2026 Awards Season: Key Dates and Viewing Guide
Discover the essential calendar for the 2026 awards season, including when and where to watch the Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes, Oscars, and more. Find out which films and artists are leading the nominations.
The annual flurry of film and television accolades is upon us once again, with the 2026 season opening on 4 January at the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards. Following a year marked by fiercely contested releases and a blend of critical and public acclaim, anticipation for this year’s ceremonies is at a peak.
Major Contenders and Anticipated Films
Last year’s slate was dominated by auteur-driven works, with Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice all making significant waves. As the awards season unfolds, these titles are expected to feature prominently across the major events.
With each ceremony drawing closer, here’s a comprehensive look at the key dates, broadcast details, and leading nominees for the most significant events on the calendar.
Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes
The 31st Critics’ Choice Awards will be held on 4 January, with Chelsea Handler returning as host. The event will be broadcast live on E! and USA Network, with streaming available via Peacock in the United States. Red carpet coverage begins at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET), and the main ceremony starts at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). Sinners leads the field with seventeen nominations, including Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture, closely followed by One Battle After Another with fourteen nods.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards follow on 11 January, airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Nikki Glaser will once again take on hosting duties. The red carpet opens at 9:15 a.m. PT (12:15 p.m. ET), with the ceremony commencing at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT). Paul Thomas Anderson’s film is again a frontrunner, securing nine nominations, while The White Lotus leads the television categories with six.
Grammys, BAFTA, and Actor Awards
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are set for 1 February, broadcast on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+. The red carpet is expected to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT), with the main event at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT). Kendrick Lamar heads the nominations with nine, following a strong showing at the Recording Academy last year.
The 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) will take place on 22 February, hosted by Alan Cumming. UK viewers can watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while BritBox will provide access in the United States. The red carpet is anticipated to start at 3:00 p.m. GMT (10:00 a.m. ET, 7:00 a.m. PT), with the ceremony typically available for US audiences at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) via a same-day delayed stream. Nominations are due to be announced on 27 January.
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, are scheduled for 1 March and will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. The red carpet begins at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT), with the ceremony at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT). Nominees will be revealed on 7 January through SAG-AFTRA’s digital channels.
Oscars and International Timings
The 98th Academy Awards will close the season on 15 March, with Conan O’Brien returning as host for a second year. The event will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). The red carpet is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT). Final nominations will be announced on 22 January via Oscars.org and YouTube.
For those watching from abroad, here’s a quick reference for start times across key regions:
Critics Choice Awards: 12:00 a.m. (UK), 4:00 a.m. (India), 3:00 a.m. (Middle East), 8:00 a.m. (Japan)
Golden Globes: 1:00 a.m. (UK), 5:30 a.m. (India), 4:00 a.m. (Middle East), 9:00 a.m. (Japan)
Grammys: 1:00 a.m. (UK), 5:30 a.m. (India), 4:00 a.m. (Middle East), 9:00 a.m. (Japan)
BAFTA: 7:00 p.m. (UK), US times vary
Actor Awards: 1:00 a.m. (UK), 5:30 a.m. (India), 4:00 a.m. (Middle East), 9:00 a.m. (Japan)
Oscars: 12:00 a.m. (UK), 4:30 a.m. (India), 3:00 a.m. (Middle East), 8:00 a.m. (Japan)
With Sinners and One Battle After Another consistently topping the nominations, these two are poised to be the season’s most recognised titles.
Which productions do you expect to see triumph this year? Feel free to share your thoughts below.