The 2026 Critics Choice Awards delivered an evening of memorable wins and clear awards-season signals, as the film and television industry gathered in Santa Monica to celebrate the past year’s most acclaimed work. With critics weighing in ahead of the Oscars, the ceremony once again proved its influence — and this year, a handful of standout performances stole the spotlight.
Leading Acting Honors Go to Chalamet and Buckley
Timothée Chalamet emerged as one of the night’s most talked-about winners, securing the Best Actor award for his role in Marty Supreme. His performance, centered on a fiercely driven young athlete navigating ambition and identity, has been widely praised for its intensity and emotional precision. The win places Chalamet firmly among the frontrunners in the wider awards race.
On the Best Actress side, Jessie Buckley claimed top honors for her moving portrayal in Hamnet. Her performance, rooted in themes of loss, resilience, and emotional depth, resonated strongly with critics. Accepting the award, Buckley spoke candidly about the creative experience, highlighting how deeply she connected with the project and its characters.
Together, their victories marked a defining moment of the ceremony, reinforcing both actors as major forces this awards season.
Major Film Wins and Critical Favorites
The Critics Choice Award for Best Picture went to One Battle After Another, a film that also earned accolades for directing and adapted screenplay. Its success reflected strong critical support for ambitious storytelling and bold filmmaking choices.
Elsewhere, several films shared the spotlight. Sinners, which entered the night with a leading number of nominations, picked up multiple awards across creative categories, while Frankenstein was recognized for its technical and artistic achievements. The diversity of winners highlighted the critics’ willingness to champion both large-scale productions and more experimental projects.
Television Triumphs Across Genres
Television categories also saw decisive winners. The limited series Adolescence dominated its field, collecting several awards and reinforcing its reputation as one of the year’s most impactful small-screen stories.
In ongoing series categories, The Pitt took home Best Drama Series, while The Studio earned recognition as Best Comedy Series. Variety and talk programming were also acknowledged, continuing the Critics Choice tradition of honoring a broad spectrum of television formats.
Setting the Tone for the Season Ahead
As one of the earliest major awards ceremonies of the year, the Critics Choice Awards often shape expectations for what lies ahead. This year’s results suggest growing momentum for several performances and projects that are likely to remain in contention as Oscar nominations approach.
With strong critical backing now firmly established, the 2026 awards season is off to a compelling start — and if this ceremony is any indication, the race ahead promises to be both competitive and unpredictable.
