The 2026 awards season officially ignited in Hollywood last night as the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards unfolded at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The ceremony, hosted for a fourth consecutive year by Chelsea Handler, saw its first trophy of the evening go to 20-year-old actor Miles Caton.
A Star Is Born: Miles Caton's Breakthrough Win
Miles Caton claimed the award for Best Young Actor/Actress for his debut performance as musician Sammie Moore in the blockbuster vampire thriller 'Sinners'. The young star triumphed over a formidable shortlist that included Everett Blunck ('The Plague'), Cary Christopher ('Weapons'), Shannon Mahina Gorman ('Rental Family'), Jacobi Jupe ('Hamnet'), and Nina Ye ('Left-Handed Girl').
In a charming and humble acceptance speech, Caton thanked the film's producers and its director and writer, Ryan Coogler. He quipped, "Thank you for seeing whatever it is you could see in that poorly lit audition video that I sent you guys." His win sets a promising tone for a ceremony renowned for predicting future Oscar success.
'Sinners' Dominates as the Awards Season Crystal Ball Gazes
The Critics Choice Awards are widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most reliable indicators of Academy Awards glory. This predictive power was evident last season when 'Anora' leveraged its Best Picture win here to secure Oscar momentum after being overlooked at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.
This year, Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' leads the film pack with a staggering 17 nominations, just one shy of the record set by 'Barbie' in 2024. The film is nominated for the top honour of Best Picture, alongside contenders like 'One Battle After Another' (14 nominations), 'Hamnet' (11), and 'Frankenstein' (11).
With the Golden Globes not airing until January 11, the Critics Choice ceremony stands as the first major televised awards event of 2026, offering studios and contenders a crucial early platform.
Fierce Competition Across Film and Television
The acting categories are brimming with heavyweight talent. The Best Actor race features Timothée Chalamet ('Marty Supreme'), Leonardo DiCaprio ('One Battle After Another'), Joel Edgerton ('Train Dreams'), Ethan Hawke ('Blue Moon'), Michael B. Jordan ('Sinners'), and Wagner Moura ('The Secret Agent').
For Best Actress, nominees include Jessie Buckley ('Hamnet'), Rose Byrne ('If I Had Legs I’d Kick You'), Chase Infiniti ('One Battle After Another'), Renate Reinsve ('Sentimental Value'), Amanda Seyfried ('The Testament of Ann Lee'), and Emma Stone ('Bugonia').
On the television side, the limited series 'Adolescence' leads with six nominations. The drama categories are fiercely competitive, with stars like Sterling K. Brown ('Paradise'), Keri Russell ('The Diplomat'), and Bella Ramsey ('The Last of Us') in contention. In comedy, fan favourites from 'Hacks', 'Abbott Elementary', and 'Ghosts' received nods.
The ceremony also introduced four new categories this year: Best Variety Series, Best Casting, Best Stunt Design, and Best Sound.
A Night of Glitz and Predictions
Host Chelsea Handler opened the show with a sharp monologue that playfully targeted figures like Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Costner, and Nicki Minaj. The red carpet was a parade of A-listers, including nominees such as Chalamet, Stone, and Ariana Grande, who scored a Supporting Actress nod for 'Wicked: For Good'.
Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin described the awards as "a celebration of the very best in film and television," highlighting the role of the group's voters in guiding audiences toward exceptional storytelling.
The 31st Critics Choice Awards aired live on the USA Network and E! on Sunday, January 4. As the first major bellwether of the season, its results will undoubtedly shape the conversation in the weeks leading up to the Oscars.
