but they face strong competition from “Adolescence.”

Compared to the complex Emmys calendar, the Golden Globes’ eligibility window is straightforward: if most of a show aired the previous year, it’s eligible. However, many of the top nominees are still reruns, with only “Pluribus” offering a fresh perspective.

Political Storylines

Last year, the Golden Globes largely avoided political discussions around President Donald Trump’s administration. This year, however, the situation may change. With Trump having reclaimed the White House, his name has been added to the exterior of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts building. Several artists have canceled appearances at the center, and viewership for the Kennedy Center Honors has dropped significantly.

Trump has also proposed a 100% tax on movies made outside the U.S., although no such tariffs have been implemented yet. Additionally, the ceremony will take place in California, a state that is central to political redistricting ahead of the U.S. midterms.

Voting Body and Diversity

This year’s voting body consists of nearly 400 journalists and film critics from around the world. The Golden Globes were originally presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, but after a series of scandals, Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge Industries acquired the rights in 2023. The voting body has since expanded to include more racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.

New Category: Podcasts

The Golden Globes introduced a new category this year: best podcast. The nominees include a mix of news and celebrity conversations, avoiding political controversy. The finalists are:

  1. “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard”
  2. “Call Her Daddy”
  3. “Good Hang with Amy Poehler”
  4. “The Mel Robbins Podcast”
  5. “SmartLess”
  6. “Up First,” from NPR

Notably, popular conservative-leaning podcasts like “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “The Tucker Carlson Show” were excluded, as well as left-leaning shows like “Pod Save America” and true-crime podcasts like “Morbid” and “Rotten Mango.”

Warner Bros. Dominance

Warner Bros. is expected to have a big night at the Golden Globes, despite being on the verge of being sold. The studio is behind several top contenders, including “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” and “The White Lotus.” Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to be acquired by Netflix in a deal worth $82.7 million, but Netflix leads with 35 nominations compared to Warner Bros.’ 31.

Top Nominees

FILMS

1. “One Battle After Another”: 9

2. “Sentimental Value”: 8

3. “Sinners”: 7

4. “Hamnet”: 6

5. “Frankenstein” and “Wicked: For Good”: 5 each

TELEVISION

1. “The White Lotus”: 6

2. “Adolescence”: 5

3. “Only Murders in the Building” and “Severance”: 4 each

4. “The Bear,” “The Beast in Me,” “Black Mirror,” “Hacks,” “Nobody Wants This,” and “The Studio”: 3 each

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