Established in 1995, the Critics Choice Awards recognize the best performances in film and television, as voted on by members of the Critics Choice Association (CCA) – a collective of more than 500 film and television critics and entertainment journalists from the United States and Canada.
The 31st annual Critics’ Choice Awards will take place on January 4, 2026, with Chelsea Handler serving as host for the fourth consecutive time. Here’s how to watch it online and from anywhere with a VPN.
The Critics’ Choice Awards, which will take place this year before the Golden Globes, will kick off the awards season. It also means that winners could benefit from early momentum and shape opinion in the run-up to the Oscars and Emmys, which are the biggest events. In fact, many CCA winners have gone on to win major awards, including Oppenheimer (2024), Everything everywhere at the same time (2023), and Succession (TV).
This year’s ceremony will feature 23 film categories and 21 television categories, including four new additions: Best Cast and Ensemble, Best Variety Series, Best Sound and Best Stunt Design.
Ryan Coogler Sinners leads with 17 nominations – just behind barbie in 2023 – including Best Picture, Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Actress (Miles Caton), Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and more. Adolescence dominates the television nominations, with appearances in six categories, including Best Actor (Stephen Graham), Best Supporting Actor (Owen Cooper) and Best Supporting Actress (Erin Doherty).
Continue reading below and watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards live or on demand, no matter where you are in the world.
How to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 online in the US
See you on January 4 when the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 live stream on E! and the USA network at 7 p.m. ET/PT. If you miss the initial broadcast, don’t worry: you can just stream it the next day on Peacock. Subscription plans for the NBC streamer start from just $7.99 per month.
Don’t have cable? Don’t worry, you can get E! and the USA Network via one of the best alternative cable providers. Sling TV is our top recommendation, as it offers good value for money and has over 40 channels to choose from. E! and USA Network are both available on Sling Blue, which starts at $46/month, but you can currently get $10 off your first month.
Subscribe to a service that streams the Critics’ Choice Awards but is currently absent? You can use a VPN like NordVPN to access your usual services wherever you are – more details below.
How to watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards from anywhere
If you’re traveling internationally during the Critics’ Choice Awards broadcast, you won’t be able to watch the show like you normally would due to annoying regional restrictions. Fortunately, there is a simple solution.
Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream online no matter where you are. It’s a simple piece of software that changes your IP address, meaning you can access on-demand content or live TV as if you were at home.
Use one of best VPNs to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 from anywhere.
How to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 around the world
Can I watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 online in Canada?
It is currently unclear if and when Canadian users will be able to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026. If that changes, we will be sure to provide all the latest information here.
A US citizen abroad? You can overcome geoblocks and access your Peacock subscription with a good VPN, no matter where in the world you’re streaming from.
Can I watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 in the UK?
There is currently no way to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 in the UK. Peacock is exclusive to the US and, as of yet, no UK network has secured the rights to broadcast this prestigious event.
As mentioned earlier, if you’re abroad when the Critics’ Choice Awards air, you can try using a VPN – that way you’ll still be able to access the same streaming services you enjoy at home. We recommend NordVPN.
How to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 in Australia
Although Australian streaming service Stan aired last year’s Critics’ Choice Awards – and is available on demand now – the provider has so far not indicated whether it will broadcast the ceremony live this year.
A US citizen in Australia? If you’re trying to stream the glitzy Critics’ Choice Awards party but are experiencing geoblocks, download a VPN like NordVPN will change your IP address and allow you to use the services you already pay for at home.
Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 nominations
MOVIE
Best picture
- Bugonia
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Jay Kelly
- Marty Supreme
- One battle after another
- Sentimental value
- Sinners
- Form dreams
- Villain: for good
Best Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson – One battle after another
- Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
- Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
- Joachim Trier – Sentimental
- Chloe Zhao – Hamnet
Best Actor
- Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
- Leonard DiCaprio – One battle after another
- Joel Edgerton – Form dreams
- Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
- Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
- Wagner Moura – The secret agent
Best actress
- Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Rose Byrne – If I had legs I’d kick you
- Pursuing Infiniti – One battle after another
- Renate Reinsvé – Sentimental value
- Amanda Seyfried – Ann Lee’s will
- Emma Pierre – Bugonia
Best Supporting Actor
- Benicio del Toro – One battle after another
- Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
- Paul Mescal – Hamnet
- Sean Penn – One battle after another
- Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
- Stellan Skarsgard – Sentimental value
Best Supporting Actress
- Elle Fanning – Sentimental value
- Ariana Grande – Villain: for good
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental value
- Amy Madigan – Weapons
- Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
- Teyana Taylor – One battle after another
Best Original Screenplay
- Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly
- Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
- Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Zach Cregger – Weapons
- Eva Victor – Sorry, baby
- Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental value
Best Foreign Language Film
- It was just an accident
- Left-handed girl
- No other choice
- The secret agent
- Sirat
- Belen
TV
Best Drama Series
- Extraterrestrial: Earth
- Andor
- The diplomat
- Heaven
- The Pitt
- Pluribus
- Breakup
- Stain
Best Actor in a Drama Series
- Sterling K. Brown – Heaven
- Diego Luna – Andor
- Marc Ruffalo – Stain
- Adam Scott – Breakup
- Billy Bob Thornton – Landman
- Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Best Actress in a Drama Series
- Kathy Bates – Matlock
- Carrie Coon – The golden age
- Lower Britt – Breakup
- Bella Ramsey – The last of us
- Keri Russell – The diplomat
- Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
Best comedy series
- Abbott Elementary School
- Elsbeth
- Specters
- Tips
- Nobody wants that
- Only murders in the building
- The right gemstones
- The Workshop
Best Limited Series
- Adolescence
- All his fault
- Warlord
- Death by lightning
- Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
- drug thief
- Die for sex
- The girlfriend
You can find the full list of categories and nominees on the official Critics’ Choice Awards website.
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