Golden Globes 2026: Hollywood’s Booziest Bash Meets Uneasy Times

The Golden Globes like to brand themselves as Hollywood’s most freewheeling, alcohol-fuelled awards show. But as the 83rd Golden Globe Awards get underway on Sunday night, the question hanging over Beverly Hills is a simple one: is anyone really in the mood to party?

Political tension and deep uncertainty across the film industry have set a subdued tone ahead of the ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Hollywood is emerging from a disappointing box-office year and is now watching anxiously as one of its most storied studios, Warner Bros., faces an uncertain future amid takeover battles.

Adding to the unease is the political climate. Many of the actors and filmmakers gathering for the Globes are openly opposed to the policies of US President Donald Trump, and recent events are likely weighing on attendees’ minds — including Washington’s involvement in Venezuela and the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

Despite that, the Globes have long tried to prioritise pomp over politics, and host Nikki Glaser says she intends to keep it that way.

“You’d be surprised that half the room had no clue why I was saying ‘Venezuela,’” Glaser told The Associated Press earlier this week, referring to her comedy-club warm-up sets. “People aren’t getting the news like we all are.”

Known for her sharp roast-style humour, Glaser is hosting the Globes for the second time and has promised to take aim at Hollywood’s biggest stars.

“We’re going to hit Leo,” she said, referring to Leonardo DiCaprio. “The icebergs are coming.”

When and Where to Watch

The Golden Globes begin at 8 pm EST on CBS, with live streaming available for Paramount+ Premium subscribers. Red carpet coverage on E! starts at 6 pm EST.

The Associated Press will also run a livestream from 4:30 pm EST, featuring celebrity arrivals, fashion coverage and interviews, available on YouTube and AP News platforms.

Film Races to Watch

The clear frontrunner heading into the night is “One Battle After Another,” which leads the field with nine nominations. The film is competing in the musical or comedy category, opening the drama race to tougher competition from Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value.”

So far this awards season, One Battle After Another has dominated, with nominations for much of Paul Thomas Anderson’s ensemble cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Chase Infiniti.

If it and Sinners win the top prizes, it could be a banner night for Warner Bros. — even as the studio’s future hangs in the balance. Warner has agreed to be acquired by Netflix in a deal valued at $82.7 billion, a merger that has alarmed movie theatre owners, who warn it could have “a direct and irreversible negative impact” on cinemas worldwide. The deal still awaits regulatory approval, while Paramount Skydance continues to push a rival bid.

Acting Contenders

After an aggressive awards campaign for Marty Supreme, Timothée Chalamet could finally win his first Golden Globe after five nominations. In the best actor, musical or comedy category, he faces stiff competition from DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke.

In best actress, musical or comedy, Rose Byrne is the favourite for her role in A24’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, while nominee Cynthia Erivo will miss the ceremony due to her stage commitments in London’s Dracula.

The drama acting categories are equally competitive. Jessie Buckley is widely tipped to win best actress, drama, while Brazilian actor Wagner Moura could edge past Michael B. Jordan and Joel Edgerton in best actor, drama. In the supporting races, Teyana Taylor and Stellan Skarsgård enter as favourites.

Why the Globes Still Matter

Though the Globes have no direct voting overlap with the Academy Awards, they remain a powerful momentum-builder. Since being sold in 2023 to Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, the awards are now voted on by around 400 international journalists, compared with the Oscars’ more than 10,500 industry professionals.

A strong Golden Globes speech can still turbocharge an Oscar campaign. Last year, Demi Moore’s emotional win for The Substance boosted her awards run, even though Mikey Madison ultimately claimed the Oscar.

Some honours were handed out earlier this week at a Golden Eve ceremony, where Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker received the Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett awards, respectively.

Moments to Watch

One of the night’s most closely watched potential winners is Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose film It Was Just an Accident is nominated in four categories. Panahi, long persecuted by Iranian authorities, was recently sentenced to another year in prison, even as protests over Iran’s economic crisis spread across the country.

This year also marks the first-ever podcast category at the Globes, with nominees including Armchair Expert, Call Her Daddy, SmartLess and Up First.

On the television side, HBO Max’s “The White Lotus” leads with six nominations, followed closely by Netflix’s Adolescence. Another intriguing contender is “The Studio,” Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire — whose first season memorably featured an episode centred on a chaotic night at the Golden Globes itself.

As Hollywood gathers once more under the chandeliers of the Beverly Hilton, the Globes promise glamour, jokes and champagne — even if the mood this year is a little more anxious than usual.