Critics Choice Awards: Everything you need to know about the ceremony | Host, presenters

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards, which take place in California this weekend, will serve as one of the best early indicators of which films and TV shows will dominate this year’s awards season — a stretch that also includes the Oscars, Emmys, BAFTAs, Tonys... etc. If you want to stay ahead of the curve on the year’s standout productions, this ceremony is one you won’t want to miss.

Critics Choice Awards celebrates its 31st edition

The Critics Choice Awards have been presented annually since 1995 by the Critics Choice Association (CCA), a group made up of film and television critics from across the United States and Canada. Their mission is to recognize the year’s best work from the perspective of professional critics. Because of that, the ceremony is often praised for being one of the most inclusive and wide‑ranging, spotlighting not only major studio releases but also independent and auteur‑driven projects.

This year sees the addition of four new categories: Best Casting and Ensemble, Best Sound, and Best Stunt Design - all in film, and Best Variety Series in television. These take the total number of awards to be handed out to 23 in film and 21 in television.

Who is hosting the 2026 Critics Choice Awards ceremony?

Hosting the ceremony for the fourth year running will be comedian, television host, and seven-time New York Times best-selling author Chelsea Handler.

“Kicking off the year with the Critics Choice Awards feels right — nothing says ‘new beginnings’ like a room full of critics ready to tell you how you did last year,” Handler said in a CCA statement.

How to watch the Critics Choice Awards ceremony

The 31st Critics Choice Awards ceremony will take place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on Sunday, January 4, 2026 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The event will be aired live across USA Network and E! from 7:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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