Started in 1995, the Critics Choice Awards honor the best performances in film and television, as voted by members of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), a collective of more than 500 film and television critics and entertainment journalists in the U.S. and Canada.
The 31st annual Critics’ Choice Awards will take place on January 4, 2026, and Chelsea Handler will 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 be presented this year before the Golden Globes, will kick off the awards season. That also means winners here could enjoy an early boost and shape opinion heading into the Oscars and Emmys, which are the biggest events. In fact, many CCA winners have earned major awards, including oppenheimer (2024), Everything everywhere and 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 Cast, Best Variety Series, Best Sound and Best Stunt Design.
Ryan Coogler sinners leads with 17 nominations, only surpassed by 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 ceremony live or on-demand, no matter where you are in the world.
How to watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards online in the US
Tune in on January 4 when the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards air live on E! and the USA Network in 7 pm Eastern/Pacific. If you miss the initial broadcast, don’t worry: you can simply stream it the next day on Peacock. NBC streamer subscription plans start at just $7.99 a month.
Don’t have cable? Don’t worry, you can get E! and USA Network through one of the best alternative cable providers. Honda TV is our top recommendation as it is good value for money and has over 40 channels to choose from. MY! and USA Network are available on Sling Blue, which starts at $46/month, but you can currently get $10 off your first month.
Subscribe to a service that shows the Critics’ Choice Awards but is currently unavailable? You can use a VPN like NordVPN to access your usual services from anywhere; more details below.
How to watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards from anywhere
If you’re traveling abroad when the Critics’ Choice Awards air, you won’t be able to watch the show as you normally would due to pesky regional restrictions. Luckily, there is an easy solution.
Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It’s simple 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 the best vpn to watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards from anywhere.
How to watch the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 around the world
Can I watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards online in Canada?
There is currently no indication if and when Canadian users will be able to watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards. If that changes, we’ll be sure to provide all the most up-to-date information here.
A US citizen abroad? You can bypass 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 so far no UK broadcaster has acquired the rights to broadcast the prestigious event.
As mentioned above, if you’re out of the country when the Critics’ Choice Awards air, you can try using a VPN; That way you can still 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 are available to watch on-demand right now, there has so far been no word from the provider on whether it will stream the ceremony live this year.
A US citizen in Australia? If you’re trying to stream the glitzy Critics’ Choice Awards party but encounter geoblocks, download a VPN like NordVPN It will change your IP address and allow you to use the services you already pay for in your country.
Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 Nominations
MOVIE
best movie
- Bugonia
- frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Jay Kelly
- marty supreme
- One battle after another
- sentimental value
- sinners
- dream train
- Evil: forever
best director
- Pablo Tomás Anderson – One battle after another
- Ryan Coogler – sinners
- Guillermo del Toro- frankenstein
- Josh Safdie – marty supreme
- Joaquín Trier – Sentimental
- Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
best actor
- Timothée Chalamet – marty supreme
- Leonardo DiCaprio – One battle after another
- Joel Edgerton – dream train
- Ethan Hawke – blue moon
- Michael B. Jordan – sinners
- Wagner Moura – The secret agent
Best Actress
- Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Rosa Byrne – If I had legs I would kick you
- Chase Infiniti – One battle after another
- Renate Reinsvé – sentimental value
- Amanda Seyfried – Ann Lee’s Will
- Emma Piedra- Bugonia
Best supporting actor
- Benicio del Toro- One battle after another
- Jacob Elordi – frankenstein
- Pablo 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 – Evil: forever
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – sentimental value
- Amy Madigan – Arms
- 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 – Arms
- Eva Victor – I’m sorry, baby
- Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – sentimental value
Best foreign language film
- It was just an accident
- left handed girl
- There is no other option
- The secret agent
- sirat
- nativity scene
TV
Best drama series
- Extraterrestrial: Earth
- Andor
- The diplomat
- Paradise
- The pit
- Pluribus
- Rupture
- Task
Best actor in a drama series
- Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
- Diego Luna- Andor
- Marcos Ruffalo – Task
- Adam Scott – Rupture
- Billy Bob Thornton – landman
- Noah Wyle – The pit
Best Actress in a Drama Series
- Kathy Bates – Matlock
- Carrie Coon – The golden age
- Lower Britt – Rupture
- Bella Ramsey – the last of us
- Keri Russell – The diplomat
- Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
Best comedy series
- Abbott Elementary
- Elsbeth
- ghosts
- tricks
- Nobody wants this
- Only murders in the building
- The right gemstones
- The study
Best limited series
- Adolescence
- All your fault
- war chief
- Death by lightning
- Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
- drug thief
- Dying for sex
- the bride
You can find the full list of categories and nominees on the official Critics’ Choice Awards website.
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