Start the year with clean style and subtle statements at the Critics Choice Awards 2026

The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards officially launched the 2026 awards season on January 4, 2026, with a ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, the night was defined by a shift toward "refined style," historical tributes, and a major sweep by Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.

Top Honors: A Night for Auteurs

While Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller Sinners led the field with 17 nominations, it was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another that dominated the marquee categories, securing Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Major Film Winners:

• Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet for his role as a 1950s table-tennis pro in Marty Supreme.
• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, cementing her status as a frontrunner for the upcoming Oscars.
• Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
• Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan for Weapons.
• Most Wins: Frankenstein and Sinners tied for the highest trophy count, with four awards each across technical and ensemble categories.

Television Breakthroughs

The television categories saw a dominant performance from Netflix’s 

Adolescence

, which won every category it was nominated in, including Best Limited Series.

• Best Drama Series: The Pitt (HBO Max).
• Best Comedy Series: The Studio (Apple TV+).
• Leading Performances: Noah Wyle (The Pitt) and Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus) took home the drama acting trophies, while Seth Rogen (The Studio) and Jean Smart (Hacks) won for comedy.

Style and "Subtle Statements"

The 2026 red carpet embraced archival fashion and minimalist silhouettes over flashy trends.

• Archival Elegance: Elle Fanning wore a vintage 2023 Ralph Lauren "liquid gold" gown, and Kylie Jenner opted for an archival Versace look.
• Style Risks: Best Actress winner Jessie Buckley challenged tradition by wearing a minimalist Dior ensemble featuring black trousers. Teyana Taylor made a bold statement in a feathered Saint Laurent power suit.
• Themed Glamour: Ariana Grande arrived in an ethereal "Glinda-pink" Alberta Ferretti gown as a nod to Wicked: For Good.

Viral and Heartfelt Moments

• Chalamet’s Acknowledgment: In a rare public display of affection, Timothée Chalamet thanked his "partner of three years," Kylie Jenner, during his acceptance speech, stating he "couldn't do this without [her]".
• Tributes: Chelsea Handler opened the show with a moving tribute to the late Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, calling Reiner the "nicest guy in Hollywood".
• Record Breaker: 16-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the youngest recipient of a Critics Choice Award for his supporting role in Adolescence
  .
• Comedy Bit: Hacks stars Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter went viral for arriving in exact replicas of the matching orange outfits Chalamet and Jenner wore to the Marty Supreme premiere.