The entertainment industry turns its attention to the 2026 Golden Globe Awards as nominations prepare to unveil Hollywood’s first major honors of the awards season. Scheduled for announcement on Monday at 13:15 GMT by actors Marlon Wayans and Skye P Marshall, the shortlists will set the stage for a months-long campaign culminating with the Oscars in March.
This year’s competition features an impressive array of cinematic achievements across multiple genres. Blockbuster contenders include ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the concluding chapter of the Wicked Witch’s origin story, and James Cameron’s anticipated ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ which introduces the Na’vi to an aggressive new tribe. Historical adaptations also feature prominently, with ‘Hamnet’ bringing Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about Shakespeare’s son to the screen, while ‘One Battle After Another’ explores the kidnapping of a former revolutionary’s daughter.
The sports biopic category demonstrates particular strength with three major contenders: ‘Marty Supreme’ following a table-tennis player’s pursuit of greatness, ‘Christy’ chronicling boxer Christy Martin’s career, and ‘The Smashing Machine’ depicting UFC fighter Mark Kerr’s journey. These compete against diverse offerings including conspiracy theory drama ‘Bugonia,’ a fresh ‘Frankenstein’ adaptation, Hollywood satire ‘Jay Kelly,’ and Bruce Springsteen biopic ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.’
Acting categories promise fierce competition with numerous A-list performers in contention. Leonardo DiCaprio may earn recognition for his role as a former revolutionary in ‘One Battle After Another,’ while Timothée Chalamet could receive nomination for his portrayal of table tennis player Marty Mauser in ‘Marty Supreme.’ ‘Wicked: For Good’ stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande might repeat their previous nominations, with Sydney Sweeney generating buzz for her transformative performance as boxer Christy Martin.
Notable contenders include Dwayne Johnson’s awards play in MMA drama ‘The Smashing Machine,’ George Clooney and Adam Sandler’s collaboration in ‘Jay Kelly,’ and Irish actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal’s work in ‘Hamnet.’ Additional recognition may go to Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons for ‘Bugonia,’ Julia Roberts for ‘After The Hunt,’ and Jeremy Allen White for his portrayal of Springsteen.
The Globes maintain their unique position in awards season with 36 acting nomination slots—nearly double the Oscars’ 20—by separating categories between drama and musical or comedy. This approach allows for broader recognition and ensures a star-packed ceremony scheduled for January 11th in Los Angeles, with comedian Nikki Glaser returning as host following her critically acclaimed performance last year.
Television categories also command attention, particularly whether British drama ‘Adolescence’ will replicate its Emmy Awards success. The limited series about a teenage boy accused of stabbing a classmate faces competition from ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Severance,’ ‘Slow Horses,’ and ‘The White Lotus’ in drama categories, while comedy frontrunners include ‘The Studio,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Nobody Wants This,’ and ‘Abbott Elementary.’
This year introduces a new category recognizing podcast excellence, expanding the Globes’ traditional focus on film and television. The ceremony maintains its reputation as awards season’s ‘drunk uncle’—a more relaxed affair where celebrities mingle over drinks and meals, though the outcomes significantly influence Oscar trajectories. Last year’s winners Fernanda Torres and Sebastian Stan, along with Best Picture recipients ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Flow,’ demonstrated the Globes’ predictive power when they continued to Oscar success.