The 2026 Critics Choice Award Nominations

Awards overview

Award season is currently underway, with the 2026 Critics Choice Awards among the key early ceremonies of the year. The nominations precede a ceremony scheduled for January 4, 2026, which is set to honor achievements across both film and television.

Leading film nominees

Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners” tops the list with a leading 17 nominations, making it the most-recognized title of the year. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” follows closely with 14 nominations, positioning both films as major contenders throughout multiple categories.

Best Picture field

The Best Picture race features “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” alongside several other prominent titles. Among the additional nominees are the visually ambitious “Frankenstein,” the literary-inspired drama “Hamnet,” and the musical fantasy “Wicked: For Good.”

Notable acting and craft recognition

Across the acting categories, performers from “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” “Train Dreams,” and “Wicked: For Good” receive prominent placement, including nominations for lead and supporting roles as well as young performers. Technical branches highlight work in cinematography, production design, score, and original song for films such as “Frankenstein,” “F1,” “The Testament of Ann Lee,” “Train Dreams,” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

Television highlights

On the television side, Netflix’s limited series “Adolescence” emerges as the most-nominated program with six mentions across categories. Another Netflix production, the romantic comedy “Nobody Wants This,” follows with five nominations, signaling strong presence for the platform in this year’s lineup.

Ceremony details

Winners in both film and television categories will be announced at the Critics Choice Awards ceremony on January 4, 2026. The event will once again feature Chelsea Handler as host, continuing her role as returning emcee for the show.

Selected key facts list

“Sinners” leads all titles with 17 nominations.
“One Battle After Another” secures 14 nominations.
Other Best Picture contenders include “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” and “Wicked: For Good.”
“Adolescence” is the top-nominated series with six nods.
“Nobody Wants This” earns five television nominations.
Winners will be revealed on January 4, 2026, at a ceremony hosted by Chelsea Handler.

“Sinners” led the nominations with 17, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 14, as the Critics Choice Awards unveiled their 2026 slate of honorees.

Author’s summary

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards spotlight “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” as dominant contenders while Netflix’s “Adolescence” leads TV, setting the stage for a high-profile January 4 ceremony.

Vulture on MSN — 2025-12-06